RADIO
Below are my FanDuel picks for today. As always, remember to check your players to make sure they are in their MLB starting lineups before lineups lock, and make sure you are doing your own research too with our very own BvP Tool for optimal performance! The most successful daily leaguers are grinders who are constantly tweaking their lineups as the day goes on and fantasy news gets released. Good luck today, RotoBallers!
Weather the Storm
There figures to be some delays in the Rustbelt this evening. The night affairs in both Cleveland and Detroit are in serious jeopardy of seeing delays and/or outright suspensions. Pick players in those games at your own risk.
DFS Pitchers to Avoid 9/10
- Aaron Harang and Stephen Strasburg are both facing lineups that have considerable success against them. And I’m including the bench players that may get afternoon starts.
- I know there’s a reason the Phillies snagged Jerome Williams off waivers. I’m just trying to figure out what that reason is.
- Okay, mathematicians, it’s trivia time: what’s 1.55 and .349, respectively, on a linear graph? Give up? Why that’s Alfredo Simon’s second half WHIP and wOBA numbers!
- I don’t think Nick Tepesch is a bad pitcher. I don’t even think he’ll have a bad start against the Angels. But I need a Texas starter to add to this list for continuity reasons.
- There’s a mountain of statistical evidence to support the idea that Chris Bassitt will be a solid major league pitcher… eventually. He has struggled with his control at times and is issuing too many walks. He’ll face an Oakland offense that makes a living getting on base, even with the Oakland run support figuratively going toe to toe with the current drought in California.
The Main Course – DFS Lineup Picks for 9/10
Starting Pitcher DFS Lineup Picks
Hisashi Iwakuma, SEA ($9,200): He’s recorded a win in five of his last six starts, and he’s an excellent home pitcher. His 21.5% home K-rate matches up well against Houston’s 23.3% K-rate versus RHPs. Even if Iwakuma gives up a couple runs, look for him make it up and then some in strikeouts.
Matt Shoemaker, LAA ($8,100): Although Shoemaker has been hit hard on the road, I like him to go deep against a Rangers offense that is dead last in weighted run creation against righties. By the way, the Rangers were in the top five in that category in late June. Tom Petty would be proud.
Ryan Vogelsong, SFG ($6,600): Vogelsong is MLB’s version of Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight Rises. At home, he is a hero the city needs, but on the road he’s hideous and probably wants to do harm to the police commissioner’s son. It’s a good thing his next start is at home today where he can exploit the D-backs with his 21.8% home strikeout rate.
Catcher DFS Lineup Picks
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MIA ($2,700): Salty has been relatively quiet over the last five weeks or so, but Wily Peralta has been relatively loud in an inadequate way over his past six starts.
First Base DFS Lineup Picks
Adam LaRoche, WAS ($3,800): Do you trust a shaky Harang against a suddenly hot LaRoche?
Freddie Freeman, ATL ($3,400): Freeman has owned Strasburg, both on the road and at home. He may be the lock of the day.
Second Base DFS Lineup Picks
Neil Walker, PIT ($3,700): It seems like Walker always comes through when I pick him, so why not share the love with you? He also owns a .323 AVG in September and a .361 wOBA against right-handers on the year.
Dustin Pedroia, BOS ($2,700): Pedroia is listed as day-to-day, so be aggressive in checking out the starting lineup of the one 1:35 PM game. If he does start, know that Pedroia has had considerable success against O’s starter Wei-Yin Chen.
Third Base DFS Lineup Picks
Evan Longoria, TB ($3,400): I like Longoria against soft throwing Chris Capuano. The Rays third baseman has been hitting the ball hard on the road against lefties to the tune of a .364 wOBA.
David Freese, LAA ($2,700): The Angels hitting earlier in the lineup will give Freese plenty of chances to drive in runs.
Shortstop DFS Lineup Picks
Adeiny Hechavarria, MIA ($2,500): He’s had some recent success against Peralta, and there’s not a whole lot of positive options at shortstop. He makes for a solid getting-on-base option.
Marwin Gonzalez, HOU ($2,300): Shortstop is a position that is relatively cheap, and Gonazalez is among the cheapest. He makes this list simply because of the risk/reward budget factor.
Outfield DFS Lineup Picks
Jason Heyward, ATL ($3,600): Another guy that has Strasburg’s number is Heyward. He’s been relatively quiet of late, but I expect Strasburg to help Heyward get out of his quasi-slump.
Starling Marte, PIT ($3,600): Marte has really gotten the par-tay started late this season. He’s currently on a nine game hitting streak and should have ample opportunities to drive in some runs today.
Bryce Harper, WAS ($3,100): Watch out. Harper is due, and he has hit Harang hard.
Angel Pagan, SFG ($2,500): Josh Collmenter has pitched incredibly well over the last two to three months for the D-Backs, but Pagan has seen him enough over the last couple seasons to hit him well. He isn’t a deep threat, but he should be an on-base machine and thus a threat to steal tonight.
Andre Ethier, LAD ($2,400): I think Don Mattingly will give Ethier the start tonight, as he’s had some considerable success against Ian Kennedy this season. Still, if you need to fill out your lineup and the Dodger’s haven’t released theirs yet, it may be best to air on caution and start someone else.
