FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks (10/2/21): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

We're down to the last two days of the regular season, and a lot of teams have clinched their spot in the playoff bracket or are making their vacation plans. This can be significant for DFS when it comes to managers being cautious about ace pitchers' workloads and potentially even resting top sluggers. We have nine games to choose from over on FanDuel, though there is some weather to keep an eye on in the DET/CWS, MIN/KC, and CHC/STL games. Let's get to it.

I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 10/2/2021. You can see our DraftKings and FanDuel DFS lineup pick for the early slate here as well.

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 check out today's DraftKings MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Let's get to it!

FanDuel DFS Pitchers

Cash Game / GPP Anchor Play:

Corbin Burnes - MIL vs. LAD ($10,600)   

Both ace pitchers on this slate - Burnes and Giolito - have already clinched their division and are at risk of being pulled early with the playoffs on the horizon. Giolito also has a far superior matchup. However, I'm siding with Burnes for a few reasons. The most important being that the White Sox have repeatedly shown to have a much quicker hook on Giolito than the Brewers have had with Burnes. Giolito has been pulled with four innings pitched in three of his last seven starts, and he has only made it past the sixth once in that span. This obviously severely limits his ceiling, and Burnes hasn't been subject to that same treatment. Burnes' ceiling is pretty much unmatched as he has hit at least 71 FD points in three of his last 12, and at least 45 FD points in four of his last five. The Dodgers are a tough lineup, sure, but they're projecting for just four runs tonight and Burnes is the best pitcher on the slate.

GPP Alternate Play(s)

Zac Gallen - ARI vs. COL ($8,400)

Gallen is very inconsistent and he hasn't been in the greatest form. He went four straight starts allowing at least three earned runs prior to his 49 FD point gem against the Dodgers in his last turn, so that gives you an idea of what we're working with here. It is worth noting that his 4.50 ERA in four September starts looks a lot uglier than his 2.75 FIP in that same span. There are two key factors making him a great target tonight. His moderately high 26.7% K% allows him to overcome giving up a few runs here and there - he has posted at least 39 FD points in four of his last seven games. Second, the Rockies are unfathomably bad away from home. The Diamondbacks are the only team that can rival the Rockies' incompetence in the "vs. RHP + Away" split, which features a .625 OPS, 26.1% K%, .125 ISO, .275 wOBA, and 69 wRC+ as a team.

Others: Julio Urias (vs. MIL), Lucas Giolito (vs. DET), Triston McKenzie (vs. TEX), Kris Bubic (vs. MIN)

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

FanDuel DFS Infielders

Carlos Santana - 1B, KC vs. MIN ($2,600)

Santana has fallen on hard times this season as he's slashing .211/.317/.341 and hit for just a .471 OPS in September. He's showing some life as the season draws to a close, though, as he has four hits, three RBI, two runs scored, and two walks over his last three contests. The veteran remains dirt-cheap and will hit in a prominent spot in the order against Griffin Jax, who holds a 6.78 ERA (5.95 xERA) and .534 xSLG over his 13 MLB starts.

Luis Arraez - 2B, MIN vs. KC ($2,100)

I really like Luis Arraez in this matchup and at this price, as long as he's leading off. All he does is put the ball in play and record hits. He has exactly two hits in each of his last three games and he's 9-for-24 (.375) over his last six games. The Twins are projecting for 4.7 runs against Bubic and company - get to some Arraez as a value play. Watch the weather here, though.

Freddie Freeman - 1B, ATL vs. NYM ($3,800)

You have to love yourself some Freddie Freeman in this spot. He has been on an absolute tear after two terrible months to start the season, hitting for a .924 OPS since the All-Star break. He has been a little quiet lately and hasn't hit a homer since 9/22, but tonight's as good a time as any. He's facing Carlos Carrasco, a veteran with a 5.73 ERA and middling rates for Hard Hit %, Barrel %, and xSLG. Freeman holds a .220 ISO and .397 wOBA vs. RHP this season.

Others: Ryan O'Hearn (vs. MIN), Jose Abreu (vs. DET), Adalberto Mondesi (vs. MIN)

FanDuel DFS Outfielders

Eloy Jimenez - OF, CWS vs. DET ($3,600)

You're going to want to get some White Sox stacks tonight. Tigers' prospect Matt Manning has made 17 starts and holds an ugly 6.16 ERA, 5.69 xERA, .288 xBA, and 13.6% K%. He especially struggles against right-handed hitters, and Eloy has a .208 ISO (.226 xISO) against right-handed pitchers.

Tyler O'Neill - OF, STL vs. CHC ($3,800)

O'Neill is extremely hard to fade. He had a .917 OPS in August, 1.013 OPS in September, and he went 3-for-4 with two homers and a double in his first game in October. He is absolutely popping off. He has a sky-high .242 ISO with 25 homers against RHP this season, and he gets a pitcher in Adrian Sampson who is due for big regression (2.87 ERA, 5.02 xERA over nine appearances and four starts). Keep an eye on the weather in this game.

Franmil Reyes - OF, CLE vs. TEX ($3,400) 

It's wise to get to some big boppers on Cleveland as they're facing off against the extremely homer-prone Jordan Lyles. Lyles has allowed 38 homers over his 29 starts, and he understandably ranks terribly in all of the advanced metrics. Reyes has a .277 ISO and has hit 21 of his 30 homers against RHP this season. He hasn't launched one out in 10 straight games, but he's going deep tonight.

Others: Michael Brantley (vs. OAK), David Peralta (vs. COL), Dylan Moore (vs. LAA)

FanDuel DFS Stacks

• CWS vs. Manning
• KC vs. Jax
• HOU vs. Blackburn
• ATL vs. Carrasco

Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!

MLB DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis