With the Giants and A’s playing tonight, Saturday offers a full 15-game slate with just three games scheduled before 7:00pm Eastern. The 8/24 DFS Hitting and Stacks is the calm before the storm that begins next Saturday when college football bogarts its way into the sports schedule.
We’ve got you covered with college football, so keep your attention to the diamond while looking to make some long green as August makes the slow turn to September.
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8/24 DFS Hitting Catcher
Wilson Ramos, NYM vs. ATL
DK ($3,900), FD ($2,400)
Ramos extended his hitting streak to 17 games on Friday, continuing an August that has seen his OPS approach the gilded 1.000 mark. He’s helped his cause with a career-best 9% walk rate that has offset the dip in Isolated Power (.133) and BABIP (.294). He will get a very favorable matchup in Braves starter Max Fried, as Ramos wears out lefties with a .341/.424/.541 (.965 OPS) with five homers. That he’s managing this stretch of consistent hitting feels odd considering he’s hitting grounders at a 60.1% rate and manages a modest 31.6% hard contact rate.
Sometimes, the numbers can trick the hell out of us; in Ramos’ case, you take them for what they are and get the solid results.
8/24 DFS Hitting First Baseman
Carlos Santana, CLE vs. KC
DK ($5,400), FD ($3,700)
Why not roll with Santana again? He reached base three times in Friday’s win over the Royals to continue an August in which he has nearly as many walks (18) as he does hits (25). Santana has a .473 OBP this month but has reached base at a .627 clip against Kansas City pitching this season with three homers and 10 runs scored. Royals starter Glenn Sparkman makes for another easy mark for Santana, as he comes into the game allowing 1.89 HR/9 and a 23.6% line drive rate.
Sparkman has given up nine walks in 21 innings this month and has been treated like chum by Indians batters, who have hit eight homers against him in just 16.1 innings pitched this season.
8/24 DFS Hitting Second Baseman
Howie Kendrick, WAS at CHC
DK ($8,000), FD ($2,600)
If he’s in the lineup, I’m playing him. Kendrick has three multi-hit games in his last four starts, including a pair in Friday’s win at Wrigley. Kendrick is .462/.533/1.154 over the past two weeks with five extra base hits. The 36-year-old jack of all trades has a .934 OPS this season with a career-best .235 Isolated Power, the result of Kendrick delivering hard contact at a 44% rate and a 32.6% fly ball rate. He’ll be licking his chops at the thought of hitting Cubs starter Jose Quintana, as Kendrick has a .912 OPS in 93 at-bats against lefties this season.
8/24 DFS Hitting Third Baseman
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. TOR at SEA
DK ($4,000), FD ($2,900)
Prior to Friday’s opener against the Mariners, Guerrero was hitting a robust .583/.667/1.083 over the past week with a pair of homers. He’s been more effective on the road, sporting an .896 OPS before Friday night while his walk rate has finally reached double digits at 10.1%. Guerrero’s .191 Isolated Power will continue to rise while his line drive rate (18.1%) has steadily climbed since the All-Star Break.
Both he and his dad will have something to else to share, as Guerrero will get the chance to face Mariners icon Felix Hernandez, who will be making his first start since May 11.
8/24 DFS Hitting Shortstop
Tommy Edman, STL vs. COL
DK ($4,500), FD ($2,800)
Edman had his third multi-hit game this week in Friday’s win over the Rockies, making him 4 for 9 (.444) against the Rockies. Teeing off on Colorado pitching isn’t the only reason for considering Edman. He’s produced a .902 OPS over the past two weeks and has been decisively more dominant at, where his .839 OPS far outweighs his .661 OPS outside St. Louis. Edman is living up to his projections as a line drive hitter (22.8%) with the ability to scald the ball (42.4% hard contact rate) with occasional power outbursts (10% HR/FB rate).
