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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on September 14th, 2022. Juan Carlos Blanco's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Welcome back to another edition of the FREE DraftKings and FanDuel MLB DFS picks. As customary, we have an all-day ledger on tap Wednesday, and although DraftKings does not have a full-day slate, FanDuel does. Consequently, today's article will feature picks on both sites for games throughout the day, as even on DK, the suggestions will prove viable for someone playing one of the site's split slates.
It's an interesting slate Wednesday, as there aren't anywhere near the normal amount of vulnerable pitchers in action as usual. That means there's plenty to choose from at that position, and there are three in particularly good spots. Moreover, there are still some arms that are targetable, either for stacks or on a one-off basis with select hitters.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 9/14/2022 that includes a FanDuel main slate locking at 12:35 pm ET. The lineup will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports. It's also essential 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, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Dylan Cease - CWS vs. COL ($10,300 DK, $10,800 FD)
Cease has been the most consistent pitcher on the White Sox by far in his Cy Young-contending season, and he draws one of the best home matchups against right-handers going in the visiting Rockies. Colorado's home/road offensive splits are easily the most drastic in all of MLB, as the Rockies average an MLB-low 3.03 runs per road game, and a modest 7.87 hits per road contest as well. Colorado has been particularly poor against right-handed pitching when traveling, generating a 25.0 percent strikeout rate, a .231 average, a .285 wOBA, and -13.3 wRAA in that split since the All-Star break.
Cease checks into Wednesday's start in elite form over his last three turns as well, a span during which he's posted an 0.78 ERA, 0.48 WHIP, and 0.8 HR/9 across 23 innings. The right-hander has actually been better in several metrics on the road, but his .177 BAA, .251 wOBA, and 11.8 K/9 across 90.1 frames at Guaranteed Rate Field are exceptions and underscore the degree of upside he can bring to the table at salaries arguably a tick low for a pitcher capable of eclipsing the vaunted 40 DK-point and 50 FD-point levels.
Sonny Gray - MIN vs. KC ($8,300 DK, $8,700 FD)
Gray has been one of the Twins' steadiest performers all season, and the veteran right-hander has authored an elite second half of the season that includes a 3-1 record, 2.27 ERA, 9.6 K/9, and 0.8 HR/9 across 47.2 innings. Gray also has quality starts in three of his last five turns, and he hasn't given up more than two earned runs in eight of his last nine trips to the mound overall. That latter sample happens to include a gem of a six-inning, three-hit, 10-strikeout blanking of KC at Target Field on Aug. 16th.
Gray also limited the Royals to one earned run on two hits across six frames back on May 29th at Target, and he's held current Kansas City bats to a collective .234 average and .519 OPS in 67 career encounters. The Royals have also been completely punchless against righties on the road in general during the second half of the season, posting a 27.2 percent strikeout rate, .216 average, .278 wOBA, and -14.4 wRAA in that split since the All-Star break.
Other options: Nick Lodolo - CIN vs. PIT ($8,800 DK, $9,800 FD)
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Nathaniel Lowe - 1B, TEX vs. JP Sears ($4,400 DK, $3,600 FD)
Lowe is the relatively rare left-handed slugger that's usually completely unfazed by same-handed matchups; in fact, the breakout star seems to thrive on them. Lowe went into Tuesday night's action sporting a .355 average, .988 OPS, and .425 wOBA in 164 plate appearances against southpaws this season.
As jaw-dropping as those numbers are, they're even more spectacular when split out just for his home body of work against lefties, which includes a .409 average, 1.155 OPS, and .492 wOBA. Sears had been enjoying a very impressive season until his last start when he was knocked around for six earned runs on eight hits over two innings by the White Sox. He's also given up a .273 average and .342 wOBA to the very small sample of 13 left-handed hitters he's faced on the road.
Jose Altuve - 2B, HOU at Joey Wentz ($6,000 DK, $3,900 FD)
On paper, Altuve makes for the best right-handed bat on the Astros to deploy against the left-handed Wentz, considering both the second baseman's entire body of work this season, and his resume versus southpaws specifically. Altuve went into Tuesday night boasting a .333 average, 1.087 OPS, and .457 wOBA against left-handed pitching overall, including a still impressive .290 average and .423 wOBA when facing that handedness outside Minute Maid Park.
Wentz has been very impressive since getting tagged for six runs on seven hits over 2.2 innings by the Athletics, of all teams, in his big-league debut, shutting out the Royals and Twins over 10.2 innings while allowing just three hits in his subsequent pair of starts. Nevertheless, the Astros, and Altuve in particular, represent a whole different caliber of competition, especially for a talented yet very inexperienced pitcher.
