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Main Slate Rundown 🏟

A Friday frenzy awaits with a dozen games on the main slate ticket! There is a decent overall selection of starting pitchers, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the offenses have the edge on this slate. Half of the games have an over/under of at least nine runs, and there are plenty of suspect pitchers who could theoretically go on to get shelled. There are also no major weather concerns, except for one or two spots where a delay is possible, but nothing more significant than that. That’s always a welcome aspect to any slate! Let’s roll into the weekend on a profitable note, shall we? Best of luck!

Main slate match-ups with implied run totals and moneyline odds:

💣8/15 Dinger Report💣

Today’s Top Dinger Odds (sorted by LineStar projected HR odds)

Main Slate Weather Outlook 💨🌦️☁️

Check LineStar's MLB Daily Dashboard to see an overview of the most up-to-date game forecasts.

• CWS at KC (8:10 ET, 9.0 O/U): 90 degrees to start, humid, and winds mostly blowing OUT to left around 10 mph. Quality hitting weather.

• DET at MIN (8:10 ET, 9.5 O/U): Storms clearing late afternoon/early evening, so a late start may be in the cards here, but once they get going, there should be no further issues or stoppages. Temps around 80 degrees with 5-10 mph winds IN from right.

• ARI at COL (8:40 ET, 12.0 O/U): A few sparse showers and storms in the general area. They’re unlikely to hit the ballpark, but there is at least a small chance for a delay. Nothing worse than that. Hot temps around 90 degrees at first pitch. Beneficial for homers, especially at Coors Field.

• LAA at ATH (10:05 ET, 10.0 O/U): 80-90 degrees with 10 mph winds OUT to left. Bump to bats.

Pitchers to Consider ⚾

Framber Valdez (LHP), HOU | DK: $10.5k, FD: $9.9k | vs. BAL

Whether it be matchup concerns, poor recent form, a steep DFS price, or some combination of the three, there isn’t much appeal in spending up at SP today. But if you are taking that route, Framber Valdez feels like the most logical option. He is coming off of a couple of poor outings, but those games were both on the road against quality offenses (Yankees and Red Sox) in hitter’s parks. He’ll be on his home mound this evening, where he has put up much better results this season. Here’s a quick rundown on Valdez’s home/road splits:

Home (71.0 IP): 1.65 ERA, 2.75 xFIP, .202 opp AVG, 1.06 WHIP, 28.0% kRate

Away (74.2 IP): 4.22 ERA, 3.42 xFIP, .247 opp AVG, 1.26 WHIP, 21.1% kRate

The road splits aren’t awful by any means, but a sub-2 ERA and sub-3 xFIP at home is elite, and his strikeout rate jumps nearly seven percentage points at home, which is a significant difference. Valdez also remains one of the top groundball pitchers in baseball and has a ridiculous 63.8% GroundBall% at home this season. There are plenty of green (good) figures in his recent statcast data as well, and, over the last month, he’s ranked in the top 90th percentile in average exit velocity (85.3 mph).

I wouldn’t label the Orioles as a dream matchup, but they haven’t been in tip-top form versus LHPs lately -- over the last two weeks against lefties, they’ve posted a subpar .226 AVG, .678 OPS, 85 wRC+, and 24.4% kRate. In that same span, they’ve also accounted for an MLB-low 2.5% BB% and the 9th highest GroundBall%. On the season, the Orioles have ranked as the third-worst road offense, averaging just 3.52 runs/gm. That’s a major step down from their home average of 4.98 runs/gm (#7 home offense). So, all in all, there is enough working in Valdez’s favor today to make those last two uninspiring starts much less of a concern.

Luis Gil (RHP), NYY | DK: $7.5k, FD: $9.3k | at STL

I’d say the mid-to-lower end SP pricing range is where much of the attention will go today, with Luis Gil being one of those targets. After starting the season on the 60-day IL with a lat injury, Gil made his season debut 12 days ago. His first start was pretty rough, but he performed much like his former self in his second start this past Saturday against Houston. Gil was able to build up to 91 pitches and allowed two runs across 5.1 IP with seven strikeouts. Already getting up to 90+ pitches tells us that he’s not likely to face any major workload restrictions moving forward. Gil also made four rehab starts in the minor leagues, which covered 14.1 IP. Home runs were an issue during that rehab stint, as he gave up four of ‘em (2.51 HR/9 Rate), but he also held batters to a low .204 AVG while rocking a monster 38.7% kRate. If he keeps the ball in the park while also limiting walks, he should continue to post some promising results.

