RADIO
It's Week 3 of the NFL season, which means time to load up on baseball DFS! We've got an 11-game slate on the penultimate Sunday of the season. SEA @ TEX has the highest expected total at 10.5, with NYM @ WAS the next highest at 9.0.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 9/23/18. 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, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @ElliottBaasBB.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Miles Mikolas, STL (vs. SF): $8,700
Mikolas is consistently priced as an SP2 by DraftKings despite SP1 performances all season long. On the year Mikolas has a 3.01 ERA, 3.37 FIP, and 4.55 K/BB ratio. He gets an easy matchup at home against the San Francisco Giants, who have a .295 wOBA and 85 wRC+ versus right-handed pitching this season. They also have a .133 ISO and 24.3% strikeout rate as a team. Things have only gotten worse for San Francisco’s offense as the season has gone on, as they’ve lost veterans Andrew McCutchen and Buster Posey over the final six weeks and are without Brandon Belt. Outside of Brandon Crawford and Evan Longoria there are no bats that inspire even the slightest hint of fear in opponents, and many players in San Francisco’s lineup can best be described as organizational depth. This is a good pitcher against a weak lineup at home for under $9,000, a bargain SP1.
Brad Keller, KC (@ DET): $7,400
Since August 1 Keller has a 2.83 ERA, 3.14 FIP, and 3.3 K/BB ratio. He has also gone at least six innings in seven of his nine starts during that stretch. Keller takes on the worst lineup against right-handed pitching in the majors Sunday, travelling to Detroit to take on the Tigers. Detroit has a .291 wOBA, 81 wRC+, and 22.8% strikeout rate versus right-handers this season. This is as good a matchup that a pitcher can get, and Keller has been pitching out of his mind during the final two months.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C – Salvador Perez, KC (@ DET): $3,800
It would be nice to stack against Daniel Norris, but Kansas City’s lineup lacks the punch for that. Instead we can use the power-hitting backstop Perez, who has 26 homers and a .205 ISO on the year. Perez has been the designated hitter for the last two games, so he’ll likely be in the lineup either behind the plate or as the DH. Either way he is a great play against a pitcher that has allowed a .216 ISO to right-handed hitters this season.
1B – Ryon Healy, SEA (@ TEX): $3,700
The total for this game is set at 10.5, and with Seattle the road favorite and looking at a huge park upgrade from Safeco Field to Globe Life Park we’ll want to take advantage of this matchup. Texas is starting Adrian Sampson, who has allowed five home runs in 15.2 career innings along with a 10.6% strikeout rate and 7.17 FIP. Healy hits sixth in Seattle’s batting order and with 24 home runs and a .182 ISO he has enough power to make him a high-ceiling cheap play at first base.
2B – Javier Baez, CHC (@ CWS): $5,600
The Cubs take on a pitcher that has a 5.31 xFIP, 5.10 SIERA, and 1.67 K/BB ratio. Sure, Carlos Rodon has a 3.22 ERA, but that doesn’t mean we should trust it. His walk issues are still present and his strikeout rate has plummeted. Rodon is overpriced at $8,200, which means that Cubs hitters will be underpriced. We’re not getting any discount on Baez however. Baez has an .882 OPS and .272 ISO against right-handed pitching this season, along with 33 homers and 21 steals overall.
3B – Kris Bryant, CHC (@ CWS): $4,600
Bryant has been disappointing from a season-long perspective, but he is still crushing left-handed pitching when healthy this season. He is hitting .357 with a 1.107 OPS and .345 ISO versus lefties on the year.
SS – Elvis Andrus, TEX (vs. SEA): $3,500
Andrus hits third for Texas in what should be a high-scoring affair with Seattle on Sunday in Texas. Seattle is pitching lefty Wade LeBlanc, who has a 4.48 xFIP, 4.35 SIERA, and 1.36 HR/9 this season despite a 3.49 ERA. Andrus has had a down season, but has hit better against lefties with a .727 OPS.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Nelson Cruz, SEA (@ TEX): $4,600
Cruz is having his typical Nelson Cruz season, and against righties he has an .850 OPS and .249 ISO on the year. The park shift from Seattle to Texas should serve him well, as should the opposing pitcher Adrian Sampson.
Albert Almora, CHC (@ CWS): $3,500
Almora hits leadoff for the Cubs when facing a left-handed pitcher. Against lefties he is hitting .304 with a .766 OPS on the season and should be a good table-setter for heavy hitters like Baez and Bryant.
Joey Gallo, TEX (vs. SEA): $4,600
Gallo has been the Rangers best hitter against left-handed pitching this season and has actually been much better in most regards when facing southpaws. He has a .900 OPS and .366 ISO versus lefties. Lineup spot is important with Gallo, and hopefully he is hitting fifth or higher in this game. The Rangers have been jerking him around all season despite the second highest overall wOBA (.350) on the team.
