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We have a 3-game main slate on tap tonight, and it's a bad one. First, we have three games that, in reality, only have one outstanding pitcher and a bunch of ok to bad pitchers. Second, two or three teams may use an opener instead of a usual starter, which pitchers to target even tougher. Finally, when it comes to bats, there will be the chalky Astros and then the rest.
The slate starts with which pitchers to build around. Everyone will target Framber as he is far and away from the best pitcher on this slate. I am hoping many people target Kyle Hendricks as I will be stacking against Hendricks big time. After Framber, it's tricky and comes down to using Tyler Alexander or one of the long relievers in Enns or Kolby Allard. It's really messy. For this short slate, you need to be contrarian to win, so it is either fading Framber by not using Framber or not using and stacking against Framber. Listen in to MLB DFS Quick Hits for a full slate rundown and strategy to be different on tonight's slate.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 9/16/2021. 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, contact me on Twitter @bdentrek.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Framber Valdez - P, HOU at TEX ($10,200)
Valdez is the top-priced pitcher on this slate and, on paper, the best pitcher on this slate. The problem is, he is even coming in with some warts. He has allowed four earned runs in each of his last two starts and has a problem with walks off and on this season. On the bright side, Valdez usually goes six-plus innings and gets six or more strikeouts more often than not. He has faced the Rangers twice this year, throwing 13 innings, allowing two runs, and striking out 11. He has had their number and most likely will tonight. Over the last month, the Rangers have been hitting better, and it shows. They only strike out 20% of the time versus LHP over the last month while hitting .251 but still only a .117 ISO and 87 wRC+. Framber is the top pitcher tonight and will be rostered by everyone. Fading Framber is the smart tournament plate, but rolling with Framber means you have to be really different elsewhere.
Dietrich Enns - P, TB vs. DET ($6,200)
The Rays have been using Enns as the long-man after the opener recently, and overall he has pitched quite well. On the season, he has made six appearances, four of them for three or more innings. Enns has allowed a total of six earned runs over 16 innings pitched and, most importantly, has struck out 19. He has struck out three or more batters in his four longer outings, which will help with the DK points. He takes on a Tigers team striking out 25.6% of the time versus RHP this past month while hitting .247 with a .201 ISO. Enns is no lock, but he is a pivot off of Hendricks. If you want to get really off the grid, Tyler Alexander could be the play versus a Rays team that should be quite popular.
Other Options: Kyle Hendricks (CHC at PHI) $8,900
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Mike Zunino - C, TB vs. Tyler Alexander ($4,300)
Rays are facing a lefty, you say? Well, then lock in some Mike Zunino in your lineups. He loves facing LHP, even taking potential AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray deep on Wednesday. Zunino is only hitting .202 on the season, which we have become accustomed to, but when he faces LHP, he is hitting .346. I would say that is quite the difference. He has a .548 ISO and 1.318 OPS versus lefties this season. Throw 16 home runs on top of this, and it is elementary to say Zunino is an awesome play tonight. He faces Alexander, a great contrarian play today but does have his work cut out for him. It is ok to have a hitter versus one of your pitchers on a slate this small, and using Zunino in a lineup with Alexander is not the craziest thing you can do to be contrarian.
Yuli Gurriel - 1B, HOU at Glenn Otto ($4,800)
Gurriel continues to have a solid 2021 season. In his 11 September games, he has hit safely in eight games with a .318 average. The power has decreased a bit with only one home run and a .114 ISO, but still, a DK points machine regardless. More importantly, he mashes LHP., and Kolby Allard is scheduled to come in after Otto opens tonight. On the season, he is hitting .323 with a .222 ISO versus LHP this season. He will likely hit in the middle of the Astros lineup and is usually a forgotten man in the always chalky Astros stacks.
Matt Duffy - 2B/3B, CHC at Adonis Medina ($2,400)
We usually prefer Duffy versus LHP, but tonight we are in on Duffy, especially if he is leading off like he was on Wednesday night. Duffy has hit safely in five of his last eight games with three home runs and usually bats in the middle to the back-end of the lineup. I expect Duffy to move back in the lineup as it was just an off day for Rafael Ortega, but it is something to monitor. Regardless, Duffy is a great value in a Cubs lineup I want to stack up big time. Medina will be making his first big league appearance in 2021. He had a 5.05 ERA this season with 10 home runs in 67.2 IP in Triple-A for the Phillies. Great time to stack some Cubs.
Freddy Galvis- SS/3B, PHI vs. Kyle Hendricks ($4,000)
Galvis is not one to hit safely often, but when he hits, it brings a punch. In six of his last 11 games for the Phillies, he has only hit safely for a .281 average. The average is solid, but more importantly, he has five extra-base hits, including four home runs. Galvis brings some nice value as well tonight to two different positions that aren't too strong tonight. He faces Hendricks, who has allowed 19 runs in his last four starts (22 IP) with four home runs. The Phillies and Cubs game stack is in full force tonight, making Galvis an even better play on my list.
Jeimer Candelario - 3B, DET at Dietrich Enns ($4,700)
The Detroit Tigers may be a forgotten team, with Enns likely being popular tonight. Candelario is having a break-out season, and that is continuing in September. He has hit safely in nine of 13 games, good for a .286 average. He has nine extra0base hits, including four home runs in September. His .367 ISO and 1.005 OPS are outstanding players that some are still not paying attention to this season. Candelario brings even more value to a slate-like this since he switch-hits, and the Rays are going to mix and match pitchers all game. So if you are being contrarian and playing some Tigers bats, make sure the Candy Man is near the top of that list.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Bryce Harper - OF, PHI vs. Kyle Hendricks ($5,700)
NL MVP candidate Harper continues to rake and is currently working on an 11-game hitting streak. He is hitting .400 over this stretch with eight extra-base hits, including six home runs. His .571 ISO, 1.494 OPS, and over 20% walk rate are just ridiculous. Harper is hitting everything right now and is putting up double-digit fantasy points nearly every day. He faces Hendricks tonight, who has struggled mightily this season and has allowed LHH to hit .275 with .452 SLG and 1.4 HR/9. Harper is far away from my top pay-up option tonight and will be in all lineups I build.
Ian Happ- OF, CHC at Adonis Medina ($4,000)
Let's stick to our Cubs and Phillies game stack and go with the power-hitting Happ. Happ has been raking since he was recalled from Triple-A, but let's look at September, where he has hit safely in 11 of 13 games. He is hitting .370 this month with nine extra-base hits, including five home runs. Happ has a .370 ISO and 1.134 OPS, but unlike Harper, he is only walking 1.8% of the time. Outside of the plate discipline, his production has been Harper-like and comes in $1700 cheaper. I am stacking the heck out of the Cubs and Phillies, and Happ is one of my top plays after Harper.
Alfonso Rivas- OF, CHC at Adonis Medina ($2,100)
Last but not least, a value Cubs bat. We are not sure how long Medina stays in the game, but this favors all Cubs' bats while he is in. Heck, the Phillies bullpen is nothing to write home to, so the whole game favors Cubs bats. Rivas has hit safely in four of his last five starts, including a home run a few starts ago. In Triple-A this season, Rivas hit .284 with four home runs over 24 games. He got a slow start to the season, but the Cubs wanted to give him a shot, and he has produced. He is free tonight in a great matchup and will likely hit sixth. Do not forget a player like Rivas, who will be lower rostered than he should tonight.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Philadelphia Phillies (Kyle Hendricks, RHP)
- Chicago Cubs (Adonis Medina, RHP)
- Houston Astors (Glen Otto, RHP)
- Sneaky Stack- Texas Rangers (Framber Valdez, LHP)
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