DFS MLB Lineups for September 12, 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!
9/12/17 MAIN SLATE TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN
DraftKings Grand Slam: $444 buy-in, $400k guaranteed
DraftKings Swing For The Fences: $6 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
DraftKings Moonshot: $3 buy-in, $150k guaranteed
FanDuel Monster: $555 buy-in, $150k guaranteed
FanDuel ENORMOUS Grand Slam: $44 buy-in, $150k guaranteed
FanDuel Squeeze: $4 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
Best DFS MLB Pitchers for September 12, 2017
Corey Kluber vs. DET ($13.3k DraftKings, $11.8k FanDuel)
We’ve reached the point where Kluber is more expensive than the mighty Clayton Kershaw and for good reason, as the likely A.L. CY Young Award winner is on an incredible run. Kluber’s allowed 3 ER or fewer to go 7-1 over his last 8 outings and he’s sporting a .180 BAA with a 12.24 K/9 ratio and even more impressive 11.20 K/BB ratio since the ASB. Tonight he faces a Tigers team that’s given him some trouble in the past, but he held them to 1 ER over 8 strong IP last week and has posted a 25.5% K-Rate in his career against that lineup.
Sonny Gray @ TB ($9.6k DraftKings, $8.8k FanDuel)
Gray’s become a staple for cash game lineups with a 2.74 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 7 starts since joining the Yankees and he seems like an even safer play in tonight’s matchup. The Rays are posting the lowest collective batting average (.235) with the fewest runs scored (107) amongst A.L. teams over the last 30 days and current Rays are 35-for-143 (.245) with 31 K’s in their careers against the former A’s ace. Gray’s holding LHB to a .207 average and weak .599 OPS this season, which bodes well for his prospects against a lefty-heavy lineup.
Johnny Cueto vs. LAD ($7.3k DraftKings, $7.9k FanDuel)
Cueto impressed in his return to the rotation in a tough spot at Coors Field and as we mentioned yesterday, the Dodgers are really struggling with the lowest batting average (.222) and fewest runs scored (95) in the Majors over the last 30 days. Even though he’s having a rough year, getting an ace like Cueto at this price tag is hard to pass up at spacious AT&T Park, where he’s 27-11 with a 2.41 ERA and .217 BAA over the last 3 seasons. Cueto posted a 2.15 ERA during that span against the Dodgers and you can bet that he’ll be charged up to face Kershaw and potentially play spoiler against a bitter rival. As you’d expect, this is a GPP only play.
Other pitchers to consider: Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Lance Lynn, Dylan Bundy, Kyle Gibson, Eduardo Rodriguez, Dillon Peters
Best DFS MLB Hitters for September 12, 2017
Nolan Arenado @ ARI ($5.1k DraftKings, $4.2k FanDuel)
He got into a groove at Dodger Stadium and now Arenado’s playing at a much more hitter-friendly ballpark in Chase Field, where he’s hitting .285 with 4 HRs and 13 XBH over 39 career games. Diamondbacks SP Taijuan Walker hasn’t enjoyed the confines of Chase Field, as he’s posted a 4.11 ERA and 14.8% HR/FB ratio this year, while Arenado is a solid 3-for-10 in his career against the young righty. When he’s going well, it really doesn’t matter where Arenado hits, as he’s been just as dangerous away from Coors Field over the past few season.
Dee Gordon @ PHI ($4.3k DraftKings, $4.0k FanDuel)
Gordon is so hot right now that he homered in a pinch-hit appearance on Sunday. He’s hitting .342 with a 132 wRC+ in September and has posted a .957 OPS over his last 10 appearances, yet he remains modestly priced on DK ahead of a plus matchup. Phillies rookie RHP Nick Pivetta has flashed at times, but is struggling overall with a 6.49 ERA while giving up 8 SB over 22 starts this season. Gordon has always been a premier threat on the base paths and he’s getting there quite often in front of some dangerous Marlins sluggers.
Ryan Rua vs. SEA ($2.6k DraftKings, $2.2k FanDuel)
In order to supplement a lineup with expensive bats and a true ace in Kluber or Kershaw, you’ll have to gamble on some values and Rua could pay off in a big way as he did in a 3-hit game on Sunday. He’s providing the type of pop against LHP that the Rangers are missing with Adrian Beltre on the DL as a career .274 hitter with a 33.5% Hard Contact Rate against the platoon. The Mariners are starting a very vulnerable young southpaw tonight in Marco Gonzales and even if Rua doesn’t crack the lineup, Delino Deshields, Robinson Chirinos and other Rangers will definitely be worth a look.
Other hitters to consider: Giancarlo Stanton, Francisco Lindor, Paul Goldschmidt, Mitch Haniger, Byron Buxton, Jed Lowrie, Jorge Polanco, Robinson Chirinos, Teoscar Hernandez
9/12/17 DFS MLB STACKS
Indians vs Matt Boyd
Of course the Indians SPs are even better options these days because their offense is leading the Majors with a collective .368 wOBA and 180 runs scored over the last 30 days. Cleveland also leads the league with 63 HRs and is third with 24 SB off LHP, so young southpaw Matt Boyd is in trouble tonight. Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez are the best options in this stack as both switch hitters excel against lefties. Yan Gomes is a platoon specialist at catcher with plenty of upside in this matchup and either Austin Jackson or Lonnie Chisenhall should serve as a mid-tier play in the OF, since Chisenahll’s been quite effective in LvL matchups and solid in the 2-hole for the streaking Tribe.
Twins vs Travis Wood
Another team that loves to face lefties, the Twins could feast on showered veteran LHP Travis Wood. He was tagged for 6 ER and 2 HRs over just 2 IP in his last outing, which came at Petco Park, and Wood’s been far more vulnerable with a 7.03 ERA and .329 BAA on the road this season. He struggled his way through 4 innings in a home start against Minnesota earlier this year, but now faces a much-improved lineup with Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco flashing serious juice. Brian Dozier is certainly worth a look as a lefty killer while Eduardo Escobar can provide value at SS and flash his potential against the platoon as well.
Other Stacks to consider:
Orioles vs. Joe Biagini
Brewers vs. Brent Suter
Rangers vs. Marco Gonzales
