MLB DFS Picks & Player Prop Bets: Saturday (8/31)

It’s the final day of August, so we only have one month left in the baseball season. That’s hard to believe, but it’s been a lot of watching these teams battle it out all year. We still have plenty to decide, and it should be fun to see these teams duke it out for the final four weeks.

With that said, let’s dive into this Saturday slate.

• Weekly Trade Value Chart
• Weekly Waiver Wire Advice
• Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
• Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Chart
• MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Saturday’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Saturday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Zach Wheeler (PHI) vs. ATL
Using a pitcher against Atlanta feels strange, but this is not the top offense we saw last season. On the contrary, the Braves rank 18th in runs scored and 23rd in K rate. That’s scary against a monster like Wheeler, posting a 2.74 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in another sensational season. He’s also allowed two runs or fewer in 11 of his last 12 starts, scoring 37 and 40 FanDuel points in his two matchups with ATL this season.

Bryan Woo (SEA) at LAA
Woo is quietly having a superb season in Seattle. The righty has been on and off the IL, but he has a 2.05 ERA and 0.81 WHIP across 16 starts. A whole season like that is hard to fathom, especially since Woo has only allowed six total runs across his last six starts, posting a 1.42 ERA and 0.74 WHIP in that span. Facing an LA lineup without Mike Trout only adds to his intrigue, with the Angels ranked 26th in OBP and 27th in runs scored. He’s faced them five times over the last two years, scoring at least 28 FD points in four of those!

Cody Bradford (TEX) vs. OAK
Bradford missed most of the season on the IL, but he’s been fantastic when he’s out there. The lefty has made eight starts this year, tallying a 2.49 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in those outings. One of those was against this Oakland team, throwing 6.1 scoreless innings en route to 52 FD points. That’s no surprise since the A’s rank 25th in runs scored, 26th in K rate, and 23rd in OBP.

Jose Quintana (NYM) at CWS
Quintana threw 6.1 scoreless innings in his most recent outing and is quietly having a renaissance season in NY. The lefty has a 3.53 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across his last 13 starts. That’s the stud we remember from Chicago, and he should have his way against his former team. The White Sox rank last in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and xwOBA!

MLB DFS Picks: Suggested Lineup Stacks

Baltimore Orioles (vs. Ryan Feltner)

• Road (Coors Field)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 11.5 Runs/BAL -190

Baltimore has a Top 5 offense in nearly every metric, and it’s scary to think what they’ll do in Coors Field. They’re projected to score a slate-high six runs in this magical matchup, facing Feltner’s 5.54 career ERA and 1.48 WHIP.

Texas Rangers (vs. Joe Boyle)

• Home (Globe Life Field)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/TEX -160

The Rangers have been a massive disappointment this season, but they still have a scary lineup. Those bats become even more enticing against a guy like Boyle, with the A’s arm posting a 6.54 ERA and 1.69 WHIP.

MLB DFS Picks: Core Studs

• Seager has been one of the best hitters in baseball over the last two years, posting a .372 OBP and .941 OPS in that span. That’s scary considering his recent form, providing a 1.013 OPS across his last 24 games. A matchup with Estes should allow him to continue to excel, totaling a .399 OBP and 1.004 OPS against righties since the start of last year!
• Santander hitting in Coors Field sounds like a cheat code. This guy is well on his way to a 40-homer season, thanks to his 34 homers since May 5. He’s also got a .553 SLG and .867 OPS in that span, making him a good bet for at least one homer in this weekend series against the worst pitching staff in baseball.
• De La Cruz has entered superstardom territory and is ranked fourth in fantasy points per game. Historical seasons from Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Witt, and Aaron Judge are the only things holding him back, and we love that he’s facing a righty with a 4.64 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. In nearly 400 at-bats with the platoon advantage in his favor, EDLC has a .893 OPS!
• Chourio hit the longest dinger by a Brewer this season a few days ago, but he’s been their best bat in the second half. That’s why he’s been hitting leadoff or second, compiling a .366 OBP, .536 SLG, and .902 OPS in that span. He’s also got nine homers and 11 steals in that 53-game streak, and we don’t care what fill-in he faces for the Reds in one of the best hitters’ parks in baseball!

MLB DFS Picks: Value Plays/Punts

• O’Hearn has quietly had a great year in Baltimore, batting in the heart of their lineup whenever they face a righty. That becomes particularly attractive in a place like Coors against a gas can like Feltner, with O’Hearn totaling a .799 OPS against righties since the start of last season.
• Garcia is having one of the worst seasons of his career, but this slugger is slowly turning things around. The World Series MVP has a .346 OBP and .826 OPS across his last 19 outings. That’s the form we’ve been waiting to see, and it makes him an excellent punt play against a pitcher like Boyle.
• Blackmon has always been an elite option when facing a righty at home. The Rockies choose to bat this guy leadoff whenever that happens, with Blackmon flirting with a 1.000 OPS in those circumstances throughout his career. Some might think he’s past his prime, but Blackmon has a .898 OPS at home over the last two years! We’re not worried about Dean Kremer in Coors, with Colorado projected to score over five runs!
• Winker was a sneaky addition by the Mets, inserting him into the heart of their lineup when they face a righty. It’s easy to see why they do that, with Winker accruing a .374 OBP and .811 OPS against righties this year. That’s below his career averages, and we’re not concerned about a matchup against the worst team in baseball.

Saturday’s Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props

DJ Herz: 5.5 Strikeouts – Higher

Herz has an 11.8 K/9 rate over his last 12 starts and has cleared this total in four of his last six outings.

Nick Pivetta: 6.5 Strikeouts – Higher

Pivetta has an 11.0 K/9 rate over the last two months and faces a Detroit team that ranks 21st in K rate. In their last two matchups, Pivetta has 17 total strikeouts!

Jose Quintana: 4.5 Strikeouts – Higher

We will do three strikeout props, with Quintana matched up with the worst team in baseball. He’s cleared this total in eight of his last 13 games and faces the worst lineup in the sport.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.