I know, I know… Who cares about tonight’s five-game MLB slate? Who would willingly watch Angels-Rangers over the first real football game of the season? I honestly don’t know. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t set a couple lineups on DraftKings.
Let’s dive in and find some studs and values.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $100K Relay Throw [$25K to 1st]
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PITCHER
Stud
Reynaldo Lopez, Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies, $9,900 – In late July, it seemed like Lopez might be finally regressing back to the mean. His ERA was up in the month and a minor injury put him on the IL. However, the RHP has been fantastic since returning to action, managing a 1.59 ERA and a 2.13 FIP in his last three starts. That span also includes a 34.3% strikeout rate. I’d expect the good times to continue on Thursday evening, as Lopez now gets to square off with the lowly Rockies away from Coors Field. Colorado owns a league-high 28.2% strikeout rate and a 77 wRC+ when hitting outside of the altitude.
Value
Cody Bradford, Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels, $7,900 – It would be hard to expect anything more from Bradford, who has exceeded 22.0 FPTS in three of his last five starts. The left-hander sports a 2.61 ERA and a 3.12 FIP within that stretch, his 0.87 WHIP assisted heavily by a microscopic 3.3% walk rate. Basically, Bradford is going to make opponents earn anything they can get. That’s a pretty good strategy against an Angels lineup that has struggled to do much the last two weeks. Los Angeles is the lone team in baseball hitting below the Mendoza line in the last 14 days (.188).
INFIELD
Stud
Manny Machado, San Diego Padres vs. Detroit Tigers, $5,500 – It hasn’t been Machado’s best season, but the former All-Star has been quietly putting together a really solid second-half. Since the Midsummer Classic, Machado is slashing .285/.337/.533 with a .248 ISO and a 141 wRC+. Specific to his last 10 games, Machado’s hit three home runs and possesses a 1.010 OPS. Not too shabby. It’s also worth noting that Casey Mize ($7,400) has some significant reverse-splits. In fact, RHBs are hitting .322 off the RHP in 2024.
Stud
Travis d’Arnaud, Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies, $4,200 – The Braves’ backstop is in the midst of another solid offensive campaign, yet it’s clear that d’Arnaud is at his best when getting the opportunity to face left-handed pitching. In his 68 plate appearances within the split, d’Arnaud has posted a .328 ISO and an .899 OPS. Austin Gomber ($6,700) doesn’t have to pitch at Coors this evening, but the LHP is still surrendering 1.56 opponent home runs per nine on the road in 2024. This is a nice spot for all of Atlanta’s RHBs.
Value
Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres, $4,000 – Torkelson’s rough start to the season necessitated a return to Triple-A, but the former first-overall pick has looked much better at the MLB level since his re-call on August 17. In his last 69 plate appearances, Torkelson has mustered a .274 ISO and a 151 wRC+. He still strikes out a little too much on the whole, yet that shouldn’t be too much of an issue on Thursday in a matchup with Martin Perez ($7,000). The veteran LHP sits in only the 16th percentile in strikeout rate (18.0%).
OUTFIELD
Stud
Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies at Miami Marlins, $5,700 – Can you be considered red-hot due to just two games? I think Schwarber is proving that it’s possible. In his last 10 plate appearances, Schwarber has four home runs, a double, seven RBI and a walk. That’s some pretty impressive stuff. The veteran will try and add to those totals on Thursday against Adam Oller ($7,200). The 29-year-old has looked fine in his three outings with Miami in 2024, yet for his career, Oller’s conceded a .399 wOBA to opposing LHBs.
Stud
Dylan Crews, Washington Nationals at Pittsburgh Pirates, $4,400 – Crews’ price tag is up yet again, but the much-heralded prospect is still at a reasonable salary for this matchup with Bailey Falter ($6,100). Crews hasn’t seen a ton of left-handed pitching at the MLB level, yet he’s managed both of his two career home runs in the 12 plate appearances he does have within the split. Meanwhile, Falter’s surrendered nine earned runs in his last nine innings of work.
Value
Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels, $3,900 – Is the breakout finally happening? It’s far too late for those in season-long formats, but Langford is suddenly a very appealing DFS option. He had a huge series against the Yankees — one that included a game-winning grand slam — and he’s slashing .324/.405/.649 in his last 10 games overall. Jack Kochanowicz ($5,900) has a 5.54 xERA across his six starts with the Angels. He’s no one to fear.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $100K Relay Throw [$25K to 1st]
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All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
