MLB DFS Expert Survey: Monday, August 17th

by Justin Bailey (Jbails26)

Created Aug 17, 2026

Last Updated 2026-08-17 16:53:47 Premium Content Part of the product MLB DFS

Our panel of experts is here to give you their insights on MLB DFS today for the 8/17 main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. They’re here to answer key questions that will assist you in making those crucial lineup-building decisions. Curious who our experts have as their favorite sneaky stack? Or perhaps you’re wondering who they have as their top overall pitcher? Read their thoughts below!

MLB DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Expert Survey for Monday, August 17

Who is your favorite hitter to spend up for in cash games?

headChopper: Shohei Ohtani
ebeimfohr: Shohei Ohtani
boggslite: Shohei Ohtani

What is your preferred tournament format (e.g. large-field, single-entry) to play on this slate? How do you plan to beat that field of opponents? What tactic or strategy will set you apart?

headChopper: My main focus tonight is large-field tournaments. I know the Dodgers will be the chalk offense, but I plan to be well overweight on them, even if that means using smaller stacks or mixing in some of the bats who are lower in the order. I’m even considering making sure every lineup includes at least two Dodgers because, while baseball is unpredictable and they could disappoint as a whole, it’s hard to imagine that one or two of them won’t exceed value in Coors Field against a weak pitcher. Pitching, on the other hand, isn’t particularly strong, so that’s where I may look to save salary. As always, I’ll wait for MLB lineups to be released to see if any managers rest a couple of regulars, which could create a weaker offense for me to target with one of my pitchers.

ebeimfohr: I am extremely similar to Chop, but for smaller-field tournaments. I understand how chalky and expensive the Dodgers are likely to be, but I plan to attack that spot regardless. Almost all of the top-projected hitters are Dodgers, and I am not going to get super cute and fade this elite hitting spot. That means I will have to be very cognizant of pOWN%, both with the specific Dodgers I play and with the pitchers I pair them with. They are, of course, very expensive, so ownership on Dodgers stacks will also get condensed. I think we can get different both within Dodgers stacks and with the pitchers we play. I plan to take shots on pitchers like Mitch Bratt on DK, allowing me to get lower-owned pitching upside at cheap prices with my Dodgers.

boggslite: Large-field tournaments – This is an ugly pitching slate, with the highest-projected starting pitcher on DK, Blake Snell, making just his 3rd start of the year, and he’ll be in Coors Field. I will prioritize bats over pitching on this slate. Instead of focusing on pure upside, I will target some cheaper pitchers, such as Framber Valdez and Walker Buehler, in their respective matchups. As bad as the Dodgers have been lately, a road trip to Coors Field could help them get back on track, and I will have plenty of exposure throughout their lineup. I will also have some exposure to the Braves, Royals, and White Sox.

Who is your favorite pitcher (when considering price, matchup, projected ownership, etc.) on the board and why?

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