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We have a 5-game main slate on tap tonight, and it's an interesting one. We have some clear-cut pitching targets led by Lance McCullers and no real punt pitching options. After that, there are some solid hitting options on the slate with two ballparks that should host a ton of offense. The Jays will likely be popular, and rightfully so, but may not be the way you have to go. So many ways to go tonight, so make sure to listen to MLB DFS Quick Hits to get a full slate rundown.
The slate starts with which pitchers to build around. McCullers is the clear go-to option tonight, but who to pair him with after is the question. Luis Castillo and Aaron Nola are the likely targets, but Steven Matz could be the low-rostered contrarian angle tonight. One could also forgo McCullers and play two of the others. In the end, those are my four pitching targets tonight. When it comes to bats, I like the idea of seeing who the chalky pitcher is between Castillo and Nola—ideally stacking a sneaky Nats team in Great American Small Park—stacking both teams in GASP and Camden Yards maybe my angle with bats tonight.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 9/23/2021. 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 vital 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
Lance McCullers Jr. - P, HOU at LAA ($10,100)
McCullers comes into tonight's matchup as one of the more consistent pitchers in baseball of late. He is a 20+ point DK machine more often than not. Over his last seven starts, he has thrown at least five innings in each beginning, going six or more in five starts. McCullers has allowed two earned runs or less in six starts and, more importantly for DK scoring, has struck out seven or more in six of seven starts. McCullers has been locked in of late and faces an Angels team sputtering towards the finish line. They are striking out nearly 26% of the time in September versus RHP with a .212 average and 72 wRC+. This season, McCullers has faced the Angels four times, pitching 25.2 innings, allowing six earned runs and 29 strikeouts. McCullers is the top option, and it isn't that close tonight. He will be popular, and it is chalk that I am willing to eat.
Aaron Nola - P, PHI vs. PIT ($8,500)
Now to the puzzle that is Aaron Nola. Over his last six starts, he has thrown five or more innings in five starts. Over those starts, he is allowing three earned runs or less in five starts and, more importantly, has struck out five or more times in each start, including seven or more times in four of six starts. All of the strikeouts are the thing that has saved Nola this season, especially for DK scoring. He will face a Pirates team striking out 22.2% of the time in September and struck out five times when they met earlier this season. Nola is far too cheap tonight, potentially making for mega-chalk. Not sure I am in on a super chalky Nola, but for now, I am going Nola over Castillo in Great American Small Park versus the Nats. It's like flipping a coin and, in the end, will come down to projected ownership to see who I pair with McCullers.
Other Options: Steven Matz (TOR at MIN) $9,200, Luis Castillo (CIN vs. WAS) $8,900
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Yohel Pozo - C, TEX at Zac Lowther ($3,300)
Pozo does not play every day, but when he does, he is usually productive. He has hit safely in nine of 10 games in September, including seven of eight starts. In September, Pozo is hitting .375 with three doubles. He only has a .094 ISO, which is quite surprising as he crushes in Triple-A, so the power is there. More impressively from Pozo is that he is striking out 9% of the time, putting a lot of balls in play. That could be quite an excellent hitting in hitter-friendly Camden Yards tonight versus Lowther. Lowther won't be long for this game, but the season is allowing RHH to hit .281 with a .531 SLG and 2.3 HR/9.
Matt Vierling - 1B/OF, PHI vs. Connor Overton ($2,500)
Let's bring a little value to the DK picks today. Look no further than the Phillies young first base/outfielder Vierling. He has hit safely in four of his last five starts, with multiple hits in three of those starts. He has yet to collect an extra-base hit, but he has thrown in a stolen base over those five starts. He has a hard-hit rate of 56% over the five games and hits fifth or sixth in a potent Phillies' lineup. The Phillies are in a smash spot tonight versus a Pirates' bullpen game, and Vierling could be a nice cheap piece in a Phillies stack or even as a value one-off if spending up elsewhere.
