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Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! Disregarding a make-up doubleheader tomorrow, this is the last day of the MLB regular season. As such, it will also be the weirdest DFS slate possible. Lineup decisions will be largely unpredictable, so stay on your toes today!
With all 30 teams included on this slate, there is no shortage of pitching options. The vast majority of these matchups are inconsequential to postseason play, so don't be blindsided by abnormally shallow workload limits. This should undoubtedly 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 9/29/2024 and the slate locking at 3:10 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
Logan Gilbert vs. Oakland Athletics ($9.3K DK, $10K FD)
Unlike some of the other top arms on this slate, there is no apparent reason why Logan Gilbert should be on any workload limit today. He owns an outstanding 3.17 xERA and a 3.14 xFIP across 32 starts this season. That success includes a .280 xwOBA alongside a fantastic 27.1% strikeout rate. All things considered, I believe Gilbert has the best ceiling today.
The Oakland Athletics have enjoyed stretches of fortuitous hitting, but they are below-average offense, plating fewer than four runs per game on the season. They aren't in particularly great form right now either, generating a weak 88 wRC+ against right-handed pitching in September. That includes a generous 26% strikeout rate and a .117 ISO.
Ryan Pepiot vs. Boston Red Sox ($7.9K DK, $8.2K FD)
For a more affordable SP2, Ryan Pepiot is my preferred option. He sports a strong 3.67 xERA across 25 appearances in 2024. That mark includes a .220 xBA and a 36.4% hard-hit rate. Pepiot is understandably more volatile than Logan Gilbert, but his 30.1% whiff rate and 26.3% strikeout rate illustrate his comparable upside.
Having moved on from potential postseason contention, the Boston Red Sox are a shell of themselves these days. They have produced an atrocious 71 wRC+ against right-handed pitching for the month of September. Those struggles include a .275 wOBA, .114 ISO, and a bloated 26.5% strikeout rate.
Also Consider: Charlie Morton, Clarke Schmidt, Hayden Birdsong
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Shohei Ohtani - 1B/OF, LAD vs. Ryan Feltner ($8.2K DK, $5.4K FD)
The price tag here is absolutely nuts, but Shohei Ohtani is the highest-ceiling batter out there. The soon-to-be National League MVP is just one home run shy of inventing the 55-55 club, and he has an outside chance of catching Luis Arraez for the batting title, which would land him a rare Triple Crown distinction. Expect Ohtani to come ready to play.
Shohei Ohtani has 24 hits in his last 34 at-bats
That's a .706 batting average 😳 pic.twitter.com/Bm6bTCR2sZ
— MLB (@MLB) September 28, 2024
There isn't a pitcher in the Colorado Rockies rotation that could kill my enthusiasm for Ohtani today, and that certainly applies to Ryan Feltner. Through 29 starts this season, Feltner sports a weak 4.40 xERA. The struggles include surrendering a .260 xBA and a .426 xSLG.
Francisco Lindor - SS, NYM vs. Colin Rea ($5.6K DK, $3.8K FD)
We're playing with narratives more than usual today. One of those narratives is that the New York Mets need a win. They are one of the three teams competing for the final two National League Wild Card spots. Francisco Lindor is their most consequential hitter, sporting a .838 OPS with 31 home runs and 27 stolen bases this season.
Colin Rea will be a preferred pitcher to stack against today. He owns a weak 4.81 xERA and a 4.39 xFIP across 31 outings this season. Opposing hitters have generated a .461 xSLG, 8.9% barrel rate, and a 41.1% hard-hit rate.
Eugenio Suarez - 3B, ARI vs. Martin Perez ($4.2K DK, $3.4K FD)
The Arizona Diamondbacks are another team still playing for something, and Eugenio Suarez has been a crucial part of their playoff push. The 33-year-old owns a spectacular .940 OPS since the All-Star break, including 19 home runs and a 152 wRC+.
Martin Perez is the projected starter for the San Diego Padres on Sunday. He carries an awful 5.21 xERA through 25 appearances this season. Opposing hitters have produced a .469 xSLG against Perez.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Corbin Carroll - OF, ARI vs. Martin Perez ($5.2K DK, $3.8K FD)
Corbin Carroll is another Arizona Diamondbacks bat that has come alive in the second half. His overall numbers are slightly below his preseason expectations, but since the All-Star break, the sophomore is slugging .579 with 17 home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a 150 wRC+.
Corbin Carroll's 22nd HR of the year puts the D-backs on the board!pic.twitter.com/rnHhbKH4mV
— Steve Zinsmeister (@Steve_Zins) September 28, 2024
Brandon Nimmo - OF, NYM vs. Colin Rea ($4.5K DK, $3.1K FD)
If you haven't picked up on the strategy I'm trying to illustrate -- stick to the teams playing games that matter today. Stacking a team like the New York Mets will mitigate the increased pinch-hit risk that will be widespread today.
Brandon Nimmo's 2024 campaign has been full of ups and downs, but he remains one of their bigger home run threats on any given day. His impressive batted-ball metrics include a 46.8% hard-hit rate, a 9.1% barrel rate, and a 91.8 MPH average exit velocity.
Lars Nootbaar - OF, STL vs. Hayden Birdsong ($2.9K DK, $2.9K FD)
Venturing outside of the narrative plays that loom heavy on this slate, Lars Nootbaar is objectively a great value. He sports a strong .767 OPS this season with a 116 wRC+. While the surface stats are worthwhile, the underlying metrics suggest a higher upside. Nootbaar has generated a .474 xSLG, a 10% barrel rate, and a 49.8% hard-hit rate.
Hayden Birdsong is a promising prospect, and given his own price, he is not a terrible pitcher to roster today. That said, Birdsong has demonstrated that he is capable of getting lit up, surrendering a 49.4% hard-hit rate, .420 xSLG, and a 92 MPH average exit velocity.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Martin Perez
- Favorite Plays: Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll, Christian Walker, Eugenio Suarez
2. New York Mets vs. Colin Rea
- Favorite Plays: Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, Brandon Nimmo
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