We only have three games on Thursday, August 31st, on DraftKings and FanDuel. It's an interesting slate with Spencer Strider atop pitching, but he faces off against the Los Angeles Dodgers, so what gives? We have Ronald Acuna Jr., Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman all on the same field vying for the MVP award. Be sure to check out all of our tools including the MLB Lineups page, MLB DFS Projections – powered by FanJections –, MLB DFS Ownership, and all of the rest of our tools HERE! Let's dive into today's playbook, core plays, and top stacks of the day!

 

MLB DFS Weather Center

Miami Marlins @ Washington Nationals

Winds blowing in from dead center around 10 MPH.

Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers

Top Options for Strikeouts

Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: 7.5 Ks (-165)

Lance Lynn, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves: 5.5 Ks (-155)

Braxton Garrett, Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals: 4.5 Ks (-130)

Best Odds for a Win

Braxton Garrett, Miami Marlins -162

Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves -145

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Favorite Starters to Use for DFS Lineups

Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves

Is this the best stretch of Strider’s season? He’s fired three straight starts of seven innings in which he’s allowed just one run total and has struck out 25 batters. This is a different beast, however, facing off against the Dodgers. He faced the Dodgers earlier in the year and he struck out 11 batters, but allowed four runs (two earned) and lost the game. Nobody on this slate has as much upside as Strider, but he has been hit hard at times and the Dodgers could absolutely touch him up here.

Lance Lynn, Los Angeles Dodgers

You know what’s contrarian? Playing Lance Lynn today. He has the toughest match-up imaginable and I WILL have a Braves stack mixed into my lineups without a doubt. That said, Lynn’s been good at Dodgers Stadium this year. In four starts, he’s pitched to a 2.63 ERA and has 25 Ks in 24 innings. He actually beat the Braves earlier this season so he has that under his belt as well. Lynn’s a GPP play at best, but one I’d take a shot on considering it’s a small slate.

Joan Adon, Washington Nationals

Once again, I’m being contrarian here. A lot of the field is going to get to Braxton Garrett but I’m hesitant there. The Nationals do not strike out much as they’re punching out at a 16% clip against left-handed pitching in the month of August. I like the match-up for Adon on the flipside. The Marlins are in a free fall and the offense has been a big reason as to why. They’re 23rd in OPS and 24th in wOBA against righties in August. Adon just fired six scoreless against them and sure, now they have data to go against him, but they’ve been bad against righties overall.

Recommended DFS Hitters

Highest Expected Run Totals 

Miami Marlins - 4.71

San Diego Padres - 4.67

Atlanta Braves - 4.44

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Favorite Hitters to Use for DFS Lineups 

Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

What is this guy on? During the month of August, Betts has hit .454 with a 1.309 OPS, .343 ISO, and .546 wOBA. Righties have gotten to Spencer Strider a little bit more than lefties have as he’s allowed 1.19 HR/9 to right-handed hitters. Betts has a .251 ISO and a .415 wOBA against RHP. You might get Betts at lower ownership here, to be honest.

Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres

Kim’s starting to heat up again with back-to-back multi-hit games and hits in three straight overall. With Sean Manaea expected to be the long-man here, that means multiple at-bats for Kim against southpaws. Kim has a .250 ISO and a .423 wOBA against southpaws this year. He’s going to lead off and he’s one of my favorite overall spends on Thursday’s slate.

Wilmer Flores, San Francisco Giants

All aboard Wilmer Flores bandwagon here. The Giants have a good match-up here against Pedro Avila here. He was really good as a relief pitcher, but as a starter through his first 8.1 innings, he has not looked the same. He has a 6.48 ERA as a SP compared to a sub-1.00 ERA as a RP. Righties are what’s given Avila issues as he’s allowed a .159 ISO and a .331 wOBA. Those numbers over the last 30 days it’s worse, allowing a .182 ISO and a .334 wOBA to RHH. Flores on the year has dominated righty hurlers posting a .232 ISO and .364 wOBA.

Carter Kieboom, Washington Nationals

The one-time top prospect is back on the scene and has been pretty good through seven games. He’s belted three home runs with five bombs and a .940 OPS. He faces lefty Braxton Garrett today and that’s realllllly good for Kieboom here. During his 2023 campaign, at every level he’s been at, he’s absolutely dominated against left-handed hurlers. In 27 games, he’s slashed .378/.482/.889 with SIX home runs TEN extra-base hits in 45 at-bats. That’s insane. Righties have given Garrett some trouble this year posting a .193 ISO and a .335 wOBA against him.

Come watch Jon Impemba & James Grande go LIVE on the Bettor Sports Network & Fantasy Alarm YouTube channels breaking down today's 6-game MLB DFS main slate at 5:00 pm ET! Give the video a thumbs up & subscribe to our YouTube channel!

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