RADIO
Happy Friday, Rotoballers! Houston came out with an early-inning blitz to stun Atlanta and even the World Series at one game apiece. Now, the Fall Classic heads to Atlanta for Games 3, 4, and 5 on three consecutive days. It's possible the series doesn't make it back to Texas, but it would be surprising if one of the excellent teams completed collapsed over the weekend.
The Braves send Ian Anderson out there on the mound as he tries to bounce back from a disappointing duo of NLCS starts. He's never faced the Astros in his career, so he'll be relying on film before the most significant start of his young career. His opponent, Luis Garcia, will be in the same situation. The rookie didn't see the Braves in 2021, but he's looking to ride the momentum of his series-clinching Game 6 start and grab home-field advantage back for the American League Champions.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/29/2021. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also check out today's FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. It's also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, find me on Twitter and ask away.
Featured Promo: For this week only, take 50% off any full-season or yearly Premium Pass on the site! Just enter discount code THANKS when checking out. Thanks for being a reader, and Happy Holidays! Sign Up Now!
DraftKings DFS Captain Options
Luis Garcia ($16,200)
The last memory we have of Luis Garcia is a sparkling 5 2/3 innings against the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. In that Game 6 start, Garcia allowed one hit and one walk while striking out seven batters. He's shown he can shut down the best offenses in the game, but this is the biggest start of his young career. The Game 6 start was the longest outing of the playoffs for Garcia, and he will need to replicate that on Friday. Fortunately, the Braves seemed stifled by fellow right-hander Jose Urquidy while they were teeing off on the southpaw, Framber Valdez, in Game 1.
Michael Brantley ($9,600)
In Wednesday's picks, I mentioned Michael Brantley tends to get in these zones where everything falls into place, and he cannot stop getting on base. Well, it continued in Game 2 when the veteran lefty was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. The only thing stopping him from having a huge night are the two players around him. Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman are scuffling right now, but Brantley is in for a massive outing once their bats wake up.
Other Options: Yordan Alvarez ($12,900), Yuli Gurriel ($11,400), Eddie Rosario ($10,800)
DraftKings DFS Utility Selections
Ian Anderson ($10,400)
I must admit I'm wary of playing Ian Anderson, but it feels like a lousy process to completely fade one of the two players with the highest-scoring potential on this Showdown slate. He finished the regular season with a flurry, and it carried over to the Division Series against Milwaukee. In Game 3 against the Brewers, Anderson pitched five innings allowing three hits, zero walks, and striking out six. Unfortunately, Los Angeles halted that momentum in the NLCS, where he couldn't get to the fifth inning in either start and averaged 7.9 fantasy points. The playoffs are bizarre, and Anderson is talented enough for his performances to flip on its head. Still, I would rather roster the recently-excellent Garcia over the Braves righty if I had to choose one pitcher.
Yuli Gurriel ($7,600)
Yuli Gurriel's hot streak continues as he now has a hit in nine consecutive postseason games. He's hitting seventh in the Astros lineup, and, honestly, that may be the best spot for RBI chances at the moment. Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker are ahead of him and almost as hot as he is at the plate. That trio is rowing the boat as Altuve, Bregman, and Correa battle to make their mark in the series. El Pina is slashing during this hit streak .429/.474/.543 with a double, a home run, and seven RBI. Gurriel may not do as much damage as the other heavy hitters in this lineup, but he keeps the line moving and the fantasy points flowing.
Eddie Rosario ($7,200)
The Astros finally did what no other team could do for two weeks: keep Eddie Rosario hitless. The outfielder finally had an off night, and it was kind of symbolic of the Braves' entire evening. Still, one bad game doesn't undo all the good faith Rosario has built up, and I have no hesitation putting him right back in my lineup for Game 3. Before last night, this player was 15-for-26 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs, and nine RBI in his previous six games. You do not sit this type of bat because he could reignite at any moment.
Other Options: Freddie Freeman ($10,000), Jose Altuve ($9,800), Kyle Tucker ($9,200), Adam Duvall ($8,200), Joc Pederson ($7,000), Travis d'Arnaud ($6,600)
