Get your MLB DFS research started with DFS Army’s Full Count! Pitching advice, stack strategy, home run calls, and everything you need.
Welcome to another year of the DFS Army MLB Full Count! You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Mike aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article out on Twitter as well as inside our coaching forums. With that said, let’s get it started!
Full Slate Breakdown Picks for MLB DFS 8/22:
Apr 19, 2022; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer (21) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
We have a BRAND NEW update to our MLB Domination Station lineup optimizer with advanced user-controlled scoring systems inside. You control how the lineups are built from three main uses of our projections: Points-based, DFSA Grades, or the unique blend of Hybrid Scoring! The Domination Station will help you create 150 of the highest projected lineups in a matter of minutes. With features that allow you to Like 
Love 
or Dislike 
a player, you can create a fully unique pool of players to generate your lineups from every day. Combine the power of the Domination Station with our VIP Only Articles and the MLB Research Station to really take your game to the next level.
Main MLB Slate Player Projections and Stacks:
Cincinnati Reds (+200) @ Philadelphia Phillies (-245)
Implied Run Totals:
Rundown:
We’ll open up the day with Luis Cessa getting the start for the Reds as they head into Philly. Cessa hasn’t thrown more than 25 pitches in any of his last five games, so he’s not exactly stretched out. I don’t see a reason to get to him against a hard-hitting Phillies lineup, the upside doesn’t outweigh the risk at this price tag. The Phillies will send Noah Syndergaard to the mound in what should be a pretty solid matchup against this Reds team. Outside of Jake “Hank Aaron” Fraley, the lineup isn’t that great. He’s probably more of an SP2 option than a guy I would want on a one-pitcher site like FanDuel, but I suppose you could make a case in deep tournaments. I did want to highlight Jake Fraley quickly, he has at least 10 DraftKings points in six of his last eight games and is still sub-$3k on DraftKings… he’s a great value option.
CIN 5-star plays: Jake Fraley
4-star plays: Jonathan India
GPP Note: More of a one-off team than anything for me here.
PHI 5-star plays: Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins
4-star plays: Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm, Jean Segura
GPP Note: The Phillies look great here in what should turn into a bullpen game against a bad bullpen.
New York Mets (-167) @ New York Yankees (+143)
Implied Run Totals:
Rundown:
The Mets will send Max Scherzer to the mound in a tough matchup in Yankees Stadium against a scuffling Yankees team. That being said, it’s hard not to like Scherzer in all formats, he has at least 37 FanDuel points in nine straight games giving himself an elite floor and ceiling combination. He also sports a 31.4% strikeout rate on the season, so even if the Yankees tag him for a few home runs, he has the stuff to make up for it. The Yankees will start Domingo German in a similarly tough matchup with this Mets team. He has looked a little better as of late but still probably not a guy I want to get to here.
NYM 5-star plays: Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte
4-star plays: Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, Brett Baty
GPP Note: The implied run total for the Mets seems low to me here. I like them a good amount in a hitters park.
NYY 5-star plays: None
4-star plays: Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo
GPP Note: Just one-offs against Scherzer.
Atlanta Braves (-200) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (+175)
Implied Run Totals:
Rundown:
Jake Odorizzi will get the start for the Braves in a pretty solid matchup with the Pirates on the road here. Odorizzi hasn’t been great being held under 10 DraftKings points in four of his last five starts. He has a 17.3% strikeout rate on the season combined with this Pittsburgh team that is strikeout happy… I like him to bounce back here and makes a lot of sense as an SP2. The Pirates will send Roansy Contreras to the mound against this high-powered Braves offense. He struggled with command in his first game back in the majors last time out against the Red Sox and won’t be a guy I go back to in a tough matchup here.
ATL 5-star plays: Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley
4-star plays: Dansby Swanson, Matt Olson, Vaughn Grissom
GPP Note: I don’t like stacking in Pittsburgh, but this Braves lineup is awesome.
