DFS MLB Lineups for September 8, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
For this daily fantasy baseball season, each day there’s a good slate of DFS MLB games, we’ll be writing up a group of pitchers and hitters that we’re considering for our cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. We’ll also provide a list of stacks to consider, MLB start times, starting pitchers, and game run totals to give you a good idea of where the fantasy goodness might come from on a given night. As with any DFS sport, the advice below is relevant for fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than they are in real life due to matchup, price, park factor, etc. This is important when constructing a roster. And if you’re looking for new ways to play DFS, be sure and give BOOM Fantasy and DRAFT a try!
A quick reminder while playing DFS MLB, don’t forget baseball is a game of variance. You can make a really solid lineup and still fall short of the cash line. Even Chris Sale can get lit up, and Paul Goldschmidt can still go 0 for 4. Baseball is funny like that. Trust the process and know that if you’re playing quality lineups, you’ll be a winner in the long term.
Another thing to remember outside of making sure your player is in the lineup, is to always check the weather. Always. Make this something that is part of your basic routine. Baseball games can get postponed! Your players receive no points from postponed games!
9/8/17 MAIN SLATE TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN
DraftKings Full Count: $55 buy-in, $200k guaranteed
DraftKings Rally Cap: $8 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
DraftKings Four Seamer: $4 buy-in, $75k guaranteed
FanDuel MLB Monster: $444 buy-in, $250k guaranteed
FanDuel Sinker Squeeze: $9 buy-in, $90k guaranteed
FanDuel Grand Slam: $44 buy-in, $75k guaranteed
Best DFS MLB Pitchers for September 8, 2017
Max Scherzer vs. PHI ($13.3k DraftKings, $11.6k FanDuel)
Getting hit by a fluke comebacker line drive chased Scherzer early in his last start, and that’s been the only thing really capable of slowing down the likely N.L. CY Young Award winner. He’s completely dominating righties with a 14.16 K/9 ratio and minuscule 0.57 WHIP in RvR matchups and Philly’s most dangerous power hitters are RHB. The Phillies rank 28th in runs scored (575) with the seventh-highest K-Rate (23%) this year and have more K’s (42) than hits (39) with a weak collective .262 wOBA over 177 career at-bats against Scherzer.
Luke Weaver vs. PIT ($8.4k DraftKings, $9.0k FanDuel)
After battling Madison Bumgarner and frankly outdueling him over 7 strong innings in his last outing, Weaver clearly belongs in the circle of elite young pitchers. He’s 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA and 11.25 K/9 ratio over 8 appearances this year and is holding opposing batters to a .204 average with a weak .253 wOBA at Busch Stadium. Tonight he faces a weakened Pirates offense that’s posting the second-lowest ISO Mark (.124) in the Majors over the last 14 days and poses little threat.
Marcus Stroman vs. DET ($8.1k DraftKings, $8.2k FanDuel)
Stroman has rarely appeared in this column throughout the season because he’s often priced amongst true aces. Now that he’s in the mid-tier range, he’s definitely worth a look as an SP2. Tonight’s matchup against a Tigers lineup that’s missing Miguel Cabrera is certainly a juicy one, and current Tigers are just 2-for-11 with little to no experience against Stroman and his devastating slider. The Blue Jays young ace is rocking a 2.55 ERA with a 0.69 HR/9 ratio at home and he should have more luck in that hitter-friendly park than Tigers vulnerable SP Buck Farmer.
Other pitchers to consider: Patrick Corbin, Chris Archer, Collin McHugh, Lucas Giolito, John Lackey, Drew Pomeranz, Trevor Williams
Best DFS MLB Hitters for September 8, 2017
Josh Donaldson vs. DET ($5.2k DraftKings, $3.7k FanDuel)
While he’s struggled lately in terms of overall average, Donaldson’s made the most of his plus matchups with a HR and 3 RBIs in consecutive games last weekend. He could put up a big line once again in a home tilt against RHP Buck Farmer, who is giving up a 2.45 HR/9 ratio and 35.6% Hard Contact Rate with a 6.00 FIP in RvR matchups this season. Donaldson continues to flash upside with a 1.007 OPS and .311 ISO Mark at Rogers Centre, where 20 of his 25 HRs have come this year.
Shin-Soo Choo vs. NYY ($4.3k DraftKings, $3.5k FanDuel)
Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka really struggles against hitters such as Choo, who can stay back on the ball and dig out low pitches when Tanaka attempts to run his sinking fastball away from lefties. It’s been a struggle for Tanaka on the road, where he’s 4-5 with a 5.62 ERA and 1.95 HR/9 ratio this year, and the Launching Pad in Arlington can be quite unforgiving. Choo, who is 4-for-9 in his career against Tanaka, has been patient with a 15.2% BB Rate at Rangers Park and he’s spraying the ball at home with an impressive 28.1% Line Drive Rate and 22.9% HR/FB ratio.
Avisail Garcia vs. SF ($3.8k DraftKings, $3.9k FanDuel)
It’s quite surprising to see Garcia priced this low on DK ahead of a plus matchup at home. Arguably the best RHB in the White Sox lineup, he’s hitting .426 with a .993 OPS at home against lefties and posting a 42.5% Hard Contact Rate overall against the platoon. Tonight he’ll face a LHP in Matt Moore who has struggled badly with a 6.88 ERA and .310 BAA on the road and is pitching on short rest after making an appearance out of the bullpen on Sunday, so Garcia is a quality value play as the White Sox finally catch a break with an easier matchup.
Other hitters to consider: Jose Altuve, Joey Votto, Nelson Cruz, Justin Upton, Alex Bregman, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Chirinos, Brandon Phillips
9/8/17 DFS MLB STACKS
Astros vs Jharel Cotton
Their lineup is loaded once again and the Astros should be licking their chops to face a struggling second-year SP tonight. Cotton’s somehow been awful at spacious Oakland Coliseum with a 7.09 ERA and 2.26 HR/9 ratio at home and the ‘Stros can really rake regardless of the venue, led by Jose Altuve’s .430 road batting average, and with Carlos Correa back in the fold it’s tough to navigate the middle of that order. Cameron Maybin’s brought speed for Houston and Alex Bregman continues to produce, while Marwin Gonzalez has found his power stroke once again.
Angels vs Mike Leake
Leake’s miraculous start for the Cardinals came to a crashing halt and we may see a microcosm of that downfall after he posted a Quality Start in his first Mariners start against a weak A’s offense. The Angels are no longer a cupcake now that they’ve reloaded with key veteran bats in Justin Upton and Brandon Phillips, who are both excellent options tonight. Of course Mike Trout could lead this stack, while Kole Calhoun and Luis Valbuena are worth consideration as cheaper plays against a RHP that’s allowed LHB to hit .294 this season.
Other Stacks to consider:
Twins vs. Ian Kennedy
Diamondbacks vs. Jordan Lyles
Blue Jays vs. Buck Farmer
