Fantasy Baseball Stacks: Top DraftKings MLB Offenses to Target for August 16

Sunday features an eight-game main slate locking at 1:05 p.m. ET. We do have some weather spots to keep an eye out for so be cautious on Mets-Phillies and Red Sox-Yankees. Looks like those could be trouble spots but worth looking at again before lock. As always, this article will feature plays as if we don’t have any weather issues.

As always, you can reach me on the ol’ Twitter machine @SBuchanan24.

Set your DraftKings lineups here: MLB $300K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]

1. Washington Nationals

John Means ($6,400) returns to the Orioles’ rotation this afternoon after last making a start back on Aug. 4. His return brings him a very tough start against the Nationals, whom against lefties boast a .366 wOBA, a .244 ISO and a 130 wRC+. After a tough start against the Yankees, Means bounced back when facing the Marlins, allowing just one run in two hits while striking out four in 4 ²⁄₃ innings. I’ll take a strong Nationals team in this spot and hope they can spoil Means’ return to the rotation.

Players to Consider

Juan Soto ($5,400)
Howie Kendrick ($3,800)
Trea Turner ($5,100)
Asdrubal Cabrera ($4,100)
Yan Gomes ($3,300)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Kendrick and Gomes are not in the lineup for today’s game vs. the Orioles.

2. Chicago White Sox

Dakota Hudson ($8,600) will be taking the hill for the second time this season by no fault of his own, as the Cardinals haven’t played much due to COVID-19. Regardless of that, Hudson was someone to pick on, especially with lefties. Last season on the road, Hudson allowed a .384 wOBA with a 5.67 FIP and six of his 22 home runs against lefties on the road. Overall, a .345 wOBA and a 5.10 FIP on the road is not going to get it done. The White Sox have a few lefties at the top of the order and then just toss some real power at you, making them an extremely tough stack to combat but a very strong one to use on your roster. This is a full nine-inning game, so no need to worry about that either.

Players to Consider

Yoan Moncada ($4,800)
Yasmani Grandal ($4,800)
Jose Abreu ($5,000)
Eloy Jimenez ($4,500)
Tim Anderson ($4,400)

3. Houston Astros

Justus Sheffield ($6,100) is on the hill for the Mariners and will be making this start in Houston. Looking at Sheffield’s numbers, he’s actually been pitching better than you’d expect as his 2.41 FIP indicates. He also has yet to give up a home run but two games at home and one at the Angels certainly doesn’t hurt. Nonetheless, he’s allowed a 55.3% hard-hit rate and has walked six batters through 13 ²⁄₃ innings. As you’d expect, the Astros are near the top of the league in almost every offensive category against lefties with a .360 wOBA, a .248 ISO and a 135 wRC+. Even if Sheffield can hold them at bay for a bit, the Mariners’ bullpen has been one of the worst in the league.

Players to Consider

Alex Bregman ($5,400)
George Springer ($4,900)
Yuli Gurriel ($4,400)
Jose Altuve ($5,100)
Martin Maldonado ($3,800)

Curious about when major leagues and events will return? Check out our DraftKings Sports Calendar for the latest updates.

4. Cleveland Indians

The Indians continue to have some of the worst offensive numbers in the league, which is incredible when you consider Cleveland is 12-9 and only one game back of the Twins in the AL Central. This is all during a time where, overall, Cleveland has a team .277 wOBA (29th) a .106 ISO (30th), a 35.4% hard-hit rate (30th). Cleveland does lead the league in BB% at 12.2 (yipee) so that’s something, I guess? Either way, they face opener Michael Fulmer ($6,500) who has had two mixed appearances followed by Tyler Alexander ($6,000), who just got wrecked against the White Sox. While Alexander has struck out has an impressive 35 K%, the rest of his numbers aren’t appealing with a 5.25 FIP, 2.3 HR/9 and a 47.8% hard-hit rate. This team SHOULD be good against lefties, so I’ll bet on the talent in this spot rather than Cleveland’s overall numbers.

Players to Consider

Carlos Santana ($4,300)
Franmil Reyes ($4,200)
Jose Ramirez ($5,500)
Domingo Santana ($3,500)
Jordan Luplow ($2,700)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Luplow is not in the lineup for today’s game vs. the Tigers.

Set your DraftKings lineups here: MLB $300K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]

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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Steveazors) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.