DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (9/9/21): MLB DFS Lineups

September 9, 2021

The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 9/9/21. Brian Entrekin's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.

We have a 5-game main slate on tap tonight, and it's a rough one. The pitching is interesting as there are cases to be made for five or so arms, but not all are very comforting. The bats are fun as the Braves will be the most popular play on the slate. There are some other nice spots, though, and they can make some nice leverage plays on the slate. In the end, it is a small slate with a lot of ways to go but not a lot that makes you feel super comfortable. On the bright side, bats can be paid for on this slate with no too many high-priced pitchers to target.

The slate starts with which pitchers to build around. Do you pay up for Marcus Stroman or Jose Berrios? Save a few bucks and take a gamble on Nestor Cortes versus the powerful Jays? Or punt with the likely chalky arm of Carlos Hernandez? Some fascinating decisions. I love Hernandez tonight but will be on an Orioles' stack if he is chalky. When it comes to stacking it up, the Braves should be the most popular, but the Mets and Phillies should also be in play. Those may not be the best spot though, Camden Yards may be the place to go with a potential game stack between the Royals and Orioles. For a full slate run down, listen to MLB DFS Quick Hits.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 9/9/2021. 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, contact me on Twitter @bdentrek.

DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers

Jose Berrios - P, TOR at NYY ($9,200)

Berrios has been quite up and down this season but is coming in off back-to-back solid starts. Over his last two starts, he threw 13.2 innings while allowing four runs and striking out 18. He was racking up the DK points. It gets better as he faces a Yankees time who has been struggling of late. They are striking out 26% of the time in the past month versus RHP while hitting .233 with a 108 wRC+. Yes, the Yankees have a .215 ISO, and that's the gamble you take when pitching against them. Berrios has only allowed four home runs over his last eight starts and hopefully can limit the damage again tonight. He makes for a solid GPP play. If you want the "safer" play or cash gameplay, then roll with Marcus Stroman versus the struggling Marlins' offense instead.

Ranger Suarez - P, PHI vs. COL ($7,400)

It has taken some time to get Suarez stretched out to pitch a "starter's workload," but here we are in a great matchup tonight. Suarez has thrown five or more innings in three starts, reaching 90+ pitches in two starts. Over the last three starts, he has put up 20+ DK points in each start. He has only allowed two runs over the stretch, with no home runs, and has struck out 19. Suarez has been locked in and now faces the Road Rockies tonight. The Rockies are definitely a different offense on the road. They are striking out 20.5% of the time versus LHP this past month with a .239 average and 80 wRC+. Suarez makes for a solid value arm tonight and will be in most of my lineups for cash or tournaments.

Other Options: Marcus Stroman (NYM at WAS) $9,400, Nestor Cortes Jr. (NYY vs. TOR) $8,000, Carlos Hernandez (KC at BAL) $6,300

Want more MLB DFS tools and content? Our MLB Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Optimizer, and access to our Premium Slack Chatrooms, where members can chat with our MLB analysts. Check out this recent big win from RotoBaller's RealTalkRaph on DraftKings - join in on the winning!

? Our #MLB Optimizer & written content content is coming in hot to start off 2021!

? BIG thanks! The highly celebrated @RotoBaller Premium Tools have done it again!

? The Math: 20 optimized lineups + written content to tweak things = SHABBAT SHALOM!https://t.co/RGP9W0ebXb pic.twitter.com/LR8MDaOm8r

— Raphstradamus ? (@RealTalkRaph) April 3, 2021

DraftKings DFS Infielders

Salvador Perez - C, KC at John Means ($6,100)

I mentioned tonight is a night you can pay up for bats with so many cheap pitchers to target, so Salvy definitely checks the box. He is riding a seven-game hitting streak into tonight's game. Over the seven games, he is hitting .333 with four home runs and a .444 ISO. It gets better with Salvy as he walks 10% of the time while only striking out 6.7% of the time. He is barreling the ball 12% of the time with a 52% hard-hit rate. Salvy is flat-out locked in and gets a nice matchup versus Means tonight. On the season, Salvy is hitting .309 with a .356 ISO and 1.010 OPS versus LHP. Salvy is locked in for the season, locked in versus LHP, and should be locked into your lineups tonight.

