We head into Thursday with 5 game slate. We have a Game 3 matchup between the White Sox and A's, then four more NL Wild Card matchups to round out the slate. Some elite arms take the hill but some nice spots to attack with bats are in play as well. Not getting too cute with pitching would be my approach, always get different with the bats.
When looking at the slate it comes down to paying up for the obvious pitching target in Yu Darvish and then deciding which pitcher in the Reds/Braves game to pair him with. After making that decision I want to attack the games on the west coast for bats. The White Sox/A's and Cardinals/Padres look like the top spots to attack while the Brewers/Dodgers are also intriguing.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/1/2020. The lineup picks 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 too. If you have any questions or comments, contact me on Twitter @bdentrek.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Yu Darvish - P, CHC at MIA ($9,700)
Darvish has been a man amongst boys in the majority of his starts this season. He finished the 2020 campaign with seven shutout innings vs the CWS. He has pitched at least six innings in 11 straight starts and struck out at least seven in nine of those 11 starts. That type of consistency can allow a hiccup or two and still put together a very strong outing. He will face an RHH heavy Marlins lineup and on the season Darvish has allowed RHH to hit .211 with a .230 wOBA and a 39.8% strikeout rate. Give me all the Darvish today.
Ian Anderson - P, ATL vs CIN ($7,500)
Overall it has been a strong debut season for Anderson. He has thrown at least five innings in four of his six starts while striking out six or more in five of six starts. He has 15.7 or more DK points in five of six starts and 20 or more in four of six. He brings a strong floor to today's action vs the Reds. He will be facing a Reds team that in the month of September struck out almost 28% of the time vs RHP with a .214 average and .328 wOBA. The Reds have a little pop, but Anderson has not allowed a home run since his first start of the season. Many will look to Castillo in this matchup, but Anderson for $1100 less is the arm I will be targeting.
Other Options: Luis Castillo (CIN at ATL) $8,600, Sixto Sanchez (MIA at CHC) $7,100
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Yasmani Grandal - C/1B, CWS at Mike Fiers ($4,200)
Grandal can be quite a streaky hitter and right now he is streaking. He has hit safely in both postseason games and his last three games overall. He has put up 14 or more DK points in each of his last three games with home runs in each game. He will have a nice matchup vs Fiers today who has allowed LHH to hit .244 and hit 1.5 HR/9 this season. Grandal is an affordable piece of a strong White Sox matchup.
Paul Goldschmidt- 1B, STL at Zach Davies ($5,100)
Goldy may be a bit pricey for some, but he has been consistently hitting all season. On the season he hit .304 while also walking 16% of the time. The power was definitely down for Goldy, but overall he kept stuffing the stat sheet. He hit a nice 2-run home run in Game 1 and has now hit safely in eight of his last 10 games. He faces the righty Davies today and on the season Goldy has hit .307 with a .377 wOBA vs RHP.
Mike Moustakas - 2B, CIN at Ian Anderson ($4,000)
If you are not using Anderson than Moustakas is a strong value at the second base position. He finished the season hitting safely in eight of his last nine games with a .452 ISO and eight extra-base hits. He barreled the ball 14.3% of the time with a 46.4% hard-hit rate over that stretch. On the season he had a .278 ISO and a .360 wOBA vs RHP and could be in for some damage today if Anderson is off.
Other Options: Kolten Wong (STL at SD) $3,800
Tommy La Stella - 2B/3B, OAK vs Dane Dunning ($4,800)
La Stella is a steady Eddy type bat in your lineup. Including the two playoff games, he has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. In Septemeber, he hit .298 with a .356 wOBA, an 11.1% walk rate, and a very impressive 4.6% strikeout rate. He continuously puts the ball in play, giving your fantasy rosters a chance for some points. He will be facing Dunning today who has allowed four runs in back to back starts and has allowed at least one home run in two straight starts. If Dunning gets chased early then La Stella will also face a shaky White Sox bullpen.
Other Options: Edwin Rios (LAD vs MIL) $2,700, Yoan Moncada (CWS at OAK) $4,500
Paul DeJong - SS, STL at Zach Davies ($4,300)
DeJong had himself a Game 1, reaching base four times and racking up 18 DK points. He has now hit safely in five of six games and will look to stay hot today vs Davies. DeJong has had success vs RHP in his career and that did not change this year where he hit .273 with a 40% hard-hit rate. In facing Davies today he also faces a pitcher who has allowed nearly 2 HR/9 to RHH this season and has shown some reverse splits in recent seasons.
Other Options: Corey Seager (LAD vs MIL) $5,400, Tim Anderson (CWS at OAK) $4,900
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Tommy Pham - OF, SD vs Adam Wainwright ($3,800)
Pham was in the values article yesterday and managed to put up a nice game, racking up 12 DK points. He has now hit safely in seven of nine games since returning from the IL and is still being priced at a discount for his talent level. Most Padres are priced up today vs Wainwright, so enjoy the mispriced Pham.
Dylan Carlson- OF, STL at Zach Davies ($2,900)
I was all over Carlson yesterday at only $2800, so how would I not go back to the well at $2900. Carlson hit cleanup yesterday and finished up the season hitting in the middle of the Cardinals order, another big plus vs the lefty. He now has double-digit DK production in four of his last eight games and will look to smash again today. Do not forget, since his recall on September 18, Carlson has a .333 ISO with a 16% barrel rate and a 60% hard-hit rate. Jump right back on the train today.
Luis Robert - OF, CWS at Mike Fiers ($3,100)
I wrote up Lou Bob on Tuesday and I have to go back to the well today in a great matchup with a ridiculous price tag. Sure his second half was not the greatest, but the hit tool cannot be denied. He has hit safely in five straight games, including hits in both playoff games. He has a great matchup vs Fiers today in a game the White Sox should see some offensive success. If looking for savings today then look to the outfield and look at the major upside of Lou Bob.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Chicago White Sox at Oakland A's (Mike Fiers, RHP)
- St. Louis Cardinals at San Diego Padres (Zach Davies, RHP)
- San Diego Padres vs St. Louis Cardinals (Adam Wainwright, LHP)