MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/2019

Thursday’s limited schedule leaves us with only six games for the main evening slate in DFS. While there are a couple of promising pitchers, the majority of the matchups indicate we could be in for plenty of scoring across the league. Here are some of the better players to target while sifting through the options. 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

Jacob deGrom vs. Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $12,000

The clear ace to target in cash games is deGrom. The Cubs have some potent bats in their lineup, but deGrom is about as dominant as it gets. He’s been especially locked in with the Mets trying to make a push for the playoffs, allowing nine runs (six earned) and recording 69 strikeouts across 52 innings in his last eight starts. He completely overpowered a tough Braves’ lineup is his last outing, allowing one run and recording 13 strikeouts over seven innings.

Chris Paddack vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Oracle Park
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $9,000

Paddack’s stellar rookie campaign has taken a turn for the worse lately with him allowing 20 runs (19 earned) over 17 innings in his last four starts. With the Padres out of playoff contention, expect him to be shit down at some point in the near future. His struggles have helped reduce his price tag, especially on FanDuel. The Giants have one of the worst lineups in baseball, leaving Paddack with a favorable opportunity to bounce back with a strong performance.

CATCHER

Will Smith vs. Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $5,500

Kelly has allowed 10 home runs over his last 29.1 innings, so the powerful Dodgers’ lineup enters this contest with significant upside. If there is one hitter who can take advantage of Kelly’s homer issues, it’s Smith with his .419 ISO. While he’ll eat up a significant portion of your budget, he’s a must if you’re deploying a Dodgers stack.

Others to consider: Jorge Alfaro

FIRST BASE

Danny Santana vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $5,400

Santana has produced a 45.2 percent hard-hit rate this season, which is a big reason why his BABIP is so high at .364. While he doesn’t walk much, he’s having the best power season of his career with a .264 ISO. Add in his .369 wOBA versus right-handed pitching and he’s a top target with the underwhelming Hernandez on the mound.

Others to consider: Josh Bell and Matt Beaty

SECOND BASE

Ryan McMahon vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,700

The Rockies should once again be a popular team to stack with this game being played at Coors Field. Williams has a 5.04 FIP and has given up 1.6 HR/9, so there are plenty of players worth pursuing on the Rockies. One who won’t destroy your budget on either site is McMahon, who has a .383 wOBA at home compared to a .293 wOBA on the road.

Others to consider: Adam Frazier and Nick Solak

THIRD BASE

Colin Moran vs. Chi Chi Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900

Moran doesn’t have the most appealing numbers for the season, overall, with his .169 ISO and .328 wOBA. However, he’s hot heading into this matchup at Coors Field, hitting 19-for-54 (.352) with two home runs and six doubles over his last 16 games. With Gonzalez sporting a 6.92 FIP and a 1.63 WHIP, Moran has an excellent opportunity to continue his recent run of success.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Justin Turner

SHORTSTOP

Jon Berti vs. Alex Wood, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,800

The Reds haven’t been able to get much out of Wood, who has given up 22 runs (20 earned) over 29.2 innings since being activated off the IL. While facing the Marlins is as good of an opportunity as any to get back on track, there are a couple of hitters who could give him trouble. One of them is Berti, who is 29-for-98 (.296) with three home runs and seven doubles over his last 26 games. He also has a 162 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers for the season, overall.

Others to consider: Trevor Story and Corey Seager

OUTFIELD

Bryan Reynolds vs. Chi Chi Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,300

Locked into an everyday role now, Reynolds has shown plenty of promise for the Pirates with his 142 wRC+. While not known for his power coming up through the minors, he does have a respectable .196 ISO. He’s been even better with a 156 wRC+ versus right-handed hitters, making him a key hitter to build a Pirates stack around.

Josh VanMeter vs. Robert Dugger, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200

The Marlins will be forced to start Dugger here after placing Jordan Yamamoto (forearm) on the IL. While Marlins Park is a favorable place for pitchers, Dugger has been really bad in the minors with a 6.02 FIP and a 1.71 WHIP at Triple-A. VanMeter checks in with a .364 wOBA against righties, making him a cost-effective option to target in tournament play.

Sam Hilliard vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $4,000

If you’re looking for some cheap exposure to the Rockies, Hilliard might be your man. He mashed at Triple-A this season, recording a .296 ISO and a .363 wOBA. He wasted no time making an impact in his debut Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a home run. Given Williams’ problem limiting home runs, Hilliard is at least a viable threat to go deep again.

Others to consider: Charlie Blackmon and Willie Calhoun

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.