The Monday, August 5 DraftKings fantasy baseball slate features eight games. Get a head start on the competition by checking out the best MLB DFS stud and value picks for each position.
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PITCHER
Stud
JP Sears, Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox ($7,700) — This is a matchup between fire and ice. Sears is searing hot. He held the Giants to three hits while striking out nine across seven scoreless frames. His start against the Astros on July 24 looks worse than what it was. The A’s sent him out in the seventh and the wheels fell off. In his four starts before the Houston blemish, Sears posted a 2.42 ERA with a 9.7 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9. The White Sox are ice-cold —24% K-Rate, .130 ISO, .259 wOBA and 65 wRC+ over the last seven games. Their stats against left-handed pitchers aren’t much better — 24% K-Rate, .127 ISO, .286 wOBA and 82 wRC+.
Value
David Festa, Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago Cubs ($6,100) — The Twins No. 4 Prospect (No. 56 MLB Prospect) was a featured MLB DFS value pick on July 30. There was a reason for his low salary. There is a reason his salary is climbing. As mentioned in the previous article, home runs and BABIP were the culprits. His advanced stats were significantly better than his traditional stats. Everything he did in the Minors, he’s doing in the Big League. He’s shut down two good teams — New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies — in his last two starts (9.1 IP, 13 K and 3 ER). The Cubs are a much softer matchup (24% K-Rate, .150 ISO, .303 wOBA and 96 wRC+ against RHP).
INFIELD
Stud
Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago Cubs ($4,600) — It’s easy for a first baseman to get lost in the sauce. This is especially the case for corner infielders that hit in pitcher’s parks. Chapman isn’t an All-Star but is having one of his most productive seasons. He’s hot (.361 ISO and .516 wOBA in his last 43 PA) and is hitting lefties (.218 ISO and .383 wOBA). He gets a bad one on Monday.
Stud
Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins at Chicago Cubs ($5,300) — Cross your fingers. Lewis is healthy again. He’s made two returns from the IL this season. In both cases, it’s been like he never missed a game (.360 ISO and .406 wOBA since July 26). Rust hasn’t been an issue. Health is the issue. Pick him while you can.
Value
Freddy Fermin, Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox ($3,600) — Punting the catcher position is popular in MLB DFS. Paying up is a way to differentiate. This is a little bit of both. It’s not purely a game theory play. Fermin is hitting (.344 wOBA in 2024 and .377 wOBA in July) and hitting lefties (.386 wOBA).
Value
Santiago Espinal, Cincinnati Reds at Miami Marlins ($2,500) — DraftKings hates the Reds’ utility player. He keeps hitting and his price tag doesn’t budge. It’s not completely DraftKings’ fault. DFS ownership affects salaries and Espinal remains unknown and unowned. Look in the mirror. Why aren’t you picking him? He has 21 hits in his last 44 at-bats (four home runs and four doubles). He homered and went 2-for-4 on Sunday.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies ($6,600) — SP Aaron Nola ($8,800) is still on top of his game. He should be avoided in most cases. Ohtani is not in most cases. Nola allows 1.6 HR/9 to left-handed hitters. Ohtani has 33 home runs. The majority of his homers have come at home and 26 are against right-handed pitchers.
Stud
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins at Chicago Cubs ($4,800) — Minnesota draws one of the best matchups on Monday’s slate. SP Kyle Hendricks ($5,900) is the cheapest pitcher for a reason — 6.86 ERA. Since the beginning of July, Buxton has a .356 ISO, .446 wOBA and 194 wRC+. The same-handed matchup doesn’t bother him — .255 ISO, .361 wOBA and 136 wRC+ vs. RHP.
Value
JJ Bleday, Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox ($3,600) — The A’s K all day every day. This creates the perception that their offense is weak. It’s 2024. Every team strikes out. This isn’t your grandpa’s game. Even your stubborn grandpa likes the A’s in this matchup. SP Jonathan Cannon ($6,300) doesn’t strike batters out (5.9 K/9). Your grandpa actually likes Bleday because he doesn’t K every day (18.4% K-Rate). Bleday is riding a six-game hit streak (.235 ISO and .467 wOBA).
Value
Jake Fraley, Cincinnati Reds at Miami Marlins ($3,600) — Miami is a terrible park for hitters. It’s seen as a downgrade in DFS. It’s a downgrade for power hitters. Value picks that do not rely on home runs can return value in Miami. Since the beginning of July, Fraley has been raking — .275 ISO, .376 wOBA and 140 wRC+.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is greenflagradio2) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
