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We have a FanDuel single-game slate for Game 1 of the Red Sox-Astros ALCS clash Friday night, meaning that normal roster positions are replaced by one MVP slot (accrues points at 2x rate), one STAR slot (accrues points at 1.5x rate) and three Utility spots (accrue points at normal rate).
There are no pitchers in the player pool, leaving us to solely focus on bats to target those arms with. Friday, Boston’s Chris Sale and Framber Valdez face off in a battle of southpaws that are certainly both quality pitchers, but that have also proven vulnerable at times this season and postseason.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel single-game ALDS slate on 10/15/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.
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FanDuel MVP Candidates (2x Points)
Yuli Gurriel– vs. BOS ($6,000)
Gurriel didn’t have a successful ALDS against the White Sox (.176 average), but his qualifications at the plate are above question. The veteran was excellent against left-handed pitching all season as well, and he posted a .322 average, .907 OPS and .380 wOBA versus southpaws at home. Meanwhile, Red Sox starter Chris Sale struggled against right-handed hitters on the road to the tune of a .318 BAA, .396 wOBA and 5.11 xFIP.
Jose Altuve– vs. BOS ($9,500)
Altuve followed up a resurgent regular season that included a career-high 31 homers with an impressive series against the White Sox that consisted of a .313 average with two doubles, a home run and three RBI. Altuve also owns a .323 average with three homers against Sale in 32 career encounters, and he posted a .293 average, .357 wOBA and .855 OPS against left-handers at home this season.
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FanDuel STAR Candidates (1.5x Points)
Yordan Alvarez- vs. BOS ($7,000)
Alvarez likely makes for a better tournament play than cash due to how tough Sale can be in same-handed matchups, but Alvarez’s own prolific power and great track record against left-handers keeps him in play. The slugger hit a solid .273 in the ALDS against the White Sox, with two of his three hits going for extra bases (one double, one HR). Alvarez blasted 33 homers and drove in 104 runs during the regular season, and he posted a .304 average, .887 OPS and .372 wOBA against southpaws at Minute Maid Park, along with a 140 wRC+
Hunter Renfroe – at HOU ($5,500)
Renfroe has hit safely in each of the Red Sox’s five postseason games thus far, good for a .300 average and .391 OPS. He was also very good versus lefties all season and posted a .275 average, .932 OPS and .389 wOBA versus that handedness on the road. Meanwhile, Astros starter Framber Valdez saw nine of the 12 homers he gave up during the regular season come off right-handed bats and finished the regular season with a 1.2 HR/9 from Sept. 1 onward before allowing four earned runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings to the White Sox in his one postseason start thus far.
FanDuel Utility Candidates
Alex Bregman - vs. BOS ($6,500)
Bregman heads into Game 1 wielding a hot bat, as he hit .375 in the four-game ALDS against the White Sox. He’s also hit .333 with a couple of homers against Sale over 12 career encounters, and he posted a .300 average, .839 OPS and .358 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season.
Christian Arroyo – at HOU ($4,500)
Arroyo started each of the Red Sox’s five postseason games thus far and has a couple of multi-hit efforts. He was also excellent against left-handed pitching all season and mustered a .375 average, three homers and a .447 wOBA against that handedness in a sample of 33 plate appearances on the road.
Xander Bogaerts – at HOU ($7,500)
Bogaerts has always been an accomplished bat versus left-handed pitching, but he was a bit less successful than usual against southpaws on the road this season, keeping him at the Utility level for me Friday. Bogaerts posted a .255 average, .706 OPS and .313 wOBA against lefties on the road, but he does come in with a .350 average, two homers and four RBI over Red Sox’s first five postseason games and also owns a .333 average against Valdez in seven career plate appearances.
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