DFS MLB Picks (August 19, 2017)

Cubs pitcher Jose Quintana has allowed 6 or fewer
hits in 13 consecutive starts.

Pitchers:

Michael Wacha - St. Louis Cardinals: Wacha is 6-2 with a 2.68 ERA in last eight starts (6/26-present), 8th-best ERA among NL pitchers over that span. His six wins pace the NL with five others.

Jose Quintana - Chicago Cubs: Quintana has allowed six or fewer hits in 13-consecutive starts, the longest active streak in the majors and third-longest this season.

First Baseman:

Josh Bell - Pittsburgh Pirates: Bell has 9 RBIs in his last 7 games. His 68 RBIs are the most by a Pirates rookie since Jason Bay collected 82 in 2004. Bell has gone 11-for-26 (.423) with three doubles, two triples, a home run and nine RBI in his last nine games.

Second Baseman:

Javier Baez - Chicago Cubs: Javy, who yesterday had two hits and three RBI (including a two-run homer in the eighth), is hitting .311 (19-for-61) with seven homers, 18 RBI and a 1.049 OPS in 16 August games.

Shortstop:

Paul DeJong - St. Louis Cardinals: DeJong hit team-high 19th HR in 3-hit game (7th, 2nd STL) last night, and he is tied for 4th in Cardinals' rookie HR’s (Mize, 1936).

Third Baseman:

Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs: Bryant has batted .378 (28-for-74) with six doubles, four homers, 12 RBI and a .460 OBP in his last 19 games since July 29. He has reached base in 15-straight games, his second-longest stretch of the season.

Catcher:

Alex Avila - Chicago Cubs: Avila was 2-for-4 with a double, homer, run scored and three RBI Thursday. He has eight RBI in his last eight games.

Outfielders:

Dexter Fowler - Chicago Cubs: Fowler has a .444 BA (12-27) with 12 RBIs and 1.419 OPS in 8 games batting 4th (.417; 5-12 w/RISP). He leads NL with 18 RBIs in interleave play, and he is 4th in BA (.382) and OBP (.475).

Jon Jay - Chicago Cubs: Jay has reached base multiple times in seven of his last 11 starts. He was 0-for-4 with a walk Thursday and has reached safely in his last seven games.

Starling Marte - Pittsburgh Pirates: Marte went 2-for-4 last night vs. St. Louis, and has gone 8-for-17 (.471) in his last four games after a 1-for-10 stretch. Plus, he is hitting .271 (32-for-118) since returning to action on July 18.