RADIO
Welcome to the toughest day of MLB DFS in the entire season, the first Sunday of NFL season. To all four of you troopers that are still rocking the MLB life, I salute you. I know it is going to be hard to focus on setting your MLB lineups while also prepping for kickoff, which is why it is even more imperative than usual to heed our advice here at RotoBaller. We have a nine game main slate on FanDuel this Sunday morning, and a 10 gamer over on DraftKings. FYI, the extra game on DK is NYY-TEX.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 9/10/17. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @RowdyRotoJB
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DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider
Madison Bumgarner - at CWS (DK - $11,800, FD - $9,700)
Today's pitching really comes down to who can find the best bats to pair with Bumgarner. Especially on FanDuel where he's not even in the double digits, you just can't possibly have another top choice in cash contests. Shoot, even in GPP you might just have to eat the chalk and pray for eight HR from your offense. Over the last seven days, the White Sox have scored the fourth fewest runs in the league, while striking out the fourth most. On the season, they own the fifth lowest OPS at home. MadBum is coming off an ugly start against the Cardinals where the long-ball did him in, but only allowed five hits while striking out five in five innings. The two starts prior to that dud were both 40 FP (FD) performances. He owns a 2.81 ERA on the road this season, and all Sox hitters (minus Matt Davidson) will be seeing the southpaw for the first time.
Zach Davies - at CHC (DK - $7,300, FD - $7,900)
If you are looking for that contrarian SP to avoid the likely sky-high Bumgarner and deGrom ownership, I recommend you look at Zach Davies. Over the last month, this guy owns the third highest WAR among all qualified starters, and a 2.37 ERA. On the road this season Davies has been stellar, boasting an 8-2 record with a 2.10 ERA. Just to give you one last bump of encouragement, because you are going to need it, he has also been more effective during day games. Facing the defending World Champions at Wrigley Field is never easy, but the Cubs do have the seventh fewest runs scored over the last seven days.
DFS Infielders to Consider
John Hicks - C, at TOR (DK - $3,300, FD - $2,400)
Salvador Perez is my initial craving at the Catcher position today, but there's no way he is in the lineup today considering he has played every single day this month. If he is, please insert him into your lineup. If he is not, consider John Hicks, who owns a .510 SLG against LHP this season and a monster 1.005 OPS on the road. If even he is not starting today, pivot to his teammate James McCann who loves southpaws and has good BvP stats against J.A. Happ.
Freddie Freeman - 1B, vs MIA (DK - $5,100, FD - $4,200)
Let's play a fun game called "How many 1.000+ OPS splits does it take to make me pay up for Freddie Freeman today". Over the last two weeks: 1.018 OPS, versus RHP on the season: 1.090 OPS, Home at SunTrust Park: 1.004 OPS, against the Marlins this season: 1.080 OPS, and day games in 2017: 1.235 OPS. The answer is five! Today he squares off with Odrisamer Despaigne who owns a 6.57 ERA on the road and is allowing a .301 BA to LHB this season.
Cesar Hernandez - 2B, at WAS (DK - $3,500, FD - $3,600)
Hernandez is in the midst of an eight game hitting streak, in which he has totaled 13 knocks. Don't let the ugly road splits fool you, because he has two HR in eight games at Nationals Park this year- which is more than any other road venue. Opposing pitcher A.J. Cole has struggled against LHB in limited big league action this season, allowing a .927 OPS.
Also Consider: Ian Kinsler, at TOR
Eduardo Escobar - 3B, at KC (DK - $3,700, FD - $3,200)
Escobar is rocking a cool 1.000 SLG over the last week, and today is lucky enough to face off against the struggling Jason Vargas. Over the last month, Vargas is 1-4 with an 8.75 ERA. In five of Escobar's last eight games, he has posted totals of 21.7, 34.1, 31.9, 28.2, and a mammoth 63.6 FP (FD). The man is en fuego.
Elvis Andrus - SS, vs NYY (DK - $3,600, FD - N/A)
Sorry FanDuel players, I don't make the slates. Did you realize that Elvis Andrus joined the 20/20 club this week? Talk about a sneaky fantastic season the veteran is having himself. After hitting four dongs over the last week, he now sits at 20 for the season to go along with his 24 swipes. The best thing about him is he is match-up proof. RHP, LHP, home, away, it doesn't matter. Jordan Montgomery is no scrub, but he has struggled since the All-Star break, carrying a 5.19 second half ERA into today's bout.
DFS Outfielders to Consider
Rhys Hoskins - OF, at WAS (DK - $4,400, FD - $4,100)
Well, so much for getting this guy at a value anymore, as his prices rise $500 on both sites from just yesterday. But as far as top tier OF go today, he's got to be the safest bet to go yard. Only Giancarlo Stanton himself has more bombs over the last month than the rookie phenom. Facing RHP on the road has been his sweet spot thus far, and it will more than likely continue today against A.J. Cole.
Andrew McCutchen - OF, at STL (DK - $2,900, FD - $2,900)
It is time for Cutch to get out of this funk. He hasn't donged in a month, and is hitting .211 over that span. He is slowly shaking it off however, as he is hitting .300 this week. Usually I save my Cutch days for LHP match-ups, but these low prices mixed with his BvP numbers against Michael Wacha make him a great play today. Through 33 PA, Cutch is hitting .387/424/.613 against Wacha. The extra good news is his .599 SLG in days games this season.
Byron Buxton - OF, at KC (DK - $4,200, FD - $3,000)
We might as well pick on Vargas one more time, and what a bargain this is on FanDuel. Buxton has been tearing it up since the All-Star break, and is hitting .298/.337/.628 with seven HR over the last month. He has actually been quite good against southpaws all year, even during the dreadful first half, hitting .291 with an .828 OPS. Bottom line: Vargas has been very bad, and Buxton has been very good.
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