DraftKings Lineup Help: August 29 Late Afternoon Games
By Bill Pivetz
Aug 26, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
This DraftKings advice article will focus on the games beginning between 6:05 pm and 7:10 pm Saturday evening. There are nine games to pick players from in that time frame, with Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays kick things off.
DraftKings uses a 10-player lineup with a $50,000 budget, an average of $5,000 per player. Pitchers usually cost more, so you will spend about 25 to 30 percent of your budget on one starting pitcher. It’s important to use one of the top pitchers as a building block for your lineup. You get that ace in your lineup and you can fill out the rest of the positions with your remaining budget.
There are about four or five pitchers I’m looking at to build my lineup around. Of course, their salaries are at $12,000 (24 percent of your budget). One of them, Chris Sale, is priced at $14,100, which is a little too pricey for me. I may go with some of the other expensive pitchers, but there are some good pitchers for a couple of thousand dollars cheaper.
As far as the hitters are concerned, the catcher position is once again the weakest for these games. Besides the top two or three names, you’ll be spending next to nothing for a catcher. Jonathan Lucroy is the most expensive at $4,100. I’m likely going in another direction, but against Cincinnati, he isn’t a bad pick.
There are a lot of great hitters to choose from to fill out the rest of your lineup. Third base was definitely the most difficult position to pick. I was leaning towards Chase Headley, but I changed my mind because I don’t think he’ll score 22 points again.
I didn’t vary too much in which games I picked my players. Some of the lower priced pitchers are great matchups to expose. So, here is the DraftKings lineup I feel is the best for the later games on August 29.
Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?
Aug 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Fiers (54) reacts after pitching a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Dodgers 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
P – Mike Fiers, @MIN, $10,300
Fiers had an excellent outing the last time he was out. Against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he pitched a three-walk shutout while striking out 10 batters. He finished with 52.5 points. He will not score that high tonight, but he has a good chance to get close. The Minnesota Twins are 26th in batting average and 29th in on-base percentage this month. Miguel Sano has been the Twins’ best hitter, however he is dealing with a hamstring issue. The rest of the lineup doesn’t scare me, so Fiers is my No. 1 pitcher for the later games.
P – J.A. Happ, vs. COL, $7,700
Happ has improved in each start since joining the Pittsburgh Pirates. His most recent outing was his best with the Pirates, and arguably of the season. He pitched six shutout innings, giving up four hits, one walk and striking out six batters. Same as Fiers, Happ’s opponent is not hitting well this month. The Colorado Rockies are 24th in batting average and 28th in OBP this month. Carlos Gonzalez is hitting home runs like they’re going out of style, but they’ve mostly been solo homers. The downside is that the Rockies don’t score on the road, only 222 runs scored away from Colorado. At just $7,700, Happ is a good No. 2 option.
Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?
Aug 22, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann (34) rounds the bases on his solo home run to right during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
C – Brian McCann, @ATL, $3,800
The New York Yankees offense finally woke up on Friday. The team scored 15 runs on 16 hits. While it is very unlikely for the team to do that again, they have a good chance to score at least 10 runs off of Matt Wisler. He has a 5.43 ERA in 12 starts. McCann is leading all Yankees hitters with eight home runs over the last 30 days. With Alex Rodriguez sitting this series out and Mark Teixeira dealing with a bone bruise, McCann has been a big contributor over the last week. Wisler has given up at least five runs three times over his last five starts. McCann could score another 20 points in this game.
1B – Freddie Freeman, vs. NYY, $4,300
In the opposite dugout, Freeman has played well since returning off the DL. He is hitting .250 with a home run, four RBI and a 7:5 K:BB ratio. The Atlanta Braves will be facing rookie Luis Severino, who has pitched well in his four starts. First base was a tough position to pick. There were a few other players I could have picked, but with the price I paid for other positions, Freeman fit right into my lineup.