Look for Edman to thrive off Rockies starter Chi Chi Gonzalez, whose control issues (4.40 BB/9) is worsened by his 2.05 HR/9 rate. I won’t be shocked if Edman takes advantage of Gonzalez’s 45.2% hit rate and takes him deep.
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8/24 DFS Hitting Outfielder
Ryan Braun, MIL vs. ARI
DK ($4,800), FD ($2,900)
If it feels like the Brewers love facing Diamondbacks pitching, it’s because….well, they do. Braun rapped out a pair of hits and drove in a run in Friday’s win, giving him a slash of .438/.444/.688 (1.132 OPS) with a homer in 16 at-bats against Arizona this season. This feels like a vintage Braun campaign, evidenced by a .212 Isolated Power and .331 BABIP along with the fact he can still swipe a base or two.
He’s pulling the ball more (42.1%) than in previous years while experiencing a slight uptick in both line drive rate (19.5%) and fly ball rate (29%). The 43.8% hard contact rate helps drive his numbers, but it’s the 6.1% walk rate that’s worth keeping an eye on since Diamondbacks rookie Zac Gallen has struggled with walks. That is all the more reason to Brew up in the 8/24 DFS Hitting and Stacks.
8/24 DFS Hitting Outfielder
Marcell Ozuna, STL vs. COL
DK ($4,900), FD ($3,500)
He’s homered in consecutive games against the Rockies and gets a pitcher (Chi Chi Rodriguez) who is exceptionally homer-prone tonight. I’ll triple my long ball bets with Ozuna, who is hitting .500 with two homers, five RBI and six runs scored in his last four games. Gonzalez, who has also suffered control issues, is an ideal target for Ozuna, whose 10.4% walk rate and .254 Isolated Power has been major factors in the resurgence of his bat. Ozuna sports a 50% hard contact rate, which makes him more viable in 8/24 DFS Hitting Picks and Stacks.
8/24 DFS Hitting Outfielder
Willie Calhoun, TEX at CWS
DK ($4,800), FD ($3,700)
Calhoun homered for the third time in five games, accounting for all of Texas’ offense in an 8-3 loss on Friday. The homer also continued displaying Calhoun’s slight edge as a more offensive hitter on the road, where his .911 OPS nudges past his .883 mark in Arlington.
Fly ball hitters are worth targeting when playing in Guaranteed Rate Field, and Calhoun certainly fits the bill with a 44.9% rate. He’s also equaled the strong run he had in the minors earlier in the season, flashing identical 20% HR/FB rates along with displaying an extreme pull nature (53.2%).
8/23 DFS Hitting Stacks
8/24 Hitting Stack of the Day: Cleveland Indians: On top of Santana, I’m tossing in Francisco Lindor ($5,100 DK). Jason Kipnis ($3,900 DK) is a good value play. Make sure Jose Ramirez ($5,100 DK) is part of the party, as he owns a pair of homers off Sparkman. Roberto Perez ($2,900 FD) is a good add as well. This will be a handsome payoff in the 8/24 DFS Hitting and Stacks lineup.
8/24 Hitting Stack Runners-Up: New York Yankees: Coming off a five-HR assault, the Yankees should feast off the the Dodgers. Gleyber Torres ($5,100 DK) has been off the chain during this West Coast swing. Aaron Judge ($3,900 FD) is showing signs of breaking out of a sluggish August. Pay up for Gary Sanchez ($4,100 FD) and smile while doing so.
8/24 Hitting Stack to Consider: Cincinnati Reds: Pirates starter Trevor Williams has a 8.03 ERA in his last 10 starts. He has allowed 18 homers in that span. That’s blood in the water for Aristides Aquino ($4,900 DK), who went deep on Friday night. Jose Iglesias ($3,700 DK) could be a bargain. Catcher Tucker Barnhart ($3,400 DK) has four hits in eight at-bats against Williams. Keep in mind Jesse Winker ($4,100 DK) has a pair of hits in six ABs vs. Williams.
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