The matchup with a sputtering Cardinals offense also helps. Against RHPs L2Weeks (273 PAs), the Cardinals are hitting for a meager .206 AVG, .570 OPS, .253 wOBA, .107 ISO, and 61 wRC+ with a hefty 27.5% kRate and low 5.9% BB%. This team has not typically been a strikeout-prone offense this season, but that has certainly not been the case lately. And having a low ISO and low walk rate helps out with Gil’s two biggest concerns… home runs and walks issued. So there are more than enough reasons to keep Gil on the DFS radar today, especially on DraftKings, given his modest $7,500 salary there.

Huston Waldrep (RHP), ATL | DK: $7.2k, FD: $7.6k | at CLE

We’ll jump to another right-hander who only has two starts on the season, but much less overall MLB experience than the aforementioned Luis Gil. RHP Hurston Waldrep checks in as the Braves’ No. 5 overall prospect. He had a pair of disastrous MLB debut starts in June of last season, but he has looked much more comfortable at the big league level in two starts this year. It’s a very small sample size, but across his 11.2 IP in 2025, Waldrep has pitched to a 1.54 ERA, 3.72 xFIP, 0.86 WHIP, 22.7% kRate, and 6.8% BB%. He has shown above-average control (104 Location+ rating) and above-average overall skill (107 Pitching+ rating). And, given the Braves’ currently decimated starting rotation and extreme lack of playoff hopes, Waldrep is likely going to receive an extended audition for the rest of this season in order to build his case as a potential back-end starter in the Braves’ 2026 rotation.

Waldrep draws a fairly decent matchup versus a Guardians offense that has a .677 OPS and 89 wRC+ against RHPs L2Weeks (354 PAs), alongside a higher-than-average 22.6% kRate in that span. Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo are the two scary bats in this lineup, but outside of them are plenty of subpar or underperforming Cleveland hitters. Waldrep still isn’t without a fair amount of risk, but if he has truly turned a corner, then he’s just a bit too cheap to ignore.

Other Pitchers to Consider

Luis Castillo (RHP), SEA | DK: $8.6k, FD: $9.5k | at NYM

Chris Bassitt (RHP), TOR | DK: $8.4k, FD: $8.5k | vs. TEX

Joey Cantillo (LHP), CLE | DK: $8k, FD: $8.3k | vs. ATL

Sean Manaea (LHP), NYM | DK: $7.9k, FD: $8k | vs. SEA

Landen Roupp (RHP), SF | DK: $7.6k, FD: $8.2k | vs. TB

Jack Perkins (RHP), ATH | DK: $5.9k, FD: $6.7k | vs. LAA

Team Stacks to Target 🎯

Disclaimer: Stacking in MLB DFS is not a requirement but it is a very common strategy used to take down GPPs. This strategy is covered in more detail in the MLB DFS strategy guide linked in the header at the top of this newsletter. Check out the MLB StackFinder on LineStar.

Obligatory Coors Field Stacks

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Tanner Gordon (RHP), COL

Colorado Rockies vs. Brandon Pfaadt (RHP), ARI

Non-Coors Stacks

Kansas City Royals vs. Aaron Civale (RHP), CWS

The Royals have rated out as a top-five offense versus RHPs over the last month -- .264 AVG (5th), .796 OPS (4th), .343 wOBA (3rd), .198 ISO (5th), 116 wRC+ (3rd), and 15.7% kRate (2nd lowest). They’ve had issues stringing together great production at home this season (3.41 runs/gm, ranks them as the worst home offense in MLB). But hitting conditions are going to be excellent at Kauffman Stadium this evening… hot, humid, and 10 mph winds blowing out to left. They’re also coming off a three-game home series against the Nationals, where the Royals combined for 22 runs on 28 hits.

Aaron Civale put together a strong three-start stretch recently across matchups versus the Pirates, Cubs, and Angels. However, he got rocked by the Guardians in his last outing, allowing nine runs on eight hits and two walks across just 3.1 IP. On the season, he has put up lackluster results -- 4.91 ERA, 4.83 xFIP, and 19.6% kRate with a slate-worst 84 Pitching+ rating. Civale also gives up a ton of flyballs (48.2% FlyBall%), which may be a bad omen given the hitter-friendly weather conditions in Kansas City tonight.

Favorite KC Bats: Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia

Bargain Bats: Kyle Isbel, Adam Frazier, Mike Yastrzemski

Detroit Tigers vs. Pierson Ohl (RHP), MIN

The Tigers continue to be a tricky offense/stack to “get right,” but they’re in another promising spot today versus Pierson Ohl, who has been giving up a ton of hard contact. Ohl doesn’t have a lot of innings under his belt, but he is allowing a .402 wOBA and .290 ISO to LHBs and a whopping .456 wOBA and .563 ISO to RHBs. His statcast figures are lit up red with bad data, which is good news for the opposition, and he just faced this Detroit lineup nine days ago when he allowed four runs on four hits, including three home runs, across just 2.2 innings of work. The Twins’ bullpen also owns the second-worst xFIP in MLB (4.92) over the last two weeks, and they’re having a difficult time getting strikeouts as well (16.6% kRate). So that’s a positive note considering Ohl isn’t likely to pitch deep into this game.

Favorite DET Bats: Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson

Bargain Bat: Colt Keith

Low-Owned Stack That Just Might Work Out 🤔

Athletics vs. Yusei Kikuchi (LHP), LAA

Every hitter in the projected A’s lineup has a ≤ 10% pOwn%. Yusei Kikuchi has a chance to be one of the higher-owned pitchers on the slate, so there’s good leverage in stacking against him. The A’s have put up some excellent numbers versus LHPs over the last month -- .292 AVG (3rd), .857 OPS (2nd), .365 wOBA (2nd), .218 ISO (2nd), and 132 wRC+ (3rd).

Meanwhile, Kikuchi has struggled on the road (-33.3% less FPPG), owns a 1.65 WHIP over his last five starts, and he is in the bottom 15th percentile in average exit velocity over the last month (91.6 mph). Kikuchi has also allowed plenty of flyballs in that same span, along with a high 28.2% LineDrive%. Conditions at Sutter Health Park (#2 most hitter-friendly ballpark) remain positive for hitters with 80-90 degrees temps and 10 mph winds blowing out to left field.

Favorite ATH Bats: Shea Langeliers, Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz

Bargain Bat: Colby Thomas

One-Off Bats ☝️

A maximum of one hitter per team will be listed below. Feel free to use these players as one-off options, one-half of a two-man mini-stack, or a core piece to a full team stack.

1B/OF Shohei Ohtani, LAD vs. TBD, SD

2B Ketel Marte, ARI vs. Tanner Gordon (RHP), COL

3B Jose Ramirez, CLE vs. Hurston Waldrep (RHP), ATL

SS Bobby Witt Jr., KC vs. Aaron Civale (RHP), CWS

OF Juan Soto, NYM vs. Luis Castillo (RHP), SEA

C Shea Langeliers, ATH vs. Yusei Kikuchi (LHP), LAA

OF Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL vs. Joey Cantillo (LHP), CLE

OF Byron Buxton, MIN vs. Charlie Morton (RHP), DET

OF Kerry Carpenter, DET vs. Pierson Ohl (RHP), MIN

OF Julio Rodriguez, SEA vs. Sean Manaea (LHP), NYM

1B Vlad Guerrero Jr., TOR vs. Jacob deGrom (RHP), TEX

3B Alex Bregman, BOS vs. Sandy Alcantara (RHP), MIA

2B Jose Altuve, HOU vs. Brandon Young (RHP), BAL

OF Fernando Tatis Jr., SD vs. Clayton Kershaw (LHP), LAD

1B Rafael Devers, SF vs. Joe Boyle (RHP), TB

C Hunter Goodman, COL vs. Brandon Pfaadt (RHP), ARI

OF Taylor Ward, LAA vs. Jack Perkins (RHP), ATH

SS Corey Seager, TEX vs. Chris Bassitt (RHP), TOR

1B/2B Brandon Lowe, TB vs. Landen Roupp (RHP), SF

OF Giancarlos Stanton, NYY vs. Andre Pallante (RHP), STL

2B Xavier Edwards, MIA vs. Lucas Giolito (RHP), BOS

OF Luis Robert Jr., CWS vs. Noah Cameron (LHP), KC

Bargain Bats 💸

Note: Additional hitting value may open up once all official starting lineups are released. For now, here are some cheap hitters who are already confirmed or currently expected to be on the field tonight and find themselves in a good spot to pay off their modest DFS salaries.

3B/SS Carlos Correa, HOU vs. Brandon Young (RHP), BAL

OF Ramon Laureano, SD vs. Clayton Kershaw (LHP), LAD

OF Mickey Moniak, COL vs. Brandon Pfaadt (RHP), ARI

1B Christian Walker, HOU vs. Brandon Young (RHP), BAL

OF Jurickson Profar, ATL vs. Joey Cantillo (LHP), CLE

3B Blaze Alexander, ARI vs. Tanner Gordon (RHP), COL

OF Marcell Ozuna, ATL vs. Joey Cantillo (LHP), CLE

OF Jake McCarthy, ARI vs. Tanner Gordon (RHP), COL

3B Colt Keith, DET vs. Pierson Ohl (RHP), MIN

C Yainer Diaz, HOU vs. Brandon Young (RHP), BAL

OF Brenton Doyle, COL vs. Brandon Pfaadt (RHP), ARI

OF Michael Harris II, ATL vs. Joey Cantillo (LHP), CLE

OF Colby Thomas, ATH vs. Yusei Kikuchi (LHP), LAA

Home Run Calls of the Day 💣

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🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we are introducing Props AI for MLB! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks and UnderDog Fantasy!

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Best of luck out there today, everyone!