RADIO
Welcome to the ALCS everyone - we made it! We have a one-game slate on Sunday with a matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros for the AL pennant (everyone had this matchup in the ALCS, right? Right???). We will be pivoting with this article as we're looking at two similar, yet distinct showdown game style options. Those unfamiliar with the showdown game mode select a roster of six players, with those players being your "captain"(DraftKings) and "MVP" and "STAR"(FanDuel). For DraftKings, the "captain" earns you 1.5x the fantasy points and costs 1.5 times their standard salary. FanDuel is a little different-you have an "MVP" that scores 2.0x the fantasy points and "STAR" that scores 1.5x fantasy points. There is no additional salary cost with FanDuel. The last difference is while you have the option to select a pitcher on the DraftKings showdown slate, you don't have that luxury over on FanDuel.
The Rays have an implied total of 4.3 runs and are the favorites behind their innings-impaired ace Blake Snell. The scrappy (is that the word?) Astros sport a 3.8-run implied total and will be starting game one with Framber Valdez.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/11/20. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Be sure also to 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. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @davithius.
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DFS Captain/MVP/STAR Selections
Alex Bregman ($9,000 FD, $9,000 DK, $13,500 DK CPT)
You absolutely have to nail these Captain/MVP/Star picks in order to make some noise in showdown DFS contests. You can do much worse than selecting Bregman for your Captain, MVP, or Star slot. He was much better hitting against southpaws this season as held a .319 average and .985 OPS against LHP, compared to a .214 average and .738 OPS against RHP. He holds a .209 ISO and .357 wOBA and though he hasn't barreled balls up this season, he's always a threat to go deep and he's in great form with multiple hits in three of his last four games played.
Randy Arozarena, ($7,000 FD, $9,600 DK, $14,400 DK CPT)
The phenomenal 25-year-old only had 64 regular-season at-bats as he was called up late to assist in the Rays' postseason run. He's done a bit more than "assist." He's hitting for a .359 ISO, .439 wOBA, and a 1.022 OPS in the small sample size. He's hitting an unbelievable 12-for-20 with three homers, two doubles, a triple, eight runs, and four RBI in the playoffs. He has gone hitless in two straight games, which could nerf his rostership, but he had four consecutive multiple-hit games prior to that. He has demolished LHP this year and though he's priced way up on DK, he still needs to be in consideration for your Captain slot with how he's hitting. He's an auto-play at either MVP, Star, or Flex on FanDuel at his price since they apparently haven't been paying attention these past few weeks.
DFS Utility Selections
Brandon Lowe ($8,000 FD, $9,200 DK)
Lowe should have low rostership as his price is still high despite going hitless in five straight contests. The public may be souring on him, but this is a player who hit .269/.362/.554 with 14 homers, 37 RBI, and 36 runs scored as one of the main catalysts of an upstart Rays' lineup. He held a .285 ISO, .398 wOBA, and 43.1% hard-hit rate this season and is a reverse-splits hitter with a .467 wOBA and 1.137 OPS against LHP this season. He's my favorite contrarian Captain/MVP/Star selection.
*DraftKings Only* Framber Valdez ($11,200 DK)
It's wise to pony up for one SP on DraftKings due to their raw point total projections, and Valdez is the pitcher you should be targeting. Snell has filthy stuff and holds a tidy 31% K% and a 42.6% K% against LHH this year, but he has been a mixed bag in his last four starts and just got crushed by the Yankees in his most recent outing. Plus, many of the Astros' best hitters are right-handed and they'll likely have just two LHH's in the order. Go off the beaten path a bit and consider Valdez for just $200 less than Snell. Valdez is in great form as he's averaging 27.15 DK points per game in his last four starts. His mediocre 21.4% K% for the season and matchup with the hot Rays team should keep rostership low and while the Rays have hit well against southpaws this season, Valdez has been equally effective against both sides of the plate as his sinker/curve-heavy (88.3%) pitch mix has helped him achieve the best groundball rate in the MLB at whopping 60%.
George Springer ($10,000 DK, $9,500 FD)
Springer is hot as he has seven hits (including a two-homer game) in his last four games played. He'll hit leadoff for a lineup that has been cracking since the regular season ended and the playoffs began. Baseball is a game of runs, and the 'Stros have been on one since the games started really mattering. Springer had a stellar regular season (.275 ISO, .389 wOBA) and is worth the pay-up with the platoon-advantage over Snell tonight.
Yandy Diaz ($4,500 FD, $6,000 DK)
Speaking of platoon-advantages, enter Yandy Diaz. Diaz should slot in at leadoff against the southpaw Valdez and he's been much better against lefty's in his career as his OPS was .241 higher against LHP in 2019. His platoon-splits were even this year, but it's his spot atop the order and his impressive 16.7% BB% that look good here. He has had just one hit in his last four games, but he has six walks. Give Diaz a hard look with the Rays favored and projected for 4.4 runs today.
Yuli Gurriel ($6,000 FD, $4,600 DK)
Gurriel isn't exciting and he hasn't had a good year, but we need to save some salary and he notoriously crushes LHP. He holds an impressive .344 wOBA and a .940 OPS against LHP this season (.600 OPS against RHP). He'll likely slide into the seventh spot in the order and should be a somewhat-contrarian pick to stack up with the likely-chalky Bregman and Springer.
Manuel Margot ($5,500 FD, $5,000 DK)
Margot looks attractive due to his cheap pricing and the likely scenario that he slots into the fifth spot in the order, which is huge since the Rays are favored and projected to score 4.3 runs on Framber Valdez and company. He had a brutal season with an empty .269 batting average, but he has always had more success against LHP (.734 OPS against LHP since 2018) in his career. He has notably hit two homers in the playoffs and is a legitimate threat to steal a base (12-for-16 on SB's this season).
RotoBaller Sample DFS Lineups
Sample FanDuel Lineup
Sample DraftKings Lineup
Please note that these are sample lineups designed only to show how you might use the above lineup picks in your own lineup. You should always check the weather and lineups before they lock to ensure players you are choosing are playing tonight.
