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We head into Thursday with 2 game slate featuring a potential elimination game in ALSC Game 5, and then we get NLCS Game 4. It appears Clayton Kershaw will be returning to the mound after missing Game 2 with back spasms, so how healthy is he really? Blake Snell will make a start for the Rays while Bryse Wilson will make a start for the Braves. It appears the Astros are going with a bullpen game, and the way we know Dusty Baker can use a bullpen, that should be fun.
Kershaw will be very popular when looking at the slate, and it is hard not to play Kershaw even with the back health questions. He is the top option, and it is not even that close. Snell will be starting on three days rest, so we are not sure just how effective or just how long he will be throwing before Kevin Cash utilizes that strong bullpen. Wilson is making a start for a Braves team that was beaten down in Game 3 does not look good and will make the Dodgers bats very popular again today. For now, when looking at the slate, it appears to be a combo of Kershaw and Snell, and that should be very chalky. I am ok with that chalk; differentiate with the bats. If there is more clarity, not the Astros bullpen situation, the option to punt with one of their long relievers is also in play.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/15/2020. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports. If you have any questions or comments, contact me on Twitter @bdentrek.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Clayton Kershaw - P, LAD vs ATL ($9,400)
Kershaw is in line for the start today after missing Game 2 with back spasms. We know back injuries can always pop back up, but we have to rely on that on this short slate if he is good to go. Just remember when something similar happened to Max Scherzer last season, he still came back and dealt. Kershaw will be the chalk tonight and rightfully so as he has been nothing short of great this season and this postseason. He has allowed three runs in his 14 postseason innings where he has struck out 19 batters. He faces a Braves team who struck out 27.8% of the time versus LHP this season, and barring the back acting up; he should be in line for another strong start of 6+ innings.
Blake Snell - P, TB at HOU ($8,300)
Snell will be taking the Rays ball as he tries to help win the World Series clinching game. This will be the first time Snell has pitched on 3-days rest, and it will be fascinating to see how many innings he pitches tonight. He has not made it through five innings in any start this season or the postseason. He allowed four runs in his last start versus the Yankees on three home runs but was flawless in his previous start versus the Jays. Snell's price tag is very steep as he takes on an Astros offense hitting it well and does not strike out often. He will likely throw four innings and then give the ball to the bullpen. He has the highest ceiling out of the options, not named Kershaw, but the upside tonight is quite risky for his price tag. It's Snell or rolling with one of the Astro's long relievers for cheap tonight.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Max Muncy- 1B, LAD vs Bryse Wilson ($4,900)
It has not been the best of seasons for Muncy, but the postseason has changed things for Muncy. He has hit safely in four of five games for the Dodgers, hitting .333 (6-18) with four extra-base hits (two home runs) and has scored nine or more DK points in four of five games. He went deep twice in Game 3 and now faces Wilson tonight. Wilson does not have a massive sample size, but he has been walloped by LHH in his career allowing a .437 wOBA this season and a .456 wOBA last season to LHH. Last season he also allowed 2.7 HR/9 to LHH. It could be a long game for Wilson or maybe a short one and a long game for the Braves bullpen. Either way riding the hot bay of Muncy seems like a great idea.
Jose Altuve - 2B, HOU vs Blake Snell ($4,600)
Altuve failed in the Wild Card round, but since then, he has hit safely in six of the last seven postseason games for a .407 average and four home runs. He has scored 14 or more DK points in five of seven games and should be in line for another strong night tonight. He will face Snell for one or two at-bats and then the Rays pen. He was also moved to the third spot in the batting order for Game 3, allowing for even more RBI situations. Altuve is a great target tonight and is definitely in play even if you are starting Snell.
Other Options: Ozzie Albies (ATL vs LAD) $4,200
Edwin Rios - 3B, LAD at Bryse Wilson ($2,800)
Rios was held off the NLDS roster for the Dodgers, but when his name was on the NLCS roster, I became giddy. When I saw him in the Game 3 lineup, I was ecstatic. When he went deep in his first at-bat, I was over the moon. Rios is a bat that is all or nothing most of the time, but it is mighty when he makes contact. In his short MLB career, he has a 17.6% barrel rate to go with a 51.8% hard-hit rate and a .521 xwOBAcon. He is a great value tonight facing Wilson, and no one would be shocked if he found the seats again tonight.
Corey Seager - SS, LAD at Bryse Wilson ($5,000)
Seager's magical 2020 continued last night as he went 3-4 with a home run and a double and then was rested for the second half of the game. He has now hit safely in his last four games, going 9-12 with four doubles, two home runs, and has scored 26+ DK points in three of the last four. Seager is on fire right now and has a great matchup tonight. He will be worth the price tag tonight, so do not hesitate unless you are getting frisky with a Dodgers fade or using Swanson against Kershaw.
Other Options: Dansby Swanson (ATL vs LAD) $3,900
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Cody Bellinger - OF, LAD at Bryse Wilson ($4,900)
It has not been the season that Bellinger wanted, but he is sure finishing it with a bang. He has now hit safely in all seven postseason games with four extra-base hits and has 10+ DK points in three of the last four games. He has been hitting sixth for the Dodgers, making Bellinger an interesting piece of a back end of the lineup Dodges stack. If you are not into Bellinger, then Betts is obviously in play; just another $800 to get there.
Cristian Pache- OF, ATL at Clayton Kershaw ($2,000)
I wrote up Pache as a value play yesterday, and he goes deep to make that one pay off in a big way. He will be making a start again tonight, given a tougher matchup versus Kershaw, but still a great value if needed. He has extra-base hits in each of his last two games, scoring nine or more points. Pache is not a must-play, but if looking for savings, he is a solid play. He has also been batting ninth, and he makes for a great piece of a wrap-around stack with Acuna, Freeman, and Ozuna.
Randy Arozarena - OF, TB at HOU Bullpen ($4,700)
The Postseason of Arozarena marched on last night as he went deep yet again, giving him five home runs and nine extra-base hits in this postseason. He has hit safely in nine of 11 games and has been a fantasy scoring machine. There is no reason outside of potential chalk to not play him tonight in a game that will showcase a very sketchy Astros bullpen. Load up on Arozarena and the Rays as they look to wrap the series up tonight.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves (Bryse Wilson, RHP)
- Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros (HOU Bullepn, RHP)
- Contrarian Stacks: Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw, LHP)
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