We're back to a full slate of games tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 EDT. Let's get to the good stuff!
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Offenses to Target for FanDuel Stacking
There are quite a few formidable stacks you can create tonight. I'm going to outline a few of them below.
Nationals top/middle of the order against David Buchanan
Through 11 MLB starts this season, Buchanan has been nothing short of atrocious. No matter how you slice the numbers, there isn't really anything positive about what Buchanan has produced. In his last three starts, his ERA is north of 10 runs and for the season, his numbers are equally awful as he's allowed nearly 15 hits and more than four walks per nine innings of work. Both left-handed and right-handed batters own a slugging percentage greater than .580, too. Enter the Nationals, who get a park upgrade tonight at Citizens Bank in Philadelphia. Vegas has the over/under for this game set at 8, with the Nationals as heavy favorites (-235) with Strasburg on the mound.
Astros right-handed batters versus Derek Holland
Southpaw Derek Holland struggles a bit with right-handed batters and tonight he's going to face a ton of them in a nice power hitter's park in Arlington. For the season, RHB own a .445 slugging percentage and .310 wOBA against Holland. What's making this matchup more appealing is that he allows 1.76 HR/9 to right-handed hitters and at home, he's even more prone to giving up extra base hits, as the .446 slugging percentage compared to .370 on the road suggests.
White Sox top of the order versus Aaron Brooks
Through six starts this season, Brooks has been largely ineffective. The 25-year-old righty owns a 7.44 ERA and is averaging more than 12 hits per nine. A look at his splits reveals both lefty-handed and right-handed hitters have found success against him, with a slight edge going to righties, who own a .347/.403/.549 slash line. US Cellular Field is a nice park for power hitters, as it ranks 12th this season in home run factors, averaging 1.06 a game. First and foremost, I'll be building a stack around Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia.
Honorable Mention: Dodgers RHB versus Chris Rusin; Padres LHB versus Jhoulys Chacin
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider for FanDuel Cash Games
Felix Hernandez (SP, SEA) - $11,000
After a strange middle-stretch of the season where King Felix pitched nothing like a King, I think it's safe to say he's back. In his last three outings, he's posted 17 points or more on FanDuel and he has an appealing matchup today in Seattle. He faces an Angels team striking out in nearly 20% of their at-bats versus RHP and is averaging just 2.3 runs per game over their last three games. Vegas has this over/under pegged at seven, with the Mariners as heavy favorites. I like his chances for a win tonight, too.
Carlos Martinez (SP, STL) - $9,300
CMart has been up-and-down in his last few outings, but he proved in his last trip out he can still be an effective DFS option, even when he gets knocked around for a few runs. How? The strikeout, of course. I like his chances to rack up a few of those this evening against a team that strikes out in nearly 24% of their at-bats against right-handed pitching. He gets a park downgrade today going from St. Louis to Milwaukee, but the home run ball hasn't been his issue and I'm hoping the park factor scare keeps his ownership percentage low. The Cards are heavy favorites in this one, and I like his chances for run support and a win.
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider for FanDuel Tournament Games
Both of these guys come with their fare share of risks, but that's all part of the game in GPP.
J.A. Happ (SP, PIT) - $7,700
I'm not sure what has gotten into Happ in his last few outings, but he's averaging a strikeout per inning over his last 36 innings pitched. Tonight he faces a Cubs team that leads the MLB in strikeout percentage against southpaws at 26%! Outside of Kris Bryant and the injured Jorge Soler, most of the pop the Cubs rely on comes from the left-side of the plate and they take a bit hit today against a left-handed pitcher in a pitcher's park.
John Lamb (SP, CIN) - $5,400
For nearly the minimum, you can grab a strong prospect in Lamb that is averaging over 10 strikeouts per nine frames. Tonight, he gets a major park upgrade in San Francisco and faces a team that strikes out in nearly 25 percent of their at-bats.
Honorable Mention: Joe Kelly (SP, BOS) - $6,800
DFS Infielders to Consider for FanDuel
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C, ARI) - $2,800
Salty at a sub 3K price point is appealing tonight, especially when compared with the rest of the catching crop, which is pretty underwhelming. For his career, Salty is a .447 slugger against right-handed pitching. He faces a solid pitcher tonight, but in his home run friendly park in Arizona. He's also been hot in September, slugging 1.048 with four home runs.
Buster Posey (C, SFG) - $3,500
I think Posey might be the strongest cash game catching option tonight. He hits in the heart of the Giants order, faces a rookie starter and owns a .354 wOBA against LHP this season. He comes in on a bit of a hot streak, too, getting on base at a .529 percentage over the last two weeks.
Chris Davis (1B, BAL) - $4,800
The price is a little steep, but every strong first base option today is priced over 4,000. Davis has been on an absolute tear and faces a pitcher that is no stranger to surrendering the long ball. In the past 14 days, Crush has seven home runs, good for a 1.025 slugging percentage.
Jason Kipnis (2B, CLE) - $2,900
He may not go yard again tonight, but I can't resist Kip at this price point. For the season, he owns a .393 wOBA and .484 slugging percentage against right-handed pitching.
Matt Carpenter (3B, STL) - $3,300
Carpenter is another strong cash game option as he's been so reliable and owns right-handed pitching with his .380 wOBA and .209 ISO. He gets a major park upgrade tonight in Milwaukee.
Carlos Correa (SS, HOU) - $3,600
I'm a bit shocked Correa is priced so afford-ably. He has a juicy matchup in a great power park tonight against Holland. For the season, Correa sports a .430 wOBA and .305 ISO against southpaws, both of which are monster numbers.
DFS Outfielders to Consider for FanDuel
Bryce Harper (OF, WAS) - $5,300
If you dug deep into your pockets and ponied up for Bryce last night, it paid off. Here's to hoping (and I think it will) it's worth it again. A .482 wOBA and .323 ISO against RHP is too juicy to pass up, especially with the park upgrade.
Adam Eaton (OF, CHW) - $3,600
Eaton has a lot of value out of the leadoff spot tonight against a weak rookie pitcher in a park that should create a lot of runs. Eaton handles RHP much better than southpaws, as shown by his .385 wOBA and .500 slugging percentage.
Michael Conforto (OF, NYM) - $3,000
Conforto is another left-handed bat that just owns right-handed hitters, and he's well rested after a day off yesterday. 3K is a great price for a hitter sporting a .410 wOBA and .272 ISO against RHP this season.
Additionally, here are a few "value-tier" outfielders for the evening.
- Gerrardo Parra (OF, BAL) - $2,900
- Mitch Moreland (OF, TEX) - $2,300
- Alex Gordon (OF, KC) - $2,800
DFS Q&A with Max Petrie @ 6 PM on 9/8
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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