Draftkings Best MLB Showdown Picks: Red Sox vs. Orioles 8/16/24

Major League Baseball presents a matchup between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles. Let’s take a look at this MLB game from a Draftkings perspective.

Before we dive into the Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles game let’s review the rules for the Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this evening’s Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles matchup.

Draftkings MLB Showdown Picks

Captain-Corbin Burnes, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles $11,200

On Thursday night, Major League Baseball presents the second Game of a four Game American League series between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles.

How are these two American League teams playing entering tonight’s Game? The Baltimore Orioles arrive at this evening’s contest playing quality baseball. More specifically, the Baltimore Orioles have won five of the team’s last eight Games played in the 2024 MLB regular season, including an 4-1 win over the Washington Nationals two days ago.

In direct contrast to the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox arrive at the second game of this four game American League series playing below average baseball. Let’s review the Red Sox recent game data to better shed light on my previous statement. The Boston Red Sox have lost six of the team’s last eight games played this season, including an embarrassing 10-2 loss to the Houston Astros last week.

It should be noted that the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-1 in last night’s first Game of this four Game American League series.

Talented Baltimore pitcher Corbin Burnes has certainly established himself as a valuable member of the Baltimore Orioles starting pitching rotation this season. Having stated that, how has Burnes been playing from a statistical standpoint in 2024? Let’s review Burne’s recent game data to answer that question.

In the 24r games that Corbin Burnes has pitched for the Baltimore Orioles in the 2024 MLB regular season, Burnes has posted an impressive 2.71 ERA (Earned Run Average), 1.05 WHIP (walks, hits, inning pitched) and added 137 strikeouts while allowing 35 walks.

More recently, in the Baltimore Orioles 9-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians 11 days ago, Baltimore hurler Corbin Burnes pitched rather well. Let me be more specific. Corbin Burnes pitched five innings striking out five Cleveland batters while allowing six hits and one walk in the Orioles win over the Guardians. I fully expect Corbin Burnes to continue to pitch at a high level versus the Boston Red Sox later today.

For the reasons just noted, I am backing Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Corbin Burnes as my captain for this one Game DFS MLB contest.

Flex plays I like to play well this evening (Draftkings price noted): Gunnar Henderson, Shortstop (Baltimore Orioles) $9,200: Rafael Devers, Third Baseman (Boston Red Sox) $9,400: Jarren Duran, Outfielder (Boston Red Sox) $8,800: Cedric Mullins, Outfielder (Baltimore Orioles) $5,400.