Welcome to Friday baseball on DraftKings. We have a fun 14-game slate on our hands that we can boost our bankroll with before football rolls around this weekend. As for the slate, it's a fun one. There are a couple of elite pitchers that are in much better spots than the field, but we'll have to find some value to fit those guys in.
Let's dive right in!
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 9/27/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Be sure to also check out all the MLB Rosters for today's slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Walker Buehler - LAD @ SF - $11,700
This will be the final regular-season outing for Walker Buehler, who will start one of the first two games in the playoffs. It’s a great match-up for him to start feeling himself before the playoffs, facing off with the lifeless Giants in spacious AT&T Park. They rank 25th in baseball at home against righties and strikeout close to 26%. Buehler is certainly better at home, but this ballpark and lineup seem like a perfect combo for seven clean innings and a win.
James Paxton - NYY @ TEX - $11,200
This is a slate I would advise paying up at pitcher. James Paxton is a bit cheaper than Buehler, but the upside is similar. The Rangers are absolutely terrible against lefties, ranking 28th in baseball and striking out a whopping 27% of the time. Paxton has looked great recently, going six-plus innings in three of the last four starts. If he’s spotting his secondary pitches, we could easily be looking at six or seven innings and double-digit strikeouts. This is a bit of a riskier play and Buehler is the go-to move in cash games.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Mitch Garver - MIN @ KC (Skoglund) - $5,400
DraftKings is going to make you pay up for Garver, but it’s for good reason. He’s been insane against lefties on the season, sporting a .462 wOBA with 18 XBH in just 105 at-bats. The Twins are seeing Skoglund for the second time in a week and they hold an implied run total over six. He's been terrible all season long and he's allowed a .350+ wOBA to righties. If you can afford Garver, he’s by far the top catcher on the board.
Pete Alonso - NYM vs. ATL (Keuchel) - $5,100
Pete Alonso should be the most expensive first baseman on this slate, but he's not. The Mets are facing off with Dallas Keuchel, who's a shell of his former self and likes to throw the ball low. Alonso preys on the low ball and the .350 wOBA allowed to righties by Keuchel isn't a good sign. Alonso is certainly expensive, but let's hope that keeps the masses of of him. He's posted a .400 wOBA against lefties and will look to add to his 50 home runs on the season. If you need to save at first base, C.J. Cron is way too cheap on DraftKings.
Gleyber Torres - NYY @ TEX (Palumbo) - $4,900
Torres has been quiet for a few games, but this is a perfect spot for him to break out. The Yankees are in hitter-friendly Arlington and facing off with a weak lefty in Joe Palumbo. Palumbo was striking out a crazy amount of batters in the minors, but he has since regressed as expected to just one per inning in the majors. The Yankees are expected to put up five-plus runs here and Torres should be a big part of it.
Colin Moran - PIT vs. CIN (DeSclafani) - $3,300
Anthony DeSclafani isn’t great, and we’ve yet to mention these Pirates. Colin Moran is cheap across the industry and he’ll be hitting third for a lineup with an implied total over four runs. DeSclafani is a lot worse vs lefties and has allowed an HR/9 close to two on the season. PNC Park is better for lefties and Moran has posted a .355 wOBA against righties at home. He’s a solid value play that won’t garner much attention elsewhere.
J.P. Crawford - SEA vs. OAK (Fiers) - $3,600
With so much to pay up for on this slate, you’ll have to save somewhere. J.P. Crawford faces off with Mike Fiers and he’s just too cheap. Fiers has been pretty lucky this season with an xFIP almost two runs higher than his ERA. I don’t mind a one-off Mariner bat and Crawford is priced appropriately at a position that lacks much of an opportunity cost. I’m ok with Crawford in all formats.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Nelson Cruz - MIN @ KC (Skoglund) - $5,500
Like we’ve already gone over with Garver, DraftKings is going to make you pay up for these Twins bats. Eric Skoglund is not a good pitcher and the Twins are going to put up runs in Kansas City. While the ballpark downgrade doesn’t help, it does allow us nine guaranteed innings of hitting and these bombers can hit it out anywhere. Nelson Cruz is one of the best hitters in the entire league (.422 wOBA) against lefties and he's only gotten better as the season has progressed. Nelson Cruz is my favorite bat on the entire slate and I’ll have him in every lineup of mine.
Andrew Benintendi - BOS vs. BAL (Wojciehowski) - $4,200
I haven’t touched on the Red Sox up to this point, but they deserve to be mentioned as one of the top stacks on the night. Facing off with Asher Wojciechowski, both lefties and righties are firmly in play. Benintendi hasn’t had the greatest season, but he’s started hitting better recently and has always been better against right-handed pitching. He’ll be in the heart of the order and he’s priced down on both sites. Benintendi is a great option in all formats.
Things change quickly as lineups come out. If you have any questions, hit me up on Twitter @VarneyDFS and I'd be more than happy to help.