Pete Alonso - 1B, NYM at Jesus Luzardo ($4,800)

Big Meat Pete is rolling into tonight's game swinging a scorching bat. He has hit safely in eight straight games, good for a .406 average. He has 10 extra-base hits over the eight-game stretch, including three home runs. Pete has a .500 ISO and a 1.305 OPS while only striking out 13.9% of the time. He faces Luzardo tonight, and that should bode well as he is hitting .257 with a .357 ISO and .976 OPS versus LHP this season. Alonso looks to keep crushing, and Luzardo could definitely be the ticket that helps that happen.

Ozzie Albies - 2B, ATL vs. Erick Fedde ($5,400)

Last night's O'fer by Albies snapped an 11-game hitting streak, but we are ready to see that start over tonight. He is hitting .300 over the last 12 games with five home runs and a .340 ISO even with the down night. He has a .948 OPS, and more impressive is getting this done with a .278 BABIP. Usually, someone raking like this has a BABIP that is definitely not sustainable. He will face Fedde tonight, who should definitely help get the streak going again. Fedde has allowed 13 runs over his last two starts on 17 hits and two home runs. On the season, he is allowing LHH to hit .296 with a .444 SLG and 1.2 HR/9. So get back on the Albies train for some fun tonight.

Freddy Galvis- SS/3B, PHI vs. Antonio Senzatela ($4,100)

Galvis is back and rolling with the Phillies. Over his last seven games, he has been hitting .280 with three home runs and a .400 ISO. He is playing nearly every day and hitting sixth or seventh for the Phillies. He has an interesting matchup versus Senzatela, who has been pretty good this season but still has the ability to get hit around. On the season, Galvis is hitting .284 versus LHP with a .221 ISO, and that power could be the GPP help you are looking for tonight. Hopefully, the bad Senzatela shows up and the Phillies stack, with Galvis, produce in a big way.

Ramon Urias - 3B/SS, BAL vs. Carlos Hernandez  ($2,900)

Urias has been banged up lately but keeps playing and keeps producing. He brings a six-game hitting streak into tonight's game, where he is hitting .316. He does not bring a ton of power but a 13.6% walk rate with his solid average and a 124 wRC+. Urias is not flashy but is one of the better values on this slate. He is a cheap piece in an Orioles' stack, in any lineup, and brings huge upside at Camden tonight. If Urias is out, then the other value would be his teammate Jorge Mateo.

DraftKings DFS Outfielders

Bryce Harper - OF, PHI vs. Antonio Senzatela ($6,300)

We have discussed some studs that are crushing right now, so let's add another in Harper. Harper comes into tonight's game riding a five-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games. He is hitting .382 over the streak with 12 extra-base hits, including six home runs. In addition, he has a .436 ISO, a 13.4% walk rate, and a 1.280 OPS. Harper is mashing everything this season, and I do not see that stopping tonight. The Phillies stack is solid with values like Galvis, Brad Miller, and Andrew McCutchen, but do not forget to pay up for Harper.

Cedric Mullins- OF, BAL vs. Carlos Hernandez  ($4,700)

Cedric Mullins is not a player; he crushes a lot. His season has been insane and may still be mis-priced on DK. He comes into tonight's game hitting safely in nine of his last 14 games, good for a .296 average. People may think, big deal, but let me tell you that he crushes in those games he hits in. Multiple hits in seven of those nine games. He has 9 extra-base hits during the stretch, including six home runs. To make things even better, Mullins has tossed in four stolen bases. He does it all while leading off for the Royals, and I do not see that stopping tonight. Pretty confident that Mullins will even go deep tonight. He is one of my top plays this evening.

Josh Bell - OF, WAS vs. Huascar Ynoa  ($3,800)

Bell is mashing right now, and most aren't talking about it. He has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games, good for a .317 average. He has five home runs over the stretch to go with a .300 ISO and 174 wRC+. He is even walking 15.5% of the time, which helps with a solid 1.04 OPS. Bell is mashing and hits behind Juan Soto, which does not suck. He will face Ynoa tonight, who has allowed nine runs over his last three starts, including a home run in each start. The Nats will be overlooked tonight, and a stack of Bell, Soto, and Yadiel Hernandez could be a sneaky GPP starter.

DraftKings DFS Stacks

• New York Mets (Jesus Luzardo, LHP)
• Atlanta Braves (Erick Fedde, RHP)
• Kansas City Royals (John Means, LHP)
• Philadelphia Phillies (Antonio Senzatela, RHP)
• Sneaky Stack- Baltimore Orioles (Carlos Hernandez, RHP)