2B – Odubel Herrera, vs. SD, $3,500
Herrera has been the Philadelphia Phillies second-best hitter over the last 15 days, according to the ESPN Player Rater. He has 16 hits, two RBI and three stolen bases in that span. While he doesn’t have second base eligibility in ESPN leagues, he can be used at that position on DraftKings. Second base, like catcher, is a position I don’t look to fill early. Unless you’re paying for speed from guys like Dee Gordon or Jose Altuve, then you can grab a cheaper guy. Herrera and the rest of the Phillies will have a fun time hitting against Colin Rea.
3B – Kyle Seager, @CWS, $3,700
This is where I had the biggest indecision. Like I mentioned earlier, I wanted to put Headley here. I had $200 left over, so I was looking to upgrade a position or two. With the Seattle Mariners facing Jeff Samardzija, who has 4.75 ERA and 1.27 WHIP this season. The Mariners are picking up some steam, scoring at least five runs four times in their last six games. He has two home runs in his last three games, but has struggled from a season-long standpoint. I think the matchup against Samardzija will liven up his bat.
SS – Eugenio Suarez, @MIL, $3,700
When the Cincinnati Reds lost Zack Cozart, fantasy owners were digging through the waiver wire for a replacement. Luckily, the Reds’ backup shortstop has been an excellent fill in. In August, he has a .271 batting average with four home runs, 17 RBI and 11 runs scored. The Milwaukee Brewers will send out Matt Garza in this game. Garza has a 5.26 ERA and 1.50 WHIP this season. Miller Park has been a hitter-friendly park this season. Suarez will likely hit his 10th home run in this game.
Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?
Aug 25, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) at bat in the inning in a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Marlins won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
OF – Andrew McCutchen, vs. COL, $5,100
This is the McCutchen fantasy owners have been looking for. After a poor first half, he has turned it up in August. He has five home runs, 19 RBI, 17 runs scored and 20:22 K:BB ratio. He and the rest of the Pirates lineup have a great matchup. Chris Rusin lasted just two innings after giving up 11 runs against the New York Mets. He has a 6.39 ERA since the All-Star break. In his last 11 games, McCutchen has eight multi-hit games. Those kinds of games can help rack up the fantasy points for your lineup.
OF – Franklin Gutierrez, @CWS, $3,800
Gutierrez is the second Mariners player I picked for the evening games. He’s hit a home run in three straight games. His DraftKings price has increased by $1,000 over the last five days, and with good reason. He is batting .377 with seven homers and 20 RBI over the month of August. I am taking full advantage of the matchup against Samardzija this game.
OF – Carlos Gonzalez, @PIT, $4,100
Yes, I know I picked Happ as my other pitcher, but I think he’ll give up one or two runs. And I think CarGo will drive in those runs. He has five home runs and seven RBI in his last 11 games. Happ is prone to giving up the long ball, a 10.3 HR/FB percentage this season. While he missed last Tuesday’s game with a knee injury, he should be in today’s lineup. If he is scratched, Carlos Beltran is my backup pick.
Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?
Aug 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pinch hitter Odubel Herrera (37) connects for a base hit during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
So, here is my DraftKings lineup for the later games.
P-Mike Fiers
P-J.A. Happ
C-Brian McCann
1B-Freddie Freeman
2B-Odbel Herrera
3B-Kyle Seager
SS-Eugenio Suarez
OF-Andrew McCutchen
OF-Franklin Gutierrez
OF-Carlos Gonzalez
Again, my lineup construction is based on power potential from the hitters and win probability from the pitchers. Fiers against the Twins and Happ facing the Rockies at home both have the chance to score 10 fantasy points for the win. McCann, Seager Suarez, McCutchen and Gonzalez are the most likely to hit a home run in their respective games.
I did not have any leftover money in my budget. If I kept Headley, I would have had $200 left over. I hate leaving money on the table, no matter how small. That extra salary could be used to upgrade a position, and use a player with a better matchup. I believe I used good, and some great, batters with favorable matchups.
Feel free to comment with what you like or don’t like, or what your DraftKings lineup looks like.