Luis Garcia - 2B, WAS at Luis Castillo ($2,900)
Another value piece tonight is Garcia. The Nats' second baseman brings a four-game hitting streak into tonight's game and has hit safely in six of his last eight starts. He is hitting .357 with three extra-base hits, four runs scored, and five RBI over this stretch. Quite the production from a sub-3K price. He does hit seventh or eighth most nights, which is not ideal but still makes for a great value if stacking up the Nats. The Nats will be overlooked as Castillo is a stud, but in Great American Small Park, at a discount could be just the stack you need on a small five-game slate.
Bo Bichette- SS, TOR at Michael Pineda ($5,200)
I wouldn't say I like writing up a ton of pricy options as you do not need an article to tell you they are good plays, but tonight the shortstop position is not great, and that makes paying for Bichette even sweeter. He is hitting .329 with five home runs in September and has even thrown in three stolen bases. He has a .207 ISO to go with a .896 OPS as he continues to be one of the best shortstops in baseball. He faces Pineda tonight, allowing RHH to hit .244 with a .418 SLG and 1.3 HR/9. The Jays will be very popular tonight. I am not sure I will play the chalky stack, but I will have one-offs like Bichette tonight.
Eugenio Suarez - 3B, CIN vs. Patrick Corbin ($4,400)
Suarez has seen his playing time decrease a bit late, but it may be better. The Reds are starting him in better matchups, and he is taking advantage. In four of his last six starts, he has hit safely with three extra-base hits, including two home runs. He is hitting .348 with a 14.8% walk rate. He looks like a completely different hitter. His contact quality is excellent, with a 13.3% barrel rate and a 46.7% hard-hit rate.
Most importantly, Suarez mashes LHP and gets a gas can in Corbin tonight. Corbin has allowed five or more runs in three of his last five starts, with seven home runs served up. It gets better, though. Corbin is allowing RHH to hit .307 with a .575 SLG and 2.5 HR/9. The Reds are a monster stack tonight, and Suarez makes for a significant part of that stack.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Cedric Mullins - OF, BAL vs. Glenn Otto ($4,300)
Mullins is having a monster season and gets a phenomenal matchup tonight versus Otto. Mullins enters tonight's game hitting safely in six of his last seven games, suitable for a .360 average. He has three extra-base hits to go with two steals, a 13.6% walk rate, and an insanely good 6.9% strikeout rate. He'll face Otto tonight, who has allowed 15 runs, yes 15 runs, in his last two starts. Otto is allowing LHH to hit .409 with a .345 SLG on the season. The Orioles are an excellent stack tonight, and Mullins is just an outstanding play period. Use him in stacks or as a one-0ff, but most importantly, roster Mullins tonight.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.- OF, TOR at Michael Pineda ($3,200)
The Jays are an offensive machine, but their most consistent hitter may be talked about the least in Gurriel. He sure does not respect the DK pricing as he is so cheap on every slate. Those that listen to Quick Hits know my love for rostering Gurriel, and hopefully, you have followed along. In September, Gurriel is hitting .360 with 14 extra-base hits, including seven home runs. He has a .400 ISO to go with a 10.6% walk rate and a 1.184 OPS. Gurriel is crushing everything and should be locked into your lineups tonight as a great value and a great play period.
Charlie Culberson- 3B/OF, TEX at Zac Lowther ($3,000)
Last but not least, let's go with a sneaky value play with Culberson. He takes on the lefty Lowther tonight, and that's when we love using Culberson. He may not be consistent at the plate throughout the season, but he is constant when it comes to crushing LHP. On the season, he is hitting .341 with a .206 ISO. He may only face Lowther for an at-bat or two, but then it's a very hittable Orioles' bullpen. So do not forget Culberson when building your Rangers' stacks, as he could easily go deep and help take down a tournament.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Cincinnati Reds (Patrick Corbin, LHP)
- Baltimore Orioles (Glenn Otto, RHP)
- Texas Rangers (Zac Lowther, RHP)
- Toronto Blue Jays (Michael Pineda, RHP)
- Sneaky Stack- Washington Nationals (Luis Castillo, RHP)
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