The MLB regular season is racing to the finish line with about 80% of the season now complete. Every game holds some additional weight with the playoff implications in mind, and several divisional races are shaping up to be exciting. There are 13 games of MLB action taking place across tonight’s slate, including several divisional matchups. There are plenty of ways of getting involved in the action. One of the more unique ways is with one of the newest features on DraftKings this year in Pick6 Fantasy Baseball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays for today’s action. You simply choose whether each set statistic will be more or less than the set number. With the stage set, here are my favorite picks on today’s MLB slate.
Nathaniel Lowe More Than 0.5 Runs Batted In
After proving to be a reliable first base option and contributor at the plate over the past few seasons with the Texas Rangers, Nathaniel Lowe’s career took a turn. He struggled in a major way with the Washington Nationals to start the season, which ultimately resulted in Lowe being designated for assignment. The 30-year-old was given another chance with the Boston Red Sox and has been red-hot since his arrival back at the Major League level.
Across his six games with the organization, Lowe is hitting .438 with a 1.250 OPS. He has seven RBIs, three extra-base hits and one home run already. This will be a friendly matchup for the left-hander to build off the strong start as the Red Sox face the Orioles with Tomoyuki Sugano on the mound. The 35-year-old right-hander has allowed 21 home runs in 24 appearances and is posting a 3.97 ERA overall. Sugano’s expected ERA sits at 5.63, which ranks in the fifth percentile, and he also ranks in the third percentile in expected batting average against him.
Fifteen of Lowe’s 17 home runs have come against right-handed pitching this season, with 138 of his 176 total bases tallied this year coming against righties. Look for his strong start to continue and for Lowe to drive in a run in this favorable matchup, just as he has in four of his last five games.
Cam Schlittler More Than 4.5 Strikeouts Thrown
The New York Yankees called up rookie Cam Schlittler, and he has looked the part of a Major League talent right away. The 24-year-old has made seven starts and thrown 36.1 innings pitched with 38 strikeouts and 32 hits allowed. He had a perfect game through six innings in his previous start and has tallied more than 4.5 strikeouts in five of his seven starts this year.
This is a friendly matchup for the young standout as he sets his sights on the Nationals tonight. Washington is posting the fourth-highest strikeout rate on the season at 24.3% with the roster ranking 20th in ISO, wOBA and wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. Ranger Suarez also struck out 11 Nationals’ hitters during his start in yesterday’s game.
Schlittler is posting a 24.8% strikeout rate so far in his limited opportunities and has faced more impressive lineups. Look for him to get to work against this young Washington team and tally more than 4.5 strikeouts for the sixth time in his first eight starts.
Vinnie Pasquantino More Than 0.5 Runs Batted In
Few hitters in baseball have been as hot as Vinnie Pasquantino of late. He has tallied 27 RBIs during August, with 12 coming in the past week. He is first in the majors in RBIs over this stretch and is posting a .379 ISO and .621 slugging percentage against right-handed pitching. Of his 92 RBIs, 68 have come against righties, and he is posting a .281 batting average, .512 slugging percentage and .856 OPS in these matchups.
Right-hander Shane Smith will be on the mound for the White Sox tonight. The 25-year-old enters with a 4.12 ERA and 4.47 expected ERA. He is allowing a 40.6% fly ball rate and 1.66 home runs per nine innings to left-handed hitters. Adding to Pasquantino’s 28 home run tally feels well in play tonight, but I am opting to back his RBI total. Mike Yastrzemski is expected to lead things off and has done a nice job getting on base. Bobby Witt Jr. also adds to the case. Pasquantino has been on an absolute tear, and don’t expect Smith to be the guy to stop this. Look for tonight to be the eighth straight game that the 27-year-old produces an RBI.
Christian Yelich More Than 1.5 Total Bases
Pitching has become a significant concern for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season. Eduardo Rodriguez is set to take the mound tonight and has given up 21 home runs in 22 starts this season, with a 5.40 ERA. Rodriguez has given up 70 earned runs and 142 hits in just 116.2 innings pitched. The Diamondbacks’ bullpen has also had plenty of issues and is posting a 4.79 collective ERA, which ranks 26th in the MLB. They have also given up 55 home runs on the year.
Enter Christian Yelich, who is a foundational part of this Brewers team and has been playing some of his best baseball lately. On the season overall, the former MVP is slashing .267/.348/.464 with a .812 OPS, 26 home runs and 88 RBIs. Over the past two weeks, his batting average has increased to .346 with five home runs tallied across this stretch. Yelich enters this game having tallied more than 1.5 total bases in back-to-back games and seven of his past 14. Look for him to capitalize on the friendly pitching matchup and tally more than 1.5 total bases tonight.
Julio Rodriguez More Than 1.5 Hits, Runs & RBIs
Julio Rodriguez also has a case for being one of the hottest hitters in baseball. The Mariners star had some struggles to start the season, but he is right back on track for performing like the superstar he is expected to be. Across the past 14 games, he is slashing .298/.340/.574 with a .914 OPS. Dating back to the All-Star Break, he is batting .295 with a .659 slugging percentage and .887 OPS.
He will face off against JP Sears on the mound tonight, who has had his struggles this season. The 29-year-old is posting a 4.94 ERA across his 24 starts with the Athletics and Padres. Right-handed opponents are producing a .491 slugging percentage, 52.8% fly ball rate and 1.83 home runs per nine innings on the season. It has not mattered much who is pitching the baseball in recent games, with Rodriguez producing multiple hits in 17 of his past 27 games. However, Sears is among the most favorable matchups across this stretch, and the Mariners standout will look to continue adding to his total. With a home run seeming to be a possibility and Sears’ high fly ball rate in mind, I am opting to take Rodriguez to tally more than 1.5 total hits, runs and RBIs tonight.
Brent Rooker More Than 1.5 Total Bases
While Tarik Skubal being on the mound for the Tigers will be a concern for the Athletics, this has not proven to be a problem for Brent Rooker. He is 8-for-17 all-time against Skubal with three home runs. Rooker has hit left-handed pitching well all season, posting a .320 batting average and .573 slugging percentage against this side of the plate compared to a .255 batting average and .472 slugging against righties.
Skubal still has a rightful place in the conversation for best pitchers in baseball, but he has slowed down a bit as the season progressed. He has given up three or more earned runs in three of his past four starts after hitting this margin just five times across his opening 21 games. Skubal has given up four home runs in his last four starts. Rooker already has a home run against Skubal this year and did so while facing him in better form. Look for him to get hold of at least one tonight and tally more than 1.5 total bases for the sixth time in the past 10 games.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of 2+ players and select whether you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing 2+ players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you can not pick the same player twice and you must pick players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