Romy Gonzalez - SS, CWS vs. Kyle Freeland ($2,800 DK, $2,700 FD)
Freeland has been a markedly better performer outside of his hitter-friendly home park of Coors Field, but that naturally doesn't mean we can't selectively target him Wednesday. Gonzalez makes for a very appealing cost-effective option in that regard, as the rookie headed into Tuesday night's game having posted a .313 average and .781 OPS across his first 67 big-league plate appearances, and a .476 average and 1.193 OPS in a smaller sample of 23 PAs versus southpaws.
Freeland has pitched to an acceptable .253 BAA and .314 wOBA allowed on the road, but he still has a middling 6.1 K/9 and 4.50 xFIP when traveling. The left-hander has also given up wOBAs of between .332 and .371 on his top three pitches (four-seam fastball, cutter, and sinker), giving Gonzalez plenty of paths to potential success at excellent salaries.
Gio Urshela - 3B, MIN vs. Zack Greinke ($2,600 DK, $2,100 FD)
Urshela's salaries are extremely eye-opening, especially for a player that went into Tuesday with a solid .267 average, .727 OPS, and 37 extra-base hits among his host of impressive metrics. Urshela has been at his best at home as well, where he's generated a .278 average and .741 OPS, and he's also tormented Greinke for a .471 average while never striking out against the veteran right-hander in 18 career encounters.
Greinke is actually having a better season than may have been anticipated, but he's still shown plenty of vulnerability to right-handed hitters on the road. Greinke has allowed a .333 average and .407 wOBA in that split, along with a 2.1 HR/9, inflated 1.68 WHIP, and 6.09 FIP. Greinke has also given up a .318 average, .995 OPS, and .375 wOBA with men on base when facing righty bats on the road, furthering the case for Urshela, who has a .282 average and .349 wOBA against righties with runners in scoring position at home.
Other options: Francisco Lindor - SS, NYM vs. Drew Smyly ($6,000 DK, $4,100 FD); Eduardo Escobar - 3B, NYM vs. Drew Smyly ($4,100 DK, $3,300 FD)
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Manuel Margot - TB at Ross Stripling ($4,800 DK, $2,800 FD)
Margot went into Tuesday with a career-best .295 average, .346 OBP, and .749 OPS. The veteran outfielder is an excellent contact hitter and is also generating a career-high 24.5 percent line-drive rate this season, a key to his success. He's particularly been a terror against right-handed pitching on the road all season, posting a .360 average, .943 OPS, and .400 wOBA in that split.
Adding to Margot's appeal Wednesday is the fact he's tormented Stripling for a .381 average with a pair of doubles and three homers across 23 career plate appearances, striking out only three times in that sample. Stripling is enjoying an impressive season and has limited right-handed hitters to a .286 wOBA when facing them at home, but Margot's own numbers, reasonable salaries, and the .919 OPS during September he came into Tuesday with certainly put him in play.
Anthony Santander - BAL at Patrick Corbin ($4,800 DK, $2,900 FD)
Corbin is one of the few truly targetable pitchers by the numbers Wednesday. One of the best ways to try and exploit his immense propensity for giving up the long ball to right-handed hitters is via Santander, who carries very reasonable salaries relative to the upside on both sites. The breakout slugger entered Tuesday having belted a career-high 27 homers across 132 games on his way to a career-high 79 RBI, and he boasts a .299 average, .915 OPS, and .391 wOBA against left-handed pitching overall.
While a lot of that success versus southpaws has come at home, Corbin is just the type of pitcher that can certainly coax a fruitful fantasy night out of him. The veteran lefty has surrendered a .325 average, .395 wOBA, and whopping 24 homers to right-handed hitters overall, with 11 of those coming at home alongside a 40.0 percent hard-contact rate allowed. Santander has even had some past success against Corbin as well, getting to him for a .400 average with two doubles and a homer in 11 prior encounters.
Joey Meneses - WAS vs. Tyler Wells ($4,700 DK, $3,100 FD)
It may have taken Meneses 11-plus seasons to get to the majors, but now that he's here, he's making excellent use of the opportunity. The 30-year-old rookie entered Tuesday with a .326 average and .905 OPS across his first 152 major-league PAs, including a .356 average, .980 OPS, and .421 wOBA in 62 plate appearances at home.
Wells has been enjoying a strong season that includes a 7-6 record, 3.91 ERA, and 3.78 xERA, but he has given up a .277 average .340 wOBA, and 5.17 xFIP when facing right-handed hitters on the road. Additionally, it's worth noting Meneses has absolutely crushed Wells' top two pitches -- the four-seam and the slider -- posting respective .491 and .378 wOBAs against those offerings thus far in his young career.
Other options: Yordan Alvarez - HOU at Joey Wentz ($5,700 DK, $3,800 FD); Austin Hays - BAL at Patrick Corbin ($3,100 DK, $2,600 FD)
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
- Orioles vs. Patrick Corbin, WAS, LHP
- Astros at Joey Wentz, DET, LHP
- Mets vs. Drew Smyly, CHC, LHP
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