There’s a split MLB schedule on Wednesday, with five afternoon games (first pitch 1:05 Eastern) and ten more in the evening. DraftKings offers All-Day and Early action, plus 2-game Turbo contests at 2:05, 3:35 and 8:05. There’s also Late play (8:40; 2 games) but the largest prize pools are at 7:05, spanning all ten night games, so that’s our focus.
Dallas Keuchel $11400 is the top-priced SP, with a good chance to prevail over Nathan Karns $7700 and the Rays. Cards’ southpaw Jaime Garcia $10300 is a strong play against struggling Matt Cain $4800.
Last night Jake DeGrom kept the powerful Orioles in check. The only downside for rookie Noah Syndergaard $10200 is being “too similar” to DeGrom — not only the size and fabulous hair, the right-handed arsenal. Mjolnir, the mythological hammer of Thor, is a great name for the rookie’s devastating curveball.
Corey Kluber $11200 fired a complete-game 1-hitter on Friday, but the Red Sox have exploded for 62 runs in their last six games. I’m not picking Joe Kelly $5600 to win, just pointing out that he’s half the price in a potentially close game.
Veteran Jon Lester $9900 is at home against rookie Daniel Norris $5100 but the Tigers pounded out ten runs last night and some of them have fared very well vs. the Cubs’ lefty. It’s also risky to use Stephen Strasburg $9100 at Coors Field.
Plays of the Day
New to DK? Your first deposit earns a FREE entry into the Early $70K Moonshot — the winner gets $5,000 and 5,400 teams out of a maximum 26,820 earn cash. All prize money is guaranteed even if it doesn’t fill. It’s normally a $3 buy-in, and multiple teams are allowed. Enter by 7:05; you can make lineup changes until each player’s game begins.
One DFS problem is a lack of bargain pitching. Rookie Keyvius Sampson $5800 managed to win road games against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks; the Royals have never seen him.
Using two SP in the 5-digit salary range means scrimping for bats. At C, Francisco Cervelli $3600 is the pick if he isn’t rested after playing 15 innings last night. Yan Gomes $3600 seems healthy again after a knee injury ruined the first half.
I’d love to plug in mighty Paul Goldschmidt $5400 or 1B/3B Miguel Cabrera $4800 at first but can’t afford either. Jose Abreu $4100, nearly as dangerous for less money, is the highest-priced bat in our sample lineup.
2B Ian Kinsler $3900 was 5-for-5 with his 7tth HR on Monday and is hitting .387 since the All-Star break with a .597 SLG. We still like Chase Utley $3100, even against Mark Buerhle $7300, one of the few lefthanders without a pronounced platoon split.
3B Josh Donaldson $5900 had another monster night (39 PTS!) to almost single-handedly beat the Phillies. Too bad he’s so expensive. 2B/3B Aaron Hill $2600 has been hot in August.
3B/SS Jung Ho Kang $3600 has made a great transition from the Korean league, belting his tenth homer last night. Fellow rookie 2B/SS Addison Russell $3100 is a future All-Star at a bargain price.
The patient Bryce Harper $6000 walked four times and scored four runs; he can earn that salary if they throw him a strike. A.J. Pollock $5200 is also on my wish list, though too costly. 2B/OF Ben Zobrist $4300 homered and scored 19 points for us on Tuesday while Curtis Granderson $4200 hit two more bombs; an MLB-high seven of his 22 have come leading off a game. More affordable, Kole Calhoun $3700 went deep off a lefty last night and has a better matchup vs. Jeff Samardzija $6800. In an unorthodox move, slugger Jayson Werth $3300 batted leadoff for the Nats and generated 16 PTS; that’s value. Chris Colabello $3600 should be back in the Jays’ lineup vs. a lefty.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Dallas Keuchel $11400 | Keyvius Sampson $5800 |
| SP2 | Jaime Garcia $10300 | Joe Kelly $5600 |
| C | Francisco Cervelli $3600 | Yan Gomes $3600 |
| 1B | Miguel Cabrera $4800 | Jose Abreu $4100 |
| 2B | Ian Kinsler $3900 | Chase Utley $3100 |
| 3B | Josh Donaldson $5900 | Aaron Hill $2600 |
| SS | Jung Ho Kang $3600 | Addison Russell $3100 |
| OF1 | Bryce Harper $6000 | Kole Calhoun $3700 |
| OF2 | A.J. Pollock $5200 | Chris Colabello $3600 |
| OF3 | Curtis Granderson $4200 | Jayson Werth $3300 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Until basketball returns, we’re offering baseball tips on weekdays. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.