Please keep in mind, today’s 14-game main slate on DraftKings begins at 6 p.m. EST, an hour before FanDuel’s eight-game at 7 p.m. EST. With that much declared, allow me to also preface the following picks by stating it pains me even more so to not be able to write up Trevor Bauer (sub-$10,000 on DraftKings) today than it pained me to not write up Luis Castillo on Monday. He would’ve been my top option for today, just to get that much out of the way.
And so we arrive to another slate of pitchers with the undeniable best option in Shane Bieber … or is he? Facing a Chicago White Sox team who’s given him some trouble over their last several meetings dating back to last season, the five-digit spend-up doesn’t seem quite as comforting as it would on most other days (but he’s obviously far from a fade).
The following MLB DFS picks for fantasy baseball lineups are based on Awesemo’s MLB Projections for today’s MLB DFS fantasy baseball slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. For more free DraftKings and FanDuel MLB picks and analysis for DFS baseball lineups, check out the Awesemo.com YouTube Channel for today’s MLB Strategy Show, Deeper Dive and Live Before Lock Shows.
Related MLB DFS Content
- Learn MLB DFS: DraftKings + FanDuel Primer
- MLB DFS Quick Hits: HRs, Stacks & Ownership Plays
- Top Stack Tool (PREMIUM)
- Awesemo’s Top Pitcher Tool (PREMIUM)
- The MLB Strategy Show Live Before Lock
Top MLB DFS Pitching Plays
Kenta Maeda – Tigers at Twins – DraftKings $9,200, FanDuel $10,000
The Minnesota Twins have clinched a playoff spot with major thanks in part to a resurgent Kenta Maeda. The ex-misused Los Angeles Dodger has been absolutely electric as a starting pitcher for the Twins this season after being relegated to a relief role in Los Angeles.
Outside of strikeouts, his numbers are the best of his career across several stat categories, featuring a phenomenal 0.76 WHIP, 83.3% left on base and 3.04 FIP. But even his strikeout numbers are close to the top of his resume, standing beside an impressive 10.53 K/9, 31.6% strikeout rate and 7.1 strikeouts for every one walk. And speaking of walks, Maeda has only done so with 4.4% of opposing batters.
In consideration of opposing batters as a pitcher, it doesn’t get much better than the Tigers (or worse, depending on which side you’re speaking for). Detroit’s batting order against right-handed pitchers this season leads the league in strikeouts with 28.1% strikeout rate against righties along with an abysmal ability to generate runs against righties with a meager 80 wRC+ (27th in Majors).
The price is just right for Maeda, and I’d possibly even go as far as saying he’s too cheap when compared to other top pitchers on DraftKings’ pricing.
Awesemo’s FanDuel Grades: Points A, Value C
Awesemo’s DraftKings Grades: Points A, Value A
Odds shopping is the best way to make sure you’re getting bang for your betting dollars. Please enjoy our new FREE website that shows you what each sports betting odds are in real-time. You can sign up, track your bets, get notifications when a line moves and see how much money you’re making over time. Check it out right HERE.
Kyle Hendricks – Cubs at Pirates – DraftKings $8,300, FanDuel $10,600
When it comes to price discrepancies on today’s slate, look no further than Kyle Hendricks. The Cubs’ unsung hero of the mound this season, Hendricks has been dominant across his 11 starts and finds himself at a major price cut over on DraftKings. Considering his matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the discount is all the more massively implied.
Hendricks is having one of his best seasons in 2020 of his seven-year career, with a 0.99 WHIP and .237 batting average against. While he’s not as known for his strikeouts like a Tyler Glasnow or Jacob deGrom, Hendricks’ strikeout rate is actually up over his past two seasons at 21.3%. Hendricks is preventing damage at an exceptional level as well, walking just 2.4% of opposing hitters while stranding nearly 80% of those who do make it on base and accounting for just an 0.98 HR/9.
Facing a Pirates offense today plays right into Hendricks’ talents also. Pittsburgh’s batting order is rather atrocious when it comes to facing right-handed pitchers, making for a .256 wOBA and 58 wRC+ — the lowest in the Majors for both categories against righties. With the sixth-highest strikeout rate against righties at 25.7%, rostering Hendricks comes with ease (especially on DraftKings).
Awesemo’s FanDuel Grades: Points B, Value E
Awesemo’s DraftKings Grades: Points B, Value B
Nathan Eovaldi – Red Sox vs. Orioles – DraftKings $7,000, FanDuel $8,400
Following a subpar 2019 season (2-1 in 12 starts, 5.99 ERA), Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has since rebounded closer to his 2018 form and posting solid fantasy numbers at an affordable price while never costing more than he has today all season on FanDuel. With a welcomed opponent in the Baltimore Orioles, Eovaldi’s discount seems that much merrier.
Not only has Eovaldi been demonstrating his old form revived, he’s actually tossing some of the best numbers of his entire career (if not the best). The Red Sox righty is pitching his best strikeout rate of his resume over his nine years in the Majors (25.0% strikeout rate), while also somehow walking batters at the lowest rate of his career at an incredible 3.4%. Eovaldi is also averaging 15.4 DraftKings Fantasy Points (28.62 FanDuel Fantasy Points) and just pitched against this very Orioles team to the tune of 26.2 DraftKings points (46 FanDuel).
Speaking of this Orioles team, while faring 19th in strikeout rate against righties (23.5%), they are still striking out at the seventh-highest in MLB over the past 30 days and have persistent inability to generate offense with an 89 wRC+ (24th in MLB). With such a flexible price tag and plenty of fantasy upside given the opponent he’s been proven against recently, Eovaldi makes for an excellent value play on either site.
Awesemo’s FanDuel Grades: Points C, Value D
Awesemo’s DraftKings Grades: Points C, Value B
Follow us on all of our social channels! Check out our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more great Awesemo content.
Looking for more MLB DFS picks content? We’ve got loads of articles, data, cheatsheets and more on the Awesemo MLB home page, just click HERE.
