MLB DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Stacks Today: Monday Playbook
Published: Aug 19, 2024
On Monday, August 19th, we have a 9-game MLB DFS main slate kicking off at 7:05 pm ET. There is a great mixture between aces, back-end starting pitching, and elite offensive options to choose from.
That said, let's take a look at the MLB DFS projections while we bust into our favorite MLB DFS picks today!
MLB DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, August 19
MLB Weather Today, 8/19
As of 10 am ET, we don't have any weather issues we're dealing with today.
MLB DFS Optimizer & Lineup Generator Today, August 19th
This Playbook has everything you need to make awesome MLB DFS picks Check out our expert tips and insights, then take a look at today’s MLB DFS projections, MLB DFS ownership projections and our special MLB lineups page.
You can easily mix it all together in the MLB DFS Lineup Generator, helping you lock in your Core Plays and build winning lineups in no time! Here’s a sample lineup for today:
MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers
Top Options For Strikeouts
- Yusei Kikuchi, Houston Astros - 7.5 (+110)
- Michael King, San Diego Padres - 6.5 (-150)
- Taj Bradley, Tampa Bay Rays - 6.5 (+100)
- Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays - 5.5 (-145)
- Joe Boyle, Oakland Athletics - 5.5 (-110)
- Gavin Stone, Los Angeles Dodgers - 5.5 (-110)
- Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals - 5.5 (+110)
Best Odds For A Win
- Taj Bradley, Tampa Bay Rays (+110)
- Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals (+115) NOW (+120)
- ADDED Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays (+120)
- Michael King, San Diego Padres (+135)
- Kyle Harrison, San Francisco Giants (+145)
- David Peterson, New York Mets (+150)
MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Pitchers
Michael King, San Diego Padres
There's just a lot to like about Padres starter, Michael King, for Monday's MLB DFS picks. Since June 29th, King has pitched to a 1.94 ERA, held his opponents to a .195 BAA, while notching a 32.7% K-rate. King has juiced strikeout odds and has the third best odds to outright win. It's a tough matchup, but he's been great and has as much upside as any pitcher on the slate.
Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals
The matchup is what should catch our eye immediately. The Angels have been one of the league's worst offenses ranking 25th or worse in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ against right-handed pitching. Lugo has had a tough stretch lately but has been in some incredibly tough matchups. The MLB DFS projections suggest he has a big ceiling as he's topped 30 DKP five times this season.
Taj Bradley, Tampa Bay Rays
I think the primary appeal with Bradley comes attached to strikeouts. That's what Bradley does and that's what Oakland does as well. Oakland's 25.3% K-rate against right-handed pitching this year ranks third in baseball and Bradley himself carries a 28.5% K-rate. Bradley is pitching in another great pitching environment here and has the best odds on the board to pick up a win.
Yusei Kikuchi, Houston Astros
Kikuchi is definitely a pitcher I'm interested in using in GPPs and also could make a case to stack against with my MLB DFS picks today. He's been quite unlucky this year, but it seems like the luck has turned since arriving in Houston. He has a 4.49 ERA but a 3.33 xFIP and 3.41 SIERA. He has a 27.4% K-rate this year and faces Boston who is the team striking out the most against southpaws this season at 27.8%. He leads the slate with an O/U at 7.5 Ks and has a massive ceiling because the Ks.
Kyle Harrison, San Francisco Giants
Nobody will plug anyone faster at SP than people plug Kyle Harrison. He's at home against the worst team in the game. The team ranking dead last in basically every offensive category against left-handed pitching. Harrison has flashed double-digit strikeout upside to boot. He misses more bats, has a lower ERA, and averages more FP/game at home this year.
MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Hitters
Highest Expected Run Totals
- Kansas City Royals - 5.3
- New York Mets - 4.9
- San Francisco Giants - 4.9
- Los Angeles Dodgers - 4.7
- Texas Rangers - 4.6
MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters
Bobby Witt, Kansas City Royals
What do I even write here? The guy is better than everyone else, lol. The Royals lead the slate in implied team total in MLB DFS projections today against Carson Fulmer.
Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, Starling Marte, J.D. Martinez, New York Mets
The Mets have super elite numbers against left-handed pitching this year and are one of my favorite stacks in today's MLB DFS picks.
- Mark Vientos; 1.066 OPS, .326 ISO, .449 wOBA
- Starling Marte: .916 OPS, .188 ISO, .395 wOBA
- J.D. Martinez: .884 OPS, .200 ISO, .387 wOBA
- Francisco Lindor: .844 OPS, .267 ISO, .356 wOBA
I'm also good with Jose Iglesias and Pete Alonso.
Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Lefty power-hitters have given Luis L. Ortiz issues this year and I'm here to tell you, we have one of them in Corey Seager. Seager has a .534 SLG%, .250 ISO, and .385 wOBA against righties this year. Ortiz has gotten amazing batted ball luck despite his 47% FB and 33.6% hard hit rates.
Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates
Lefties have absolutely hammered Dane Dunning all year long. Absolutely hammered him. 2.37 HR/9, .520 SLG%, 45.9% FB rate and 38.9% hard-hit. Today's MLB DFS projections like Cruz, who has a .284 AVG, .843 OPS, and .212 ISO against right-handed pitching this year.
Vladimir Guerrero, Toronto Blue Jays
The Reds are sending Julian Aguiar to the mound to make his major league debut, and he'll have to face one of the best hitters in the game. Guerrero is going to welcome the young pitcher in big fashion, putting him in a prime spot for MLB DFS picks today.
Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe, Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
Maybe one of the best low-rostered teams of the day is Tampa Bay and nobody seems to care. They're in an interesting spot against Joe Boyle who is definitely talented, but has a major walk issue. 11 BB/9 to left-handers is insane and they're also hitting .296 with a .399 wOBA against him. Over the last month, Brandon Lowe has a .926 OPS and .300+ ISO and Josh Lowe is hitting .306 with an .880 OPS himself. Caminero's blow up is coming and I suspect this could be the spot it does.
Will Wagner, Toronto Blue Jays
I like the savings a lot going Wagner at 2B tonight. He's been great so far in his short major league stint and now faces a pitcher making his major league debut that specifically struggled in the minors against lefty bats. Lefties have a .797 OPS and a .458 SLG% against Julian Aguiar at AA and AAA this year.
Player Pool
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