Happy Monday! It's time to kick off another week full of baseball! There will be history today with Danny Jansen officially playing for both teams in the first double-header game between the Blue Jays and Red Sox. It is hard to believe we are quickly approaching the last month of the season, so let's make sure to make the most of it and keep building some winning MLB DFS picks today! 

 

 

 

We have a difference between the DraftKings and FanDuel slates, as is usual when there is a double-header. The FanDuel slate does not include game 2 of the Red Sox vs. Blue Jays game, but it does include three earlier games, adding the Astros vs. Phillies, Cubs vs. Pirates, and Yankees vs. Nationals. 

The playbook will consist of MLB DFS projections that you can use to build a lineup for either site. The DraftKings slate will start at 7:10 PM ET, and the FanDuel just a bit earlier at 6:40 PM ET. Let’s jump into the playbook and all my favorite MLB DFS picks for the day! 

MLB DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, August 26

Today, I am living on the top end of pitching. I like pitching options at the top end, and they aren’t very expensive, so you can stick with the top pitchers without spending too much money. The cheaper options just don’t seem worth it to me today. 

If you want to try to catch lightning in a bottle with Ty Madden against the White Sox, but be warned, even against the White Sox it likely won’t be good. He has 37 strikeouts in his last 4 starts, but he has also given up 15 runs over that stretch. There is strikeout upside, but he has a 7.97 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP in 79 innings in AAA this season. You never know what will happen in a debut, but keep your exposure small if you are taking a shot here. 

On the offensive side, we do have Coors Field to deal with. I do like going after a cheap Miami team that should be able to score plenty of runs against Ryan Feltner in Colorado. While Edward Cabrera is a better pitcher, I don’t think you have to avoid him if you also want to go after some Colorado bats. Outside of Coors, some of my favorite lineups to target today are the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees (FanDuel), Boston Red Sox (DraftKings), and Toronto Blue Jays (DraftKings).

 

 

 

MLB Weather Today, 8/26

Everything is looking clear for today’s games. 

MLB DFS Optimizer & Lineup Generator Today

This Playbook is your go-to guide for creating top-notch MLB DFS picks. Check out our expert tips and suggestions, and make sure to catch today’s MLB DFS projections, MLB DFS ownership projections and our dedicated MLB lineups page! 

Easily combine all this info with the MLB DFS Lineup Generator, which lets you secure your Core Plays and whip up winning lineups in no time! Here is an example lineup for today's slate: 

 

 

 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

Top Options For Strikeouts

Best Odds For A Win

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Bailey Ober, Minnesota Twins

Bailey Ober continues to be one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. He has now had 11 straight quality starts; that is insane. Over that stretch he has a 2.09 ERA. 0.80 WHIP, and 29% strikeout rate through 73.1 innings. This is Cy Young level stuff. 

He faces the Braves today, who have still been attackable with a 25% strikeout rate vs. righties over the last month. While they still have some power with Bailey Ober pitching at this level, I am not worried that he won’t be able to shut them down today. 

Bryce Miller, Seattle Mariners

It wasn’t quite the start you wanted from him against the Dodgers, only going 4 innings, but it was still 5 strikeouts. Despite giving up 5 hits, 2 walks, and 2 homers, he only gave up 2 runs, and it’s the Dodgers. Before that, he had back-to-back scoreless outings totalling 13 innings with 15 strikeouts, giving up only 5 hits and 1 walk.

He gets to face the Tampa Bay Rays today, and I expect results similar to what he did in those previous scoreless outings. The Rays have a 25.7% strikeout rate and only a .651 OPS against righties over the last month. Bryce Miller should thrive here for today's MLB DFS picks. 

Ryan Pepiot, Tampa Bay Rays

While I prefer Bryce Miller's MLB DFS projections, who has had slightly better results lately and faces a slightly worse offense (yes, the Rays are even worse than the Mariners), Pepiot is a fantastic pivot option if you need to save a little money. 

The Mariners have a very similar strikeout rate to the Rays against righties (25.2%); they just have a bit better of an OPS at .753, though that is also fueled by a high walk rate, as they are still only hitting .234. Pepiot has plenty of strikeout upside, and this should be a low-scoring game with some quality performances from both pitchers. 

 

 

 

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Hitters

Highest Expected Run Totals 

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters

Spencer Torkelson, 1B Detroit Tigers

There is no doubt it has been a disappointing season for Spencer Torkelson, who we never expected not to remain in the majors all season, but things are looking up. Since his return, he has slashed .290/.371/.516 through his first 8 games. 

Spencer Torkleson opened this season as a $5,000 first baseman. He can still be that level of hitter, and I am happy to jump in on the discount in a good matchup where I like the Detroit Tigers as a team against Davis Martin and the White Sox, as they could be one of the highest-scoring teams today.  

Colt Keith, 2B Detroit Tigers 

While I think $4,000 for Spencer Torkelson is a decent price, getting Colt Keith for even cheaper is insane. Colt Keith is on an 8-game hitting streak, during which he has 5 multi-hit games. Over that stretch, he has slashed .441/.472/.618. 

At a position where there are no superstars to choose from today, I don’t know why you would want to pay up for MLB DFS picks for guys like Brandon Lowe and Brendan Rodgers when you can get Colt Keith at this price. 

Connor Norby, 2B/3B Miami Marlins

I still don’t understand why Norby wasn’t in the Marlins lineups the minute they traded for him, but he is there now and thriving. In his first 6 games for the team, he has 9 hits, including 4 doubles and 2 homers. 

He has found himself in the leadoff spot for the last two games, and considering he homered in the first game and then was a triple short of the cycle in the next, they will likely keep him there. He did get a price jump for Coors, but not enough; he should be a lock somewhere in your lineup today (probably 3rd because Colt Keith has to go in at 2nd base).

Jackson Merrill, OF San Diego Padres

Jackson Merrill’s heroics continue for the San Diego Padres after a walk-off homer yesterday against the Mets. Over the last month, he has slashed .333/.356/.676, along with 7 homers, 4 triples, and 8 doubles. 

He faces Kyle Gibson today, someone I am usually happy to stack against. He especially struggles against lefties who hit him quite well. I think Jackson Merrill is one of the better outfield MLB DFS projections today. I would be considering him even if he were among the top-priced guys, and he is not. 

 

 

 

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