DFS MLB Lineups for September 20, 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 Corey Kluber can get lit up, and Mike Trout 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!
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9/20/17 MAIN SLATE TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN
DraftKings Walk Off Homer: $555 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
DraftKings Full Count: $55 buy-in, $250k guaranteed
DraftKings Four Seamer: $4 buy-in, $80k guaranteed
FanDuel Monster: $400 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Grand Slam Special: $44 buy-in, $70k guaranteed
FanDuel Squeeze: $4 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
Best DFS MLB Pitchers for September 20, 2017
Robbie Ray @ SD ($13.0k DraftKings, $11.4k FanDuel)
Once again, fading Chris Sale seems like an easy choice given his relatively modest numbers lately and apparently conservative usage as a member of the playoff-bound Red Sox. Ray, meanwhile, is averaging 101.6 pitches per start while winning each of his last 5 outings, and he’s posted a lofty 15.18 K/9 ratio during that span. One of those dominant outings came against San Diego, which is hardly a surprise against a team that ranks dead last in collective batting average (.226) with the third-highest K-Rate against LHP (25.1%) this season. Now he’s facing San Diego on the road, where he’s been nearly untouchable with a 1.33 ERA and .170 BAA over 13 outings this year.
Luke Weaver @ CIN ($9.4k DraftKings, $9.6k FanDuel)
Another gem to come out of the Cardinals farm system, Weaver has been lights out with a 1.89 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over his first 10 MLB appearances. The dynamic young righty faces a Reds lineup tonight that’s struggling with the eight-lowest batting average (.239) and a 23.1% K-Rate over the last 14 days, while he just held the Reds to a single unearned run on 2 hits over 6 dominant innings last Thursday. Pitching on ample rest with the elite Cardinals coaching staff behind him, Weaver should be able to make adjustments and keep Cincy’s hitters guessing on the road tonight.
Jon Lester @ TB ($9.2k DraftKings, $9.1k FanDuel)
He truly had to grind out a Quality Start, but Lester earned a third consecutive win by tossing 114 pitches to go 6 innings against the Mets last Wednesday. He’s had a full week to prepare for a Rays team that’s posting a 28.5% K-Rate over the last 14 days and is rocking the second-lowest average (.237) with the highest K-Rate (26.3%) in the A.L. when facing lefties. Current Rays are hitting .250 with more K’s (43) than hits (33) by far in their careers against Lester, who tends to turn it up when the games begin to mean more in autumn.
Other pitchers to consider: Chris Sale, Brad Peacock, Alex Wood, Josh Tomlin, Dinelson Lamet
Best DFS MLB Hitters for September 20, 2017
Ryan Braun @ PIT ($5.2k DraftKings, $4.0k FanDuel)
A last-minute pitching change on Monday did little to cool off Braun, as he promptly went 2-for-3 with a HR to produce double-digit FPs for a third consecutive game. With 