PIT 5-star plays: Bryan Reynolds
4-star plays: Oneil Cruz
GPP Note: I just don’t think this lineup is good enough to stack.
Watching the weather is half the battle when it comes to MLB DFS. The DFS Army Weather Station has you covered, from games that have delay and postponement potential, to games that could have significant winds that will play a roll in selecting a team to stack or a pitcher to use.
St. Louis Cardinals (-175) @ Chicago Cubs (+145)
Implied Run Totals:
Rundown:
Onto Wrigley we go, but it doesn’t appear the wind will be much of a factor here as it’s projected to blow in around 5 mph which won’t do a ton but be sure to look at the DFS Army Weather Station for confirmation before lock. Jordan Montgomery will get the start for St. Louis in a pretty solid matchup with this Cubs team and has been really good since being traded to the Cardinals. He has at least 26.6 DraftKings points in back-to-back games and is a guy I like in all formats. Drew Smyly will start on the other side of this one and feels like the Cardinals get a matchup with a lefty each and every night because they destroy them. Below are some notable numbers for some of these Cardinals bats against lefties on the season:
- Albert Pujols – 0.388 ISO; 0.492 wOBA
- Paul Goldschmidt – 0.413 ISO; 0.568 wOBA
- Nolan Arenado – 0.393 ISO; 0.417 wOBA
It’s safe to say I’ll be underweight on Smyly and will go right back to the well with this Cardinals stack.
STL 5-star plays: Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt
4-star plays: Lars Nootbar, Albert Pujols, Nolan Gorman, Tyler O’Neill
GPP Note: The Cards look great again here.
CHC 5-star plays: None
4-star plays: Willson Contreras
GPP Note: Montgomery looks really solid here.
Miami Marlins (-141) @ Oakland Athletics (+125)
Implied Run Totals:
Rundown:
The Marlins will give the ball to Edward Cabrera here after a quick change from Pablo Lopez, but it’s a great matchup for him against this below-average A’s lineup… putting it nicely. Cabrera has at least 33 FanDuel starts in all but one of his starts this season and has a really nice price tag on both FanDuel and DraftKings. He has a 28.8% strikeout rate on the season and is a guy I like in all formats. The Athletics will start Adam Oller who had a nice game last time out but is still rocking a 6.63 ERA on the season, so not a guy I’m all that interested in even in a nice matchup with the Marlins.
MIA 5-star plays: None
4-star plays: Jon Berti, JJ Bleday, Jesus Aguilar
GPP Note: More of a mini-stack team than anything.
OAK 5-star plays: None
4-star plays: None
GPP Note: Love Cabrera here for the Marlins.
Milwaukee Brewers (+210) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (-250)
Implied Run Totals:
Rundown:
We’ll round out the slate with Eric Lauer and the Brewers heading into Los Angeles against a tough Dodgers lineup. Lauer made his last start against the Dodgers and scored 21.6 DraftKings points, so I don’t think he’s as easy of a cross-off as you might think. He has a 23.7% strikeout rate on the season and gets a ballpark boost here. He’s not a guy I want in cash games, but I’ll have some exposure in GPPs. The Dodgers will send Julio Urias to the mound against a scuffling Brewers offense. Urias put up 23.7 DraftKings points in his last start which was indeed against this Brewers lineup. He’s been in great form with a 2.40 ERA on the season, he’s an elite option in all formats.
MIL 5-star plays: None
4-star plays: Willy Adames, Andrew McCutchen, Keston Hiura
GPP Note: Probably just one-offs here for me against Urias.
LAD 5-star plays: Mookie Betts, Trea Turner
4-star plays: Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Justin Turner
GPP Note: It’s hard not to like this Dodgers lineup against a lefty.
MLB season is here! DFSArmy VIP Members had a big season last year and are in for some big things again this season! We will have cheat sheets, breakdowns, and many other tools to help make you successful in one of the more volatile fantasy sports.
