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Although there' s only one afternoon game on the actual MLB schedule Friday, we have two night games off the FanDuel main slate. One is Game 2 of the Cardinals-Cubs twin bill, while the other is the late-night Braves-Padres battle. The pitching pool is also interesting, as the big names near the top all have some warts/concerns attached to them, leaving me to hunt a little lower for my two selections.
There's not too many pitchers with bloated ERAs overall taking the hill, but there are still some exploitable matchups across the board involving hitters that carry a wide range of salaries. Even with only a little over a week left in the season, there's still plenty of money to be won in MLB DFS!
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 9/24/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Jose Berrios – at MIN ($9,700)
As just mentioned, there are question marks about the highest-salaried arms on Friday's slate, and Berrios therefore makes for an interesting pivot at a discount over those options. The right-hander is averaging 34.2 FD points per start this season and checks into Friday having scored between 34 and 64 FD points in five straight outings. He's been very effective over the last month-plus overall, posting a 4-2 mark, 3.21 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 9.6 K/9 over that span. Berrios just posted a quality start against his old Twins teammates his last time out as well, and Minnesota comes in with a 25.0 percent strikeout rate, .209/.288/.367 slash line, .287 wOBA and lowly 79 wRC+ against visiting righties in the last month.
Potential Alternate Play
Carlos Hernandez– at DET ($8,300)
Hernandez will be pitching on extra rest Friday after his Wednesday start was rained out, and he comes in with a respectable track record since the All-Star break. Hernandez was knocked around by the Athletics in his last start for seven earned runs, but prior to the stumble, he pitched to a 5-0 record, 1.68 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 0.6 HR/9 across his previous eight starts. He's been most effective on the road as well, managing a 2.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 0.5 HR/9 across 34.2 innings on his way to a 3-0 mark when traveling. Meanwhile, the matchup against the host Tigers is an appealing one, considering Detroit owns a 27.1 percent strikeout rate, .220 average, .269 OBP, .287 wOBA and 8.0 wRAA against right-handed pitching at home over the last month.
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Joey Votto - 1B, vs. WAS ($3,900)
Votto is always in play against a right-handed pitcher in his home park, considering his .329 average, 1.125 OPS, .464 wOBA and 188 wRC+ in that split. What's more, Votto comes into Friday displaying plenty of pop in his bat as the season winds down, sporting a .448 wOBA and 1.085 OPS in September. Meanwhile, Nationals starter Paolo Espino has been solid but has still shown some vulnerability to left-handed hitters, surrendering a .278 average and .429 slugging percentage to that handedness, along with an elevated 24.5 percent line-drive rate and 38.9 percent hard-contact rate when facing lefty bats on the road. The matchup should continue to be favorable for Votto after Espino exits as well, as Washington relievers have allowed a 5.27 ERA, MLB-high 10 homers and a .348 wOBA to left-handed hitters in September.
Andy Ibanez – 2B, at BAL ($2,800)
Ibanaez should certainly be a lower-rostered tournament option Friday, yet he has a sneaky-good matchup against Orioles southpaw Alexander Wells, who's allowed a .364 average, 1.175 OPS and .486 wOBA to right-handed hitters at home thus far. Wells has also pitched to a massive 3.3 HR/9, 2.08 WHIP and 6.99 xFIP when facing righty bats overall, while Ibanez checks into Friday having tormented lefties on the road to the tune of a .354 average and boasting an .864 OPS, .370 wOBA and 137 wRC+ against that handedness overall. Finally, consider Ibanez comes in with a hot bat, as he sports a .318 average and .375 OBP across 24 September plate appearances.
Kyle Seager – 3B, at LAA ($3,400)
Seager may seem like a somewhat counterintuitive play on the surface given he'll find himself in a same-handed matchup Friday against Jose Suarez, but that actually isn't the disadvantage one might initially assume. The lefty-swinging Seager has pounded southpaws on the road for a .313 average, 10 homers, a .987 OPS, .410 wOBA and 167 wRC+, posting an impressive 37.9 percent hard-contact rate along the way in that split. Meanwhile, Suarez is one of those left-handers who's had his share of troubles in same-handed matchups, as he's allowed a .329 average and .423 wOBA to lefty bats, including a .414 average and .511 wOBA when facing lefty hitters at home. The fact Seager has also generated a .429 average with two doubles and a homer against Suarez across eight career encounters doesn't hurt his case, either.
Trevor Story – SS, vs. SFG ($4,000)
Story has been enjoying his usual success against left-handed pitching this season and especially at home, where he's pounded southpaws for a .350 average, 1.036 OPS, .432 wOBA and .275 ISO. The slugging shortstop draws a matchup against Alex Wood on Friday, and although the veteran left-hander has certainly enjoyed a solid year overall, he's also allowed a .266 average and .348 wOBA to right-handed hitters on the road, along with a 1.41 WHIP and 1.2 HR/9. It's also worth noting Story happens to be an excellent hitter against two of Wood's three pitches, the sinker and changeup, furnishing a .384 average, 1.218 OPS and .504 wOBA against the former, and a .980 OPS and .406 wOBA versus the latter.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Ryan Mountcastle - vs. TEX ($3,200)
Mountcastle has enjoyed a breakout season that's seen him slug 31 homers, with 20 of those coming at Camden Yards. Mountcastle also owns a .354 wOBA and .841 OPS against right-handed pitching at home, while scheduled Rangers primary pitcher Drew Anderson has allowed a .548 wOBA to right-handed hitters on the road in a very small sample this season, and a .371 average and .425 wOBA in that split over a 41-batter career sample. Mountcastle also checks in with an elevated 22.2 HR/FB rate against righties at home, furthering the possibility he can overdeliver on his modest salary.
Bryan De La Cruz– at TAM ($2,900)
De La Cruz's impressive rookie season has included a .306 average, .946 OPS and .402 wOBA against left-handed pitching. Rays starter Ryan Yarbrough has been in poor form of late with an 0-2 record, 15.68 ERA, 2.52 WHIP and 2.6 HR/9 across his last three starts, and he's given up a .279 average, .341 wOBA and 1.7 HR/9 to right-handed hitters overall. De La Cruz also checks in with a .353 wOBA in September, and he's posted an outstanding .333 average and .371 wOBA with men on base on the season.
Brandon Lowe – vs. MIA ($3,500)
Lowe makes for a powerful left-handed bat to roll out against Marlins starter Edward Cabrera, who's allowed a .333 average and .485 wOBA to the 48 left-handed hitters he's faced this season. That includes a massive .500 average and .615 wOBA when facing that handedness on the road, while Lowe comes in having belted 19 of his 34 homers at home, with 15 of those against right-handed pitching there. He's pounded righties for a .957 OPS, .402 wOBA and .327 ISO at Tropicana Field overall, and he'll also draw a good matchup versus a group of Marlins relievers that have allowed a .325 average and .370 wOBA to lefty hitters on the road in September.
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