Draftkings MLB Showdown Picks: Astros vs. Orioles 8/23/24

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

Before we dive into the Houston Astros 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 tonight’s Houston Astros vs. Baltimore Orioles matchup.

Draftkings MLB Showdown Picks

Captain-Hunter Brown, Pitcher, Houston Astros $11,800

On Friday night, Major League Baseball presents the second game of a four game American League series between the Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles.

How are these two teams playing entering tonight’s MLB game? The Houston Astros arrive at tonight’s game with the Baltimore playing quality baseball. The Astros have won 11 of the team’s last 14 games played in the 2024 MLB regular season, including a 2-0 shutout victory over the Chicago White Sox last week.

Conversely, the Baltimore Orioles arrive at this evening’s contest playing below average baseball. The Orioles have lost seven of the team’s last 11 games played in 2024, including a 4-3 loss to the New York Mets three days ago.

It should be noted that the Houston Astros defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-0 in last night’s opening game of this four game American League series.

Now that we have determined how both of these American League teams are currently playing let’s shift our focus to tonight’s game. Houston pitcher Hunter Brown has established himself as a valuable member of the Houston Astros starting pitching rotation this season. Having stated that, how has Brown been playing from a statistical standpoint in 2024? Let’s review Hunter Brown’s recent game data to answer that question.

In the 25 games that Hunter Brown has pitched for the Houston Astros in 2024, Brown has posted a respectable 3.82 ERA (Earned Run Average), 1.34 WHIP (walks, hits, inning pitched) and added a massive 140 strikeouts while allowing 50 walks.

More recently, in the Houston Astros 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox five days ago, Houston starting pitcher Hunter Brown certainly pitched at a high level. Let me be more specific. Brown pitched seven innings striking out six White Sox batters while allowing only four hits and two walks in the Astros win over Chicago.

Flex Plays

Yordan Alvarez, Outfielder, Houston Astros $9,800

Houston outfielder Yordan Alvarez continues to be an important part of the Houston Astros lineup this season. In his last 11 games played for the Houston Astros in the 2024 MLB regular season, Yordan Alvarez has tallied 13 hits (three home runs), eight runs scored, and six walks in 40 plate appearances. Clearly, Houston outfielder Yordan Alvarez is currently swinging the bat at a high level.

Flex plays I like (Draftkings price noted): Gunnar Henderson, Shortstop (Baltimore Orioles) $9,400: Jose Altuve, Second Baseman (Houston Astros) $9,000.