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Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another great MLB DFS slate. Most people will have their eyes on the opening Sunday of NFL season, so let's strike while everyone else is asleep at the wheel with baseball. I'm locking in on this 10-game slate!
We have some excellent matchups today. The pitching mix is not terribly deep on this slate, which 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 9/8/2024 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
Chris Sale vs. Toronto Blue Jays ($11.3K DK, $11.8K FD)
The price tag keeps increasing, but Chris Sale is, without a doubt, the best pitcher on this slate.
The NL Cy Young favorite sports a tremendous 2.75 xERA and a 2.55 xFIP through 26 starts this season. His dominance includes a .261 xwOBA, 5.1% barrel rate, .324 xSLG, and an elite 32.4% strikeout rate. Further, Sale averages 24.9 DK points per outing, generating at least 13.8 points in all but one appearance this season.
The Toronto Blue Jays offense is far from intimidating, plating a middling 4.2 runs per game on the season. They have been particularly underwhelming against left-handed pitching, producing a 90 wRC+ versus southpaws with a .141 ISO and a .227 batting average. Outside of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the rest of this Toronto lineup is very manageable.
Jared Jones vs. Washington Nationals ($8.4K DK, $8.8K FD)
For more of a discount, I like Jared Jones in the midrange today.
Over 18 career starts, the rookie owns a strong 3.94 xERA and a 3.83 xFIP. He occasionally gets touched up, but Jones does a good job of limiting damage by keeping runners off the bases with a .310 xwOBA. Most importantly, Jones finds success by striking out 25.5% of opposing hitters, generating a fantastic 31.2% whiff rate and a 30.7% chase rate.
The Washinton Nationals are an exciting team to watch, jammed with plenty of potential. Still, they are entirely unproven, scoring a subpar 4.2 runs per game on the season. Those struggles include a 97 wRC+ against right-handed pitching alongside a .141 ISO and a .307 wOBA.
Also Consider: Freddy Peralta, Brayan Bello, Andrew Heaney, Luis Severino
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Rafael Devers - 3B, BOS vs. Chris Flexen ($6.1K DK, $3.6K FD)
Rafael Devers, along with several Red Sox bats, is worth the expenditure today. He sports a fantastic .904 OPS on the season, including 28 home runs and a 139 wRC+. His success consists of some tremendous batted-ball metrics, such as a .536 xSLG, a 13.2% barrel rate, and a 52.8% hard-hit rate.
Chris Flexen is one of the preferred pitchers to target on this slate. Through 29 appearances, he carries an ugly 4.84 xERA and a 5.31 xFIP. Opposing hitters have found plenty of success versus Flexen this season, generating a .449 xSLG and a .264 xBA.
Willy Adames - SS, MIL vs. Kyle Freeland ($4.7K DK, $3.6K FD)
Willy Adames has been hot at the plate lately, homering six times over his last nine games played. Overall this season, he's up to a .808 OPS with 30 home runs and 18 stolen bases. Adames' upside is underscored by his .481 xSLG, 12.1% barrel rate, and a 37.7% sweet-spot rate.
30 HR. Career-high 101 RBI.
What a year for Willy Adames. pic.twitter.com/VlUS7Xxcel
— MLB (@MLB) September 7, 2024
Kyle Freeland is among the worst pitchers on this slate. Across 17 appearances, he carries a weak 4.78 xERA and a 4.22 xFIP. Freeland's struggles include surrendering a generous .454 xSLG, a 9.5% barrel rate, a 42.2% hard-hit rate, and a .282 xBA.
Edouard Julien - 2B, MIN vs. Michael Wacha ($2.6K DK, $2.4K FD)
Edouard Julien hasn't been able to replicate the success of his rookie season last year, but he is an excellent value play today. Julien excelled with a .809 OPS over 109 games in 2023 and has shown signs of pop in 2024 with a 10.1% barrel rate this season. He has been batting leadoff against right-handed pitchers and is too cheap for his upside.
Michael Wacha isn't as bad as some other pitchers on this slate, but he certainly has his vulnerabilities. The 32-year-old has posted a 4.29 xERA and a 4.18 xFIP over 25 appearances this season. Opposing hitters have generated a .424 xSLG, .264 xBA, and an 8% barrel rate against Wacha.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Kyle Schwarber - OF, PHI vs. Edward Cabrera ($6K DK, $4.2K FD)
Kyle Schwarber has been on one of his patented hot streaks lately, hitting safely in six consecutive games, including five home runs in that span. Overall, he's up to a .856 OPS with 33 home runs and a 137 wRC+. That success consists of a .505 xSLG, 14.7% barrel rate, 55.9% hard-hit rate, and a 94.1 MPH average exit velocity.
There have been 2 games in MLB history where a player had:
6+ RBI
5+ times on base
4+ XBH
3+ HR
a leadoff HR
a HR in the 9th or laterBoth were by Kyle Schwarber within the last 30 days. pic.twitter.com/GtkkfKdkHy
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 4, 2024
Edward Cabrera was scratched from his start on Saturday with a migraine, and the understanding is that he will be made available to start on Sunday, assuming he feels better. If that is the case, this is a great home run spot for Schwarber. Cabrera has surrendered a .435 xSLG, 46.6% hard-hit rate, and a 9.3% barrel rate.
Jackson Chourio - OF, MIL vs. Kyle Freeland ($4.4K DK, $3.3K FD)
Jackson Chourio is another Milwaukee Brewers bat who is in good form of late. He's hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games played, including three home runs during that span. Overall, he is up to a .276/.331/.467 slash line with 19 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and a 121 wRC+ this season.
Andrew McCutchen - OF, PIT vs. Patrick Corbin ($4K DK, $3.1K FD)
This isn't the same Andrew McCutchen that dominated the National League for over a decade, but the 37-year-old is still better than he gets credit for. McCutchen sports a .745 OPS this season with 18 home runs. He is slugging .523 since the All-Star break with a 140 wRC+.
It's never a bad idea to attack Patrick Corbin. He sports a horrendous 5.60 xERA and a 4.18 xFIP over 28 outings this season. Corbin's struggles include allowing a .479 xSLG, 47.5% hard-hit rate, and a .301 xBA.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Milwaukee Brewers vs. Kyle Freeland
- Favorite Plays: Willy Adames, Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, Rhys Hoskins
2. Boston Red Sox vs. Chris Flexen
- Favorite Plays: Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, Triston Casas, Masataka Yoshida
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