Chris Davies 
This is an article directly relating to DraftKings MLB cash plays for 8/29 DFS. The benefit of the doubt will always be provided to higher floor players rather than more volatile players with higher ceilings. MLB is one of the more variable sports so it is important to attempt to reduce risk as much as possible in cash. Potential ownership is also another factor taken into consideration.
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Pitchers
8/29 DFS High End
Mike Clevinger – Cleveland Indians – $12,200 – *CORE PLAY* – Clevinger should be the chalk cash high end starting pitcher on the early slate. Over the last 14 days against righties, the Detroit strikeout rates have been through the roof. Mercer 29%, Reyes 33%, Lugo 32%, Dixon 40%, Hicks 47%, etc. On the season, we have Demeritte at 34.2%, Castro 37.5%, Beckham 29.7%, and finally Rodriguez at 27.2%. Clevinger has my favorite manager when it comes to pitchers, Terry Francona, so the leash should be solid barring a slip with that unusual delivery. Clevinger has reached at least 100 pitches in all eight of his prior starts. He has a massive 43.4% strikeout rate against righties this season and should face six or seven of them. Don’t try to overthink it.
8/29 DFS Low End
Zach Greinke – Houston Astros – $9,300 – I hate the double pay-up build so much. Unfortunately, I just don’t think there is any way around it in DraftKings cash for the early slate. Greinke has had recent starts where he only registered one and two strikeouts respectively, sort of indicative of his mediocre strikeout rate on the whole. However, with the low walk rate and very low flyball rate against lefties I think he feels a little safer here than Bassitt who was my other consideration, and would be next in line. Berrios might gain some traction but I just can’t trust a guy with as many red flags as Berrios right now in cash, even with a plus matchup.
Catcher
Kevin Plawecki – Cleveland Indians – $2,800 – Roberto Perez should sit with the day game following a night game. I would be fine with any cheap warm body at this position on this 8/29 DFS slate in cash.
First Base
Ryan O’Hearn – Kansas City Royals – $2,900 *CORE PLAY* –I got to watch a little bit of the Royals game last night and his at bats looked solid. Very nice swing on the home run, picture perfect. O’Hearn draws Bassitt’s achilles heel as a lefty. Bassitt’s ISO jumps sixty points and flyball rate goes up eleven points to 42% against the side. As for O’Hearn, he has turned a corner as prior to last night he has maintained a .241 ISO and 55% hard hit rate versus righties over his last fourteen days (32 total at bats). It wouldn’t be the craziest thing in the world if he salvaged the remainder of his lost season.
Second Base
Jonathan Schoop – Minnesota Twins – $4,100 – *CORE PLAY* – This man is on fire so let’s ride the hot hand vs. up and down Dylan Cease. Prior to one good start versus Texas, Cease had allowed multiple home runs. Schoop has hit five home runs over his last five games including the two last night. Cease + Schoop = bomb in 8/29 DFS.
Shortstop
Francisco Lindor – Cleveland Indians – $4,900 – Bregman should get some ownership as well, and Marcus Semien probably deserves it the way he has been hitting lately although won’t get it. Nevertheless, I will take the savings with Lindor. He is $600 less than Bregman and will be batting leadoff on the road in a game where I think his team can bat around quite a few times. No matter what this is a spot you pay up.
Third Base
Abraham Toro– Houston Astros – $3,100 – The young MLB prospect should be back in the lineup after receiving a breather. He can provide some salary relief while simultaneously giving us exposure to one of the slate’s more popular 8/29 DFS teams.
Outfielders
Yaisel Puig – Cleveland Indians – $4,200 – For cash games on this slate, this will have to suffice as high end. It’s a good price for Puig who should have a middle of the order lineup spot for the Indians.
Jake Cave – Minnesota Twins – $3,900 – If Max Kepler misses tomorrow’s game, Cave is the likely beneficiary. Cease is allowing a massive .307 ISO to lefties this season with a high flyball rate to match.
Josh Reddick – Houston Astros – $3,500 – Reddick had been slumping really hard but has come alive over his last two games with five hits in seven at bats. At this rock bottom price I think you eat this in cash and add more 8/29 DFS Astros exposure.
Seth Brown – Oakland Athletics – $3,300 – The bad news is that Brown is no longer the dead minimum price of $2,000. The good news is that he’s still cheap and gets to face Royals gas can Glenn Sparkman. The rookie has 37 home runs at Triple A this year albeit in the hitter friendly PCL. I think he makes for a fine punt once again.
Monkey Knife Fight MLB Picks
Francisco Lindor – Cleveland Indians – Over 1.5 Bases – I like parlaying as many easy MLB picks as possible and this seems like a strong one.
Mike Clevinger – Cleveland Indians – Over 7.5 Strikeouts – If you read my 8/29 take on the Tigers above you know why I am taking the over.
