Welcome to the final month of the regular season. Amazing how fast it has flown. If you've been in the red all year, now is your (only) time to turn things around and flip those DFS negatives into positives. We've got a full slate of MLB action tonight, so there's much to digest for your FanDuel lineups.
My goal with these DFS picks, as always, is to try and identify MLB players who will outperform their expectations today, based on their matchups and FanDuel prices. These players can be high-cost players, or they can be value pick sleepers, but we are always looking for players that have a chance to return the greatest value for your DFS lineups. Let’s get to it.
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Offenses to Target for FanDuel Stacking
Yankees left-handed batters versus Rick Porcello
The Bronx Bombers are always up for high-scoring affairs when they meet the Red Sox at Fenway, and this night should be no different. Vegas pegged this over/under at 9, and I think the Yanks will do more to push that figure Over than the Red Sox will. Porcello has been brutal this season - against lefties especially - as they've pounded him to the tune of a .306/.353/.514 slash line with a .373 wOBA.
Blue Jays versus Cody Anderson
The MLB's top offense isn't going to stay dormant two nights in a row - especially not at home and against a rookie pitcher. Anderson has struggled over his last few starts and doesn't strike out many batters. The Blue Jays, as a team against RHP this season, own a .334 wOBA and .444 slugging percentage.
Honorable Mention: Astros top against Roenis Elias
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider for FanDuel
There are a lot of great top-tier, cash game type pitchers on the bump tonight. As for tournament guys? Not so much. Deciding who could provide the most value out of a group with Sale, Bumgarner, Cole, Cueto and Greinke is no easy task. I've ranked the starters below in my order of preference for this evening.
- Madison Bumgarner (SP, SFG) - 12,700
- Zack Greinke (SP, LAD) - $12,000
- Chris Sale
As for tournament guys, it's slim picking and I'm breaking my mold a little here ranking guys with salaries higher than 8K, but sometimes you just have to play the cards you're dealt.
- Andrew Cashner (SP, SDP) - $7,300
- Justin Verlander (SP, DET) - $8,500
- Joe Ross (SP, WAS) - $8,300
DFS Infielders to Consider for FanDuel Cash Games
Travis d'Arnaud (C, NYM) - $3,800
Of all the catchers on the board today, d'Arnaud looks like the safest play in cash games to net a positive score. He hits right in the middle of a productive Mets lineup, faces off against the mediocre-at-best Aaron Harang and owns a .387 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. To boot, he's also a deep threat against righties, as showcased by his .256 ISO and .532 slugging percentage.
Jose Abreu (1B, CHW) - $3,600
There are quite a few solid options at first base today with several solid cash game type players priced below $3,700. Definitely not a night I'm going to pay up. Abreu is at home in his power friendly park, faces a young RHP in Tyler Duffey that he should be able to pick on, and has strong figures against RHP with a .375 wOBA and .225 ISO for 2015.
Neil Walker (2B, PIT) - $2,600
What an amazing price for a guy that has strong splits and hits at the top of an order I expect to chase Jimmy Nelson tonight. His .342 wOBA and .456 slugging are nice figures, especially at that cost. If you're looking to pay top dollar, Jose Altuve plays nicely in cash games as well.
Kris Bryant (3B, CHC) - $3,800
Seeing as we're saving so much dough at second base, I'm confortable going about 3.5K for a guy like Bryant. He's a stronger hitter against right-handers and I think he'll see quite a few ducks on the pond tonight. His .371 wOBA is most attractive, but the .213 ISO is comforting as well.
Carlos Correa (SS, HOU) - $3,900
Correa returned to the lineup last night after a four day absence with quite a bang, launching a 2-run blast into the cheap seats. He's got another cushy matchup tonight against the lefty Elias. If you need to save a few bones here, my man Marwin Gonzalez is a good option at the minimum price.
DFS Infielders to Consider for FanDuel Tournament Games
Let's go hunting for deep threats, shall we? After all, tournaments are an all or nothing type contest.
Stephen Vogt (C, OAK) - $2,500
There are a few catchers tonight - McCann, W. Castillo, Martin - that may have just as good a shot or greater to hit the long ball tonight, but none with the upside and roster flexibility that Vogt provides at that price. He's got great splits against RHP, showcased by a .201 ISO and .460 slugging percentage. He's been heating up as well, with two home runs over the last seven days.
Paul Goldschmidt (1B, ARI) - $5,600
Okay, so the price is steep. But, Goldy faces a sub-par southpaw in Coors Field. Sign. Me. Up. His wOBA (.469), ISO (.273) and slugging percentage (.636) against LHP this season is other worldly.
Chris Coghlan (2B, CHC) - $3,100
I'm liking Cogs even more these days now that he's eligibile at second base and in what is seemingly an unannounced platoon split with Starlin Castro. Tonight, he's well rested and should be hitting third in the order. His .223 ISO and .513 slugging percentage against RHP are particularly impressive.
Adeiny Hechavarria (SS, MIA) - $2,300
Hech is a real nice punt at that price. He gets a park upgrade at Turner and has real strong numbers against LHP with a .410 wOBA and .510 slugging percentage.
DFS Outfielders to Consider for FanDuel
Brett Gardner (OF, NYY) - $3,200
Gardner should fit nicely into whatever fits your fancy this evening, whether it be stacking the Yanks, using him in cash, or even in tournament options (thanks to his modest price tag).
Yoenis Cespedes (OF, NYM) - $4,300
Yo has a pretty good shot of taking Harang deep tonight but his .387 wOBA makes him a fairly comfortable cash game option as well.
Adam Eaton (OF, CHW) - $3,400
Leadoff hitters are always more attractive to me when I like what the guys behind him in the order should be able to do against a young starting pitcher. Such is the case with Eaton and his Sox teammates tonight. Eaton is a much stronger hitter against RHP than southpaws, as showcased by a .356 wOBA - .106 points higher than his mark against LHP.
Kole Calhoun (OF, LAA) - $2,900
I couldn't leave you without a sub 3K option tonight. Calhoun is the strongest in that pool, owner of a .339 wOBA, .458 slugging percentage while facing off against a mediocre pitcher.
DFS Q&A with Max Petrie @ 6 PM on 9/1
Leave your question here and then come back at 6 PM when Max answers everything. For our regular MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat, click here.
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