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We head into Thursday with 2 game slate featuring Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 3 of the ALCS. The NLCS features the veteran Kershaw versus the youngster Ian Anderson, where the ALCS features a couple of arms we may target. As mentioned yesterday, lineup construction is much different on these 2-game postseason slates, so get weird with your building.
Kershaw will be very popular when looking at the slate, while the second-best option (or maybe top option) is Anderson. I see no flaw in taking both arms in the NLCS and loading up on the bats in the ALCS. As you will see in the write-up, the Astros are a heavy target today, followed closely by the Rays. This does not mean the Dodgers and Braves are not in play, as they both make for strong contrarian plays, and if you are starting Kershaw and/or Anderson, do not feel like you can't use a bat against your pitcher.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/13/2020. 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.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Clayton Kershaw - P, LAD vs ATL ($8,800)
Kershaw will take the bump tonight, trying to tie up the NLCS. He has had a solid season and has carried that into the postseason. He has put up 20 or more DK points in each start, even though he allowed three runs, including two home runs in his last start versus the Padres. He faces a Braves team with a lot of swings and misses in their lineup, which was showcased this season as they struck out 27.8% of the time versus LHP. They also hit .248 with a .176 ISO. Kershaw is the top target today and should be able to rack up the strikeouts over 6+ innings.
Ian Anderson - P, ATL at LAD ($8,300)
Anderson finished the season on a strong note, and that continued into the postseason. He has thrown at least five innings in both postseasons starts allowing a total of five hits, ZERO runs, and has struck out eight or more in each start. He has scored over 30 DK points in each game and has looked absolutely outstanding. He will take on a very talented Dodgers lineup tonight who struck out 20.2% of the time versus RHP this season and will look to put the Braves up 2-0. Anderson makes for a strong SP2 or a sneaky SP1 if fading Kershaw.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Martin Maldonado - C, HOU vs Ryan Yarbrough ($3,800)
Maldonado has grabbed the starting nod in the first two games and has gone 1-5 with a double for the Astros. Like most of his teammates, he has struggled versus the talented Rays pitching. Well, tonight may be different as he faces the lefty Yarbrough, and Maldonado loves himself an LHP. On the season, he is hitting .279 with a .380 wOBA. Maldonado brings some savings at the catcher's position in a matchup he can exploit.
Yuli Gurriel- 1B, HOU vs Ryan Yarbrough ($3,100)
It has been a really quiet postseason for Gurriel, but he woke up a bit in Game 2, going 2-3 with a run scored and was hit by a pitch. He has hit lefties very well in his career, and that did not change in 2020 as he hit .290 with a .274 ISO. The season ended in a bit of a slump, showcased in his extremely cheap price tag for this slate. It also does not hurt that Gurriel has already taken Yarbrough deep once in his career in a tiny sample. The Astros will be very popular tonight, and taking the savings on Gurriel could be an interesting way to get a little different.
Ozzie Albies - 2B, ATL at Clayton Kershaw ($4,400)
We saw it last night when Albies hit the big home run off Jake McGee, but Albies loves facing LHP. In his career, he is hitting .345 with a .399 wOBA versus LHP. He will be facing Kershaw tonight, who has been a beast but has given up one HR/9 versus RHH this season. The Braves will be the uber contrarian play tonight, and Albies would make for a great leverage GPP play. He is one of the Braves I have circled if I want to use a Braves bat in my Kershaw lineups.
Alex Bregman - 3B, HOU vs Ryan Yarbrough ($4,800)
Bregman may be one of the hottest hitters and the most unlucky hitters over the last couple of days. He managed to go 2-4 in ALCS Game 1 but was robbed often in Game 2. He managed to go 0-5 and left six Astros on base, but the Rays defense robbed him often. When looking at his Statcast page, all five at-bats had balls in play with an exit velocity of over 98.4 MPH with a high of 106.8 MPH. All five plate appearances also had an xBA of .330 or better, with one having an xBA of .670. Bregman is seeing and hitting everything right now and is a must today versus Yarbrough as the Astros are about to break out in a big way.
Other Options: Joey Wendle (TB at HOU) $4,100
Carlos Correa - SS, HOU vs Ryan Yarbrough ($4,100)
Correa may be the hottest hitter in the postseason, and that should continue on Tuesday night. Correa has hit safely in six of eight games, including five home runs. He goes up against the lefty Yarbrough tonight, and on the season, Correa hit .279 with a .330 wOBA versus LHP. He is in line for another strong game in a game the Astros should get going in. As you can tell, I am all in on the Astros tonight after watching all the hard-hit balls and runners left on base in the first two games. If I want small exposure, I would stack Bregman and Correa and load up on the Rays and Braves.
Other Options: Corey Seager (LAD vs ATL) $4,900, Dansby Swanson (ATL at LAD) $4,000
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Kevin Kiermaier/Manuel Margot - OF, TB vs Jose Urquidy ($3,100/$3,200)
The outfield is a great spot to get some savings and some Rays exposure. The value in both Kiermaier and Margot cannot be ignored. Margot hit another home run in Game 2 and continues to be a major piece of the Rays lineup this postseason. Kiermaier, who I have written up a lot this postseason, continues to be a very tough out for the Astros. They will be facing Urquidy, who gave up four solo home runs in his start versus the A's, and that could easily continue tonight. Both are great values tonight.
Marcell Ozuna- OF, ATL at Clayton Kershaw ($4,300)
Similar to Albies above, Ozuna is a major target if fading Kershaw. Ozuna has hit safely in four of six postseason games, including three multi-hit games. To saw Ozuna hit lefties well may be an understatement as he hit .356 with a .527 wOBA and a .511 ISO!!!! Straight mashing LHP. He also had a 50% hard-hit rate and a 43.8% HR/FB rate. When he makes contact is loud and with authority. An Ozuna/Albies stack in the middle of the Braves order is quite appealing in your contrarian builds.
Randy Arozarena - OF, TB vs Jose Urquidy ($4,700)
I could not write a DK picks article and not mention the Man of the Postseason, Randy Arozarena. DK has paid attention, and his price tag has climbed in a big way, but that has not stopped Randy from raking. He has now hit safely in seven of nine games and has hit safely in both ALCS games versus the Astros. He will face Urquidy tonight and will look to exploit his reverse splits. On the season, Urquidy allowed RHH to hit .292 with a .368 wOBA and 2.2 HR/9. Randy should be popular tonight and for excellent reasons.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays (Ryan Yarbrough, LHP)
- Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros (Jose Urquidy, RHP)
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