Covering The Bases: MLB DFS Picks Today for Saturday 8/15
Long-time grinder Justin Van Zuiden (aka stlcardinals84) is here to cover the bases for the upcoming MLB DFS slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Whether you are looking for the top pitchers or the best stacks, Justin has you covered with an extensive deep dive into his favorite MLB DFS picks today on August 15, 2026.
Happy Saturday, Grinders! We are back with a split slate that is offering us a 5-game early slate starting around 1 PM Eastern and a larger 8-game main slate for the evening hours. FanDuel has split up the early games into 2 very small slates, so I will focus the early analysis on the DK slate before circling back to the main docket.
It largely looks like the MLB weather will cooperate for us today, so let’s dive right in and see what the start of this weekend has to offer!
Saturday Afternoon Pitching: MLB DFS Picks on DraftKings and FanDuel
TOP TIER PITCHERS
- Cam Schlittler at Blue Jays
- Troy Melton vs. White Sox
Just as I expected a few months ago, I would be pairing Cam Schlittler with Troy Melton in an “ace” pitching section. Hey, sometimes life is unpredictable! As usual, I shall begin with a look at the 2026 data to see if Melton has truly become an ace.
Schlittler – 2.21 ERA, 2.82 xFIP, 31.4% K, 5.4% BB
Melton – 1.46 ERA, 3.92 xFIP, 22.5% K, 7.8% BB
Okay, so Troy Melton may not be an ace. It’s not like I want to go out of my way to target hitters against him, but it is pretty crazy that he has managed to keep a 1.46 ERA through 80 innings with an xFIP and SIERA around 4.00. He has somehow held opponents to a .196 BABIP in those 80 innings, and that is certainly not going to last forever. He’s not a great option now that his salary is above $10,000 on DK.
If you are spending up for a pitcher, Cam Schlittler is the clear choice. He bounced back from a terrible outing against the Cardinals with a gem in his last start, in which he allowed just 3 hits with 11 strikeouts and 1 walk in 7 brilliant innings against a good Braves lineup. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is absolutely elite, and he has even more safety than normal in a matchup against a Blue Jays team that has ranked near the bottom of the league offensively in most categories this season. This may not be the best strikeout matchup on paper, but Schlittler is capable of racking up strikeouts against any opponent when he has his best stuff.
This isn’t even really a conversation. If you are spending top dollar at pitcher on the afternoon slate, Schlittler is your choice.
SECONDARY ARMS
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About the Author
Justin Van Zuiden (aka stlcardinals84) is a longtime RotoGrinders contributor and show host. He’s appeared in numerous Live Finals, has logged countless 6-figure wins in a host of different sports (including 5 in PGA), and is a former DFS Writer of the Year Nominee by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. You can find Justin’s ‘Covering The Bases’ series on weekends during the MLB season. He is also a main contributor of sports betting picks at our sister site, ScoresAndOdds. Follow Justin on X – @stlcardinals84