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We've hit the final Friday night of a long regular season, and we've got all but one game on the main slate. The playoff picture is nearly set in stone, so it will be interesting to see how teams with their postseason spot secured handle some of the starting pitching assignments and their starting lineups Friday.
For the time being, we forge ahead assuming regulars will still be getting their playing time in before the postseason, and that non-contending teams will continue rolling out bats that have been playing well. The pitching pool is a bit tricky to navigate as well Friday, but I've landed on a couple of arms that I think can be trusted.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 10/1/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Framber Valdez– vs. OAK ($9,500)
Valdez should be in for a normal workload in Friday's start against an A's team that he's had some mixed results against this season but that he performed extremely well against last time out. The left-hander limited Oakland to one run over 6.2 innings on the road, and he'll check into Friday's rematch with a 5-1 record, 3.12 ERA and 0.8 HR/9 in his home stadium of Minute Maid Park this season. The A's have been tough on left-handers on the road during the second half, but current Oakland bats have only mustered a collective .160/.217/.160 slash line against Valdez in 66 career encounters.
Potential Alternate Play
Ranger Suarez– vs. MIA ($9,000)
Suarez has been quite the find for the Phillies this season, and even though Philadelphia is now eliminated from playoff contention following its fourth straight loss, he'll look to end his strong year on a high note Friday. The left-hander should have an excellent chance at doing so versus the Marlins, which only have mustered a .191 average, .525 OPS and .232 wOBA against lefties at home in the last month. Suarez has generated a 1.35 ERA and 0.5 HR/9 on the road, and he's posted a 1.50 ERA and 15:4 K:BB over 12 innings across six appearances (one start) versus Miami this season. .
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Max Muncy - 1B, vs. MIL ($3,800)
Muncy is one of those left-handed bats that's unbothered by same-handed matchups, and he'll enter Friday's confrontation with Brewers southpaw Eric Lauer having particularly tormented left-handed pitching at home. Muncy owns an outstanding .302 average, 1.110 OPS and .459 wOBA against lefties at Dodger Stadium, adding a mammoth 44.0 percent hard-contact rate in that split. Meanwhile, Lauer is enjoying an excellent season but has allowed a .297 average in same-handed matchups since the start of the 2019 season, a sample of 290 batters.
Ty France – 2B, vs. LAA ($3,100)
France has been a key to the Mariners' surprising success all season long and checks into Friday's matchup having flashed his upside with a trio of FanDuel point tallies greater than 20 points in three of his last eight games alone, including one over 40. He's in a good spot again Friday against left-hander Jose Suarez, who's already allowed a home run to France in four career encounters and who's given up 27 round trippers to right-handed hitters since the start of the 2019 season. France has pounded lefties at home for a .345/.398/.517 slash line and .390 wOBA, making him a potentially excellent mid-salary value.
Austin Riley – 3B, vs. NYM ($3,700)
Riley's breakout season has helped the Braves clinch the NL East, and he'll now look to build some more momentum heading into next week's postseason. The slugging third baseman heads into Friday's matchup scalding hot, having exceeded 20 FD points in six of his last 10 games alone. He's also posted a .312 average, .944 OPS and .398 wOBA against right-handed pitching, belting 30 of his 33 homers off that handedness as well. Mets starter Tylor Megill has had his share of hiccups lately and has pitched to a 2.2 HR/9 on the road, upping the chances of Riley doing some serious damage again.
Brendan Rodgers – SS, at ARI ($3,100)
Rodgers has enjoyed a breakout campaign that's seen him actually thrive outside of his home park of Coors Field, with the shortstop posting a .282 average, .864 OPS and .366 wOBA on the road. Rodgers has a .737 OPS and .319 wOBA against right-handed pitching when traveling as well, while D-Backs starter Humberto Castellanos has struggled against right-handed hitters at Chase Field to the tune of a .308 BAA and .337 wOBA over a 44-batter sample.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Luis Robert - vs. DET ($3,600)
Robert's outstanding season includes a .371 average, 1.060 OPS and massive .443 wOBA in his home park of Guaranteed Rate Field, where he'll set up shop Friday. Robert will take his hacks against Wily Peralta, who's allowed a .281 average and .352 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Meanwhile, Robert has mustered a jaw-dropping .375 average and .445 wOBA against righties in his home park, where he's also belted seven of his 12 home runs, and he checks in having just generated a .367 average and .436 wOBA in September.
Ketel Marte – vs. COL ($3,600)
Marte gets a crack at one his favorite pitchers in Jon Gray, who he's punished for a .414 average over 31 career encounters. The switch-hitting Marte enters Friday's matchup having posted a solid .281 average and .335 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season as well, and a .299 average and .373 wOBA at home overall. Meanwhile, Gray has actually been a bit more hittable on the road than at Coors Field, has allowed a .340 wOBA during the second half of the season and has yielded 10 of the 18 homers he's given up this season to left-handed hitters.
Kyle Tucker – vs. OAK ($3,800) (*with Tucker out of the lineup Friday, I suggest Houston's Jose Siri ($2,700) as a pivot)
Tucker has some favorable similarities to a couple of other players in today's suggestions, Riley and Muncy. Like Riley, Tucker has enjoyed a breakout season that has seen him deliver on the potential he showed in the minors, while he's also another left-handed bat like Muncy who flourishes in same-handed matchups. Tucker has pounded southpaws for a .293 average, .981 OPS and .409 wOBA in his home park, and he's had plenty of success against A's starter Sean Manaea in the past with a .350 average and four homers across 21 career encounters. Meanwhile, Manaea has been very tough in same-handed matchups this season, but he's also allowed a 1.4 HR/9 and stranded under 60.0 percent of runners in that split, still leaving plenty of room for Tucker to pay off with a couple of good swings.
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