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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/18/21. Euan Leith's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Monday, Rotoballers! It's Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, and the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox are tied at one game apiece. The series shifts to Fenway Park for the next three nights after the Red Sox slugged their way to taking over the home-field advantage with a 9-5 win in Game 2.
Tonight, Jose Urquidy will take the mound for the Astros as he faces off against Eduardo Rodriguez. Houston hopes Urquidy becomes their first pitcher of the series to make it more than three innings as Framber Valdez and Luis Garcia faltered early at Minute Maid Park. However, suppose Urquidy can't go five innings. In that case, this bullpen will be an important factor to monitor for future contests as the Astros are putting some serious miles on their relievers to begin this series.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/18/2021. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also check out today's FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. It's also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, find me on Twitter and ask away.
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DraftKings DFS Captain Selection
Alex Bregman - 3B, HOU at Eduardo Rodriguez ($11,700)
Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve have led the charge for the Astros this postseason, and it feels like the time for Alex Bregman to step up. This postseason, the third baseman has a hit in every game, but his only extra-base knock was a double. For his career, Bregman is 5-for-12 against Rodriguez with two home runs. Rodriguez has a career 8.53 ERA against Houston in six starts, and it's all lining up for a big Bregman night.
DraftKings DFS Utility Selections
Jose Urquidy - RHP, HOU at BOS ($10,400)
I have enough confidence in Urquidy to slot him into my showdown lineups tonight. This year, in 20 starts, Urquidy recorded a 3.62 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 90 strikeouts across 107 innings. I would love to see more strikeout upside from my showdown pitcher, but I have a sneaky suspicion Urquidy can come through for our squads. That's because he struck out nine Red Sox in six innings on May 31 in his only start against the Boston team. I prefer Urquidy to Rodriguez because I believe the Astros need him to pitch at least five innings, while the Red Sox could yank E-Rod early if things get ugly.
Enrique Hernandez - OF, BOS vs. Jose Urquidy ($9,400)
If you are playing a tournament contest, you should be fading Hernandez as he will be a trendy play. I mean, the man is hitting .500/.514/1.094 this postseason with nine runs, four doubles, five home runs, and nine RBI. You are a braver DFS player than I if you sit him because I'm not risking it and missing out on another epic Enrique display.
Yuli Gurriel - 1B, HOU at Eduardo Rodriguez ($7,000)
As the American League batting champion finds his footing, things are turning around for Yuli Gurriel over his last three games. He scuffled to one hit in his first three contests but is now 5-for-12 with a home run and three RBI in his previous trio of games. It doesn't take a lot for him to go on a tear, and he's shown us in the past just how locked in he can be. I wish the price tag were a bit lower, but he's still the best bet to score points in this $6,500 to $7,500 price range.
Alex Verdugo - OF, BOS vs. Jose Urquidy ($6,800)
Alex Verdugo will remain in the fifth spot for the Red Sox lineup with a righty on the mound. He has two doubles and a home run in six games during the playoffs and is comfortable between Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez on the batting card. I just mentioned Yuli Gurriel as my favorite pick in this price range, but Verdugo will be a close second if you don't have the extra $200 for La Pina.
Chas McCormick - OF, HOU at Eduardo Rodriguez ($4,400)
This spot in the lineup will be my late pivot, depending on the health of Jake Meyers ($4,000). Chas McCormick got the starting nod for games 1 and 2 after Meyers collided with the outfield wall in Game 4 of the ALDS. McCormick isn't going to break the slate or anything, but he (or Meyers) will have guaranteed at-bats in this Houston lineup, and that's still valuable. Of course, the extra $400 can be sprinkled elsewhere if Meyers gets the start, but I still don't mind rostering McCormick as I lean towards Houston taking Game 3.
