The final day of August will be jam-packed with Major League Baseball, and most of the action takes place under the lights.
The DraftKings main slate gets underway at 7:05 p.m. ET and includes 20 teams in the player pool. Five of the ten games are divisional contests, including the Dodgers and Diamondbacks continuing their big series in Arizona.
Other important games with playoff implications include the Astros hosting the Royals and the Braves visiting Philly to take on the leaders of their division. Another factor to be sure to consider is that Coors Field is in play, and the Rockies and Oiroles will look to get some extra offense from playing at elevation.
With 20 teams in play this Saturday night, there is no shortage of options at any position or price point. Check out my top options on the board this Saturday listed below:
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $125K Relay Throw [$25K to 1st]
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Network app. You also can follow DK Network on Twitter @dknetwork.
PITCHER
Stud
Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels ($8,800) – Woo made 18 starts last year for the Mariners with mixed results, but the 24-year-old righty has found his rhythm in the majors this year and emerged as a key part of the Mariners’ excellent starting rotation. In 16 starts, he has gone 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 2.92 FIP with 68 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings. While those strikeout numbers are lower than ideal for DFS usage, he has cranked up the K’s lately, with at least six strikeouts in four of his last five starts.
He had earned at least 17 fantasy points in each of his last five starts, with over 25 fantasy points in three of those outings. In his most recent game, he totaled 29.4 fantasy points by holding the Giants to one earned run in seven strong innings with seven strikeouts.
Woo has been very consistent most of the year and will look to build on his recent success in Saturday’s start against the Angels. Over the last 30 days, the Angels have scored the third-fewest runs in the MLB while hitting only .213 as a team with a .283 wOBA. They also rank seventh in the MLB in K% over that stretch, so they’re a very favorable matchup for Woo, who has an elite ceiling even though his salary is under $9,000.
Value
Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins at San Francisco Giants ($6,700) – Cabrera has had some control issues this season with a high walk rate, but he also has excellent strikeout numbers in his 15 starts. The 26-year-old had over 17 fantasy points in four of his last six starts and will be a good play at this price if he gets to that level on Saturday in what should be a favorable spot against the Giants at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park. Cabrera just turned in a solid outing at Coors Field, so Oracle Park will be quite a shift in Park Factor.
On the year, Cabrera is 2-6 with a 5.60 ERA and 5.28 FIP, but his ERA is only 3.83 over his last eight starts, and he has 39 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings. He had eight strikeouts against the Rockies, matching his best total since May. He should be able to continue stacking strikeouts Saturday since San Francisco has the third-highest K% in the MLB over the last 30 days while scoring the sixth-fewest runs. Based on matchup and strikeout upside, Cabrera is an excellent cost-saving option under $7,000 although he does come with risk factors due to wildness.
INFIELD
Stud
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks ($7,000) – Ohtani continued his impressive season with another home run and another stolen base on Friday night, totaling 28 fantasy points in the Dodgers’ 10-9 win in Arizona. With Merrill Kelly ($8,400) on the mound for the Dbacks on Saturday, Ohtani will be on the strong side of his splits since he is hitting .312 with a remarkable .456 wOBA against righties this season. He’s up to 43 home runs and 43 stolen bases in his pursuit of becoming the first-ever member of the 50/50 club, and he has 19 home runs and 11 stolen bases in his last 17 games while averaging 14.9 fantasy points per contest. He has a huge salary which is tough to build around, but if you can afford him, his ceiling is the highest of any hitter in the MLB on almost every night.
Stud
Francisco Lindor, New York Mets at Chicago White Sox ($5,800) – As usual on big slates, shortstop is jam-packed with elite options. Lindor only has the sixth-highest salary in the star-studded spot, but he brings great upside and continues to be a regular in my picks and lineups while he carries the Mets. He has hit safely in 22 of his last 23 games while batting .343 (34-for-44) with nine doubles, six homers and a .429 wOBA. He has an extra-base hit in seven of his last 10 games with four home runs during that span and an average of 12.1 fantasy points per game over that stretch. The Mets are in a great matchup against Davis Martin ($7,300) and the White Sox, and Lindor should have another good day from the top of a productive lineup.
Value
Addison Barger, Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota Twins ($3,000) – Barger bounced back and forth to Triple-A a few times this season, but he seems to have found his footing in the majors over the last few weeks. In his last eight games, he is 10-for-27 (.370) with two doubles, two home runs and a .442 wOBA. The lefty will be on the strong side of his splits against fellow rookie Zebby Matthews ($7,400) on Saturday, and he can offer great salary relief either at 3B or in the OF, depending on the rest of your roster construction.
Value
Shay Whitcomb, Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals, $2,200 – Whitcomb will likely get the start on Saturday against lefty Cole Ragans ($9,900). Whitcomb tore up Triple-A, hitting .293 with 25 home runs, 26 stolen bases and a .392 wOBA to earn his call-up. He hasn’t started in the Astros’ last few games due to matchups but went 7-for-25 (.280) with three doubles in his seven starts this season. He has a very high ceiling for a player with a salary just over the minimum and offers great value at either 2B or 3B on Saturday.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers ($5,400) – It’s been a rough year for Carroll overall, but he is starting to find a nice groove coming down the stretch. He has hit safely in nine straight games and 17 of his last 18 starts. Over his last 19 games, he went 22-for-74 (.297) with nine homers, 22 runs scored, 20 RBI and a .439 wOBA. He has over 15 fantasy points in three of his last four games after homering and producing 28 fantasy points on Friday. He continues to be a key part of the Dbacks run production every night and is finally returning to the form that helped him claim the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year.
Stud
Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels ($5,100) – Rodriguez is another big-time hitter starting to come around after a slow season. Rodriguez has homered in back-to-back games but still only has 13 dingers on the season. He has only hit .200 since returning from his knee injury, but his two homers and a stolen base attempt (even though it failed) are signs he’s feeling much better. Even in a down year, Rodriguez has hit lefties very well. Against southpaws, he has a .283 batting average, .354 wOBA and 138 wRC+. He will be in a good matchup against Angels’ starter Tyler Anderson ($8,100), who he homered off in the past while going 3-for-5 with four RBI.
Value
Garrett Mitchell, Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds ($3,000) – Mitchell thoroughly enjoyed Friday’s doubleheader, picking up multiple hits in each game and dominating the nightcap with a home run, a triple, a stolen base and 33 fantasy points. Mitchell has gone 13-for-36 (.361) over his last 10 games with an at-bat. He has three stolen bases, three doubles and a home run during that stretch with a .459 wOBA. Getting him at only $3,000 is a great value in a matchup against the Reds in a bullpen game opened by Fernando Cruz ($4,000).
Value
Griffin Conine, Miami Marlins at San Francisco Giants ($2,200) – Conine has gone 3-for-13 (.231) in his four games since being called up for the Marlins with a double and a triple. Conine hit 19 homers at Triple-A, where he posted a .364 wOBA this season before being called up last week for his MLB debut. In a favorable matchup against Mason Black ($5,500), the Marlins may offer some sneaky value as a team, and Conine is a strong punt play with upside based on his power potential.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $125K Relay Throw [$25K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) 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 skill 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.
