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Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another great MLB DFS slate. We are underway with the final month of the regular season now, so let's secure a tournament takedown while there is still time. I'm locking in on this nine-game slate!
We have some excellent matchups today. The pitching mix is not terribly deep on this slate, so that will certainly lead to interesting lineup decisions. I'll point out the standout plays, but there will be plenty of opportunities to get creative today.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 9/1/2024 and the slate locking at 1:35 p.m. EDT. The lineup picks 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 here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Dylan Cease vs. Tampa Bay Rays ($10K DK, $10.3K FD)
Despite the expensive price tag, I fully expect Dylan Cease to be the chalk on this slate.
Through 28 starts, Cease sports a strong 3.33 xERA and a 3.30 xFIP. His success is rooted in the ability to limit baserunners, allowing a .211 xBA and a .286 xwOBA. From a fantasy standpoint, Cease's most important feature is his outstanding 30.6% strikeout rate, which frequently translates into slate-breaking performances.
Cease also benefits from a dream matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays are scoring just 3.8 runs per game on the season, ranking third-worst in the majors. Their struggles have been particularly pronounced of late, generating a 78 wRC+ and a 27.1% strikeout rate against right-handed pitchers for the month of August.
Sean Manaea vs. Chicago White Sox ($8.7K DK, $10K FD)
Sean Manaea's price tag is a little north of what we're used to, but there is peace of mind in rostering him today.
Across 26 starts, Manaea has produced a respectable 3.90 xERA and a 4.08 xFIP. His batted-ball metrics don't suggest the same lockdown-pitcher profile as Cease, but Manaea rarely gets lit up. He has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in seven consecutive outings, pitching into the seventh inning during five of those appearances.
Sean Manaea put up 11 Ks tonight, his 4th double-digit strikeout game this year. Despite the HRs at the end, it was another really solid outing
He's got a 2.87 ERA in his last six starts (37.2 IP). Only Logan Webb has thrown as many innings in this window pic.twitter.com/iuFTFb6YQf
— jack (@Jolly_Olive) August 28, 2024
It's no secret that the Chicago White Sox have operated baseball's worst offense in 2024. They have managed fewer than 3.1 runs per game, which is by far the lowest mark in baseball. Their struggles include a league-worst 73 wRC+ against left-handed pitching alongside a 24.3% strikeout rate and a .107 ISO.
Also Consider: Bailey Ober, Ryan Pepiot, Mitch Spence
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Oneil Cruz - SS, PIT vs. Alex Cobb ($5.3K DK, $3.3K)
Oneil Cruz is riding an 11-game hitting streak, including four consecutive multi-hit performances heading into today. Overall, he's up to a .806 OPS with 18 home runs and 19 stolen bases on the season. Cruz's outstanding batted-ball metrics consist of a .482 xSLG, a 16.8% barrel rate, and a 54.9% hard-hit rate.
Injury has limited Alex Cobb to just two appearances this season, but he looked very hittable in a much larger 2023 sample size. Cobb produced a 4.73 xERA over 28 appearances last year, including surrendering a .444 xSLG and a 43.4% hard-hit rate.
Triston Casas - 1B, BOS vs. Ty Madden ($4.8K DK, $3.2K FD)
Thanks to a slow start and subsequent injury, 2024 has not amounted to the season Triston Casas envisioned. Still, he remains one of the most lethal bats in the Boston Red Sox lineup with a .806 OPS and a 125 wRC+. Casas' success includes an impressive 10.7% barrel rate and a 36.9% sweet-spot rate.
Ty Madden won't start for the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, but he does expect to take on a bulk reliever role. His major league debut was strong, surrendering just one earned run over five innings pitched. All the same, Madden posted a 7.97 ERA across 18 starts in Triple-A this season and seems unprepared to maintain success in the majors.
Zach McKinstry - 2B/OF, DET vs. Cooper Criswell ($2.9K DK, $2.5K FD)
For a discount, you can't do much better than Zach McKinstry today. His overall stats aren't terribly impressive, but McKinstry has hit safely in 11 consecutive contests entering today, including four multi-hit efforts and five stolen bases during that span.
Cooper Criswell isn't the worst pitcher on this slate, but his 4.24 xERA and 4.44 xFIP leave a lot of room for error. He has surrendered a .406 xSLG alongside a .264 xBA. Left-handed hitters are slugging .451 against Criswell for his career.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Aaron Judge - OF, NYY vs. Miles Mikolas ($7K DK, $5.2K FD)
Aaron Judge should require no introduction. He's the runaway favorite for the American League MVP with 51 home runs and a 1.188 OPS. His batted-ball metrics are nothing short of staggering, including a .743 xSLG, 27% barrel rate, 59.5% hard-hit rate, and a 95.7 MPH average exit velocity. Judge is expensive, but there is no comparison.
Miles Mikolas is certainly among the worst pitchers on this slate. Across 27 outings, the 35-year-old sports an uninspiring 5.23 ERA. Opposing hitters have generated a .450 xSLG and a 41% hard-hit rate.
Seiya Suzuki - OF, CHC vs. Mitchell Parker ($4.8K DK, $3.4K FD)
Seiya Suzuki remains one of the most impactful bats the Chicago Cubs have. The 29-year-old sports a .274/.346/.485 slash line with 19 home runs and a 131 wRC+. That success includes a .455 xSLG, 11.8% barrel rate, 48.1% hard-hit rate, and a 91.6 MPH average exit velocity.
Mitchell Parker will be a preferred pitcher to target against on this slate. Through 24 starts, he carries a mediocre 4.41 xERA and a 4.19 xFIP. Parker's struggles consist of a .450 xSLG alongside a .259 xBA and an 89.6 MPH average exit velocity.
Pete Crow-Armstrong - OF, CHC vs. Mitchell Parker ($3.4K DK, $2.8K FD)
Pete Crow-Armstrong is another, more affordable means of attacking Mitchell Parker. Crow-Armstrong is among the hottest hitters in baseball right now, posting a .970 OPS during the month of August alongside four home runs, six stolen bases, and a 165 wRC+.
Pete Crow-Armstrong goes home-to-home in just 14.08 seconds during a baseball game
Having watched a bunch of the Olympics recently, I can’t help but wonder what he’d do over 100 meters in a straight line pic.twitter.com/OOZlJhSQTs
— Not Gaetti (@notgaetti) August 24, 2024
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Chicago Cubs vs. Mitchell Parker
- Favorite Plays: Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong
2. New York Yankees vs. Miles Mikolas
- Favorite Plays: Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm Jr.
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