Due to the layout of Sunday's MLB schedule, it's a lighter day than usual for DraftKings with six games and the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. EDT. As we end the first weekend of August, here are my DFS lineup recommendations.
Pitching
Chris Bassitt, TOR vs. KAN ($8,700): Bassitt has some significant home/road splits with a 2.65 ERA in Toronto and a 6.45 while away. I slightly hesitate when seeing a pitcher with an ERA that bad in any scenario, though the Royals' 29th-ranked offense balances it out.
Brad Lord, WAS vs. MIL ($5,500): I was originally going to recommend Simeon Woods Richardson, but then the Twins pushed his start and Jose Urena doesn't cut it. As such, I'll roll the dice on Lord at this salary. He's produced a 3.27 ERA, though he's primarily pitched out of the bullpen. And over Lord's last five outings, he's managed an 1.84 ERA and went 5.1 innings during his most recent start. The Brewers offer a good offense, but I'm willing to give him a shot with Sunday's subpar pitching options.
See which projected starters are going and when with RotoWire's Probable Pitchers page!
Top Target
Even with an injury to start the season, Gunnar Henderson ($5,400) is enjoying another excellent campaign…against righties. While the southpaw has regressed against left-handers, he's registered a .925 OPS versus righties. Colin Rea has allowed 1.61 homers per nine innings while lefties have hit a whopping .302 against.
Bargain Bat
There's a solid chance Dominic Smith ($2,900) will be in the lineup for the Giants on Sunday. He has a .784 OPS against righties and an .807 on the road, so this is where it makes sense to slide him into a batting order. And Wilmer Flores is banged up. Frankie Montas has really struggled during his tenure with the Mets with a 5.46 through six starts.
Stacks to Consider
Cubs vs. Orioles (Brandon Young): Pete Crow-Armstrong ($5,700), Michael Busch ($5,100), Dansby Swanson ($4,100)
Over the last two years, Young has shown he can handle Triple-A hitting. The problem, of course, is he'll be facing the MLB variety on Sunday. The righty Young has posted a 6.63 ERA from eight outings and lefties have batted .313 against with righties going .308.
Crow-Armstrong is so close to reaching 30 homers, 30 stolen bases, and 30 doubles. He's also not slowing down while pitchers haven't figured him out based on his .920 OPS the last three weeks. Busch is at a .269 average with 21 home runs. While he's struggling versus southpaws, he's registered a .957 OPS against righties. Swanson is a shortstop with 16 homers and eight steals. He's also better at home with a .774 OPS since joining the Cubs.
Mets vs. Giants (Carson Whisenhunt): Pete Alonso ($5,200), Francisco Alvarez ($3,200), Mark Vientos ($2,600)
In Whisenhunt's first MLB start, he allowed four runs over five innings in San Francisco's pitcher-friendly park. Also, it was against the Pirates. It's also worth noting he's made 43 Triple-A starts, where he's struggled to a 4.94 ERA. Whisenhunt didn't give up a hit to a lefty during his debut and he's also left-handed, so I've selected three righties for this stack.
Alonso has been cold, but obviously boasts plenty of power with a homer and double on Saturday. In every full MLB season, he's produced at least 34 home runs. And since 2023, Alonso has slugged .486 against lefties and .486 at home. Alvarez represents a decent pick at catcher. He may only have 10 extra-base hits this year, but that's in only 43 games. And the righty once hit 25 homers during a campaign. Vientos has experienced inconsistent results, though can claim an .819 OPS the last three weeks. And let's not forget he did well in 2024 when he notched an .838 OPS with 27 home runs across 111 appearances.
Try our DraftKings MLB Lineup Optimizer to discover more expert recommendations, customize the player pool, set exposure percentage and mass-enter DFS lineups.
