MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/12/2019

If you’re looking for a night filled with pitcher duels, you won’t find it Monday. While it’s not a light slate, the eight games on the schedule bring a severe lack of quality pitchers. Keeping that in mind, here are some of the better pitchers and hitters to target for your lineup. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our MLB Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

Zack Greinke vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $10,800
DraftKings = $10,700

Greinke stands out as the top pitching option. Although his first start with the Astros didn’t go well, he’s having another excellent season with a 3.29 FIP. This is also a great matchup considering the White Sox have scored the third-fewest runs in baseball. The only downside is that if you add Greinke to your entry, he will severely limit what you can spend on hitters. He’s probably a better choice in cash games rather than tournament play. Also, rain could be an issue in Chicago, so be sure to monitor for updates leading up to first pitch.

Joey Lucchesi vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = 10,000

We have two wildly contrasting prices for Lucchesi. He’s probably someone to avoid on DraftKings, but he’s very appealing on FanDuel. While not overpowering, he’s managed to produce a 3.95 FIP and a 1.18 WHIP. He’s been even better with a 3.52 FIP and a 1.03 WHIP at home. Add in the Rays being weakened without the DH in San Diego and he could be in line for a strong performance.

CATCHER

Carson Kelly vs. Peter Lambert, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $5,200

The Diamondbacks are in a spot to thrive against Lambert, who has a 5.78 FIP and a 1.58 WHIP. With this game also being played at Coors Field, Kelly is priced higher than normal, especially on DraftKings. Working in his favor is that he has a .281 ISO and Lambert has allowed 2.1 HR/9.

Others to consider: Francisco Mejia

FIRST BASE

Christian Walker vs. Peter Lambert, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Piling on this matchup against Lambert brings us to Walker, who has been an excellent success story for the Diamondbacks. He’s continued to perform well down the stretch, hitting 13-or-33 (.394) with a home run and a double over his last 10 games. He’s shown plenty of power at Coors Field this season, hitting a home run and four doubles over seven games.

Others to consider: Josh Bell and Daniel Murphy

SECOND BASE

Ryan McMahon vs. Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

As far as cheaper options to get in on the action at Coors Field, McMahon stands out as one to target. He’s been a much more consistent source of production of late, hitting 17-for-56 (.304) with two home runs and three doubles over his last 17 games. He also has a .364 wOBA at home, overall, compared to a .297 wOBA on the road.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Ketel Marte

THIRD BASE

Jose Osuna vs. Jose Suarez, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,600

While a lot of people will have their eys on the Coors Field matchup, don’t sleep on the Pirates against Suarez. If the Angels had better options, he probably wouldn’t still be in their rotation considering his 6.58 FIP. Osuna has a .364 wOBA versus left-handed hitters and could provide some important cost savings on FanDuel. While not overly cheap on DraftKings, he is still at least worth considering.

Others to consider: Gio Urshela and Alex Bregman

SHORTSTOP

Carlos Correa vs. Dylan Cease, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,600

Injuries have put a damper on Correa’s season, but he’s trying to make up for lost time right now. He’s been scorching hot as the Astros race towards the playoffs, hitting 15-for-39 (.385) with five home runs and three doubles over his last 10 games. Look for him to keep things rolling against Cease, who has struggled up to this point with a 5.03 FIP.

Others to consider: Jonathan Villar and Kevin Newman

OUTFIELD

Mike Tauchman vs. TBD, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,300

It’s crazy to think that Tauchman is one of the most expensive outfielders on both sites, but the Yankees lineup has been full of pleasant surprises this season. With Aaron Hicks (elbow) and Giancarlo Stanton (knee) out, Tauchman is a ridiculous 30-for-72 (.417) with seven home runs and seven doubles over his last 21 games. The Orioles have yet to officially name a starter for the second game of this doubleheader, but regardless of who they settle on, Tauchman is a great target.

Kole Calhoun vs. Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,800

While Calhoun certainly isn’t expensive on FanDuel, his pricepoint on DraftKings could provide key savings. He’s a drag in terms of his batting average, but the power is certainly there with his .248 ISO. Keller has been about as bad as it gets through his first three appearances, giving up 16 runs (14 earned) across 12 innings.

Brett Gardner vs. TBD, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,500

One of the mainstays of the Yankees’ roster, Gardner has continued to be a productive member of the team. He’s an excellent defensive outfielder and has more power than some people might think. He’s another player to step up in the face of injuries, hitting 13-for-31 (.419) with two home runs and five doubles over his last nine games. The only concern here is that he’s in the lineup for the first game, so check back to make sure he’s playing in both ends of the doubleheader.

Others to consider: Shohei Ohtani and Raimel Tapia

Author Bio:

Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.