It's the first day in about five days that we have two games on the slate, and they are extremely fun ones. The Cardinals are trying to avoid elimination down 3-0 and it won't be easy with Patrick Corbin on the hill. The Astros and Yankees are tied 1-1, and a match-up between Gerrit Cole and Luis Severino is going to be exhilarating. Let's get to this fun slate of games and win some money.
Let's get to it!
Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @DFSVarney
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Starting Pitchers
Gerrit Cole - HOU @ NYY - $11,800
This is certainly going to be fun. We have the best pitcher in baseball in Gerrit Cole facing off with the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium. It’s a 1-1 series tie and the winner of this game has a huge advantage in the rest of the series. Cole has maintained his pure dominance through the playoffs, pitching 15.2 innings while striking out 25 and allowing just one earned run. The Yankees obviously have some guys that can hit bombs, but they also strikeout a lot. If Cole is on his game once again, there is nobody better and the Yanks will be lucky to score. I’ll be doing my best to fit him in.
Patrick Corbin - WAS vs. STL - $9,500
With two games on this slate, we’ll be looking at the two favored pitchers. Both Houston and Washington are -165 favorites, which is a somewhat big number. Patrick Corbin will take the mound for the Nats and look to close this series out for good. It’s been a one-sided series so far, with the Nats taking all three games with a 13-2 combined score. Corbin has been a dominant starter this year, posting a sub .300 wOBA against both sides of the plate and striking out 11 batters per nine. Cole is definitely the number one option, but anything can happen and Corbin is just as big of a favorite.
Infielders
Paul Goldschmidt - STL @ WAS (Corbin) - $3,800
Patrick Corbin is a guy we're targeting, but we don't have many options, so we're forced to do weird things. If you're playing Gerrit Cole, I don't mind this Cardinals offense. Corbin is a great pitcher, but he's going to struggle with righties if anyone. On the season, righties have sported a .298 wOBA and have hitt 22 home runs in 150 innings of work. Goldschmidt has always mashed lefties, and they're going to need him if they want any shot of winning. His price isn't too crazy on either site and there's a chance Goldy does deep here.
Jose Altuve - HOU @ NYY (Severino) - $4,200
Luis Severino is no doubt a great pitcher, but he has his work cut out for himself in this one with Gerrit Cole on the other side. He hasn't pitched much this year, but has always posted around a .300 wOBA against right-handed batters. Altuve has been on fire in the playoffs and he hits righties extremely well. The Astros are implied to score close to four runs and second-base is extremely weak after Altuve. It's not pretty, but you have to go somewhere at Second.
Anthony Rendon - WAS vs. STL (Corbin) - $4,000
We’ve yet to touch on the Nationals, even though they’re the top offense on this mini-slate. Dakota Hudson is by no means bad, but he’s the worst pitcher on the mound today and the Nats are swinging a hot bat. Anthony Rendon sports over a .400 wOBA against righties, and hits the ball hard 43% of the time. Third base isn’t a position I like much and Rendon gives you huge upside and a solid floor.
Trea Turner - WAS vs. STL (Hudson) - $4,200
We’ll stay with the Nationals and focus on Trea Turner. Turner has as much upside as anyone on the slate and he should find himself slightly lower owned because of the price. Turner is extremely valuable, not only as a hitter but a fielder and base runner as well. Dakota Hudson has struggled with righties on occasion and doesn’t hold runners well. Turner is easily my favorite SS, though I do like the upside of Correa.
Outfielders
Marcell Ozuna - STL @ WAS (Corbin) - $3,900
Like I said with Goldschmidt, it's going to have to be the righties in this Cardinals lineup that produces if they want a chance at winning this thing. Ozuna struggled against lefties during the regular season, but the Cardinals have been extremely smart and stuck with him through it all. He's now getting hot and has posted a .355 wOBA against lefties in the playoffs. Ozuna is affordable on FanDuel and he won't be very popular against Patrick Corbin.
Juan Soto - WAS vs. STL (Hudson) - $3,600
Juan Soto is my favorite outfielder, but I was trying to avoid picking on three Nationals in a row. Soto has been electric this entire postseason and he is in a fiery battle with the Cardinals. On the season, Soto has sported a .414 wOBA against right-handed pitching and Dakota Hudson is nobody to be afraid of. Against lefties, Hudson has allowed a .347 wOBA this season and has given up 11 homers in 80 innings of work. Good luck tonight and please do reach out on Twitter if you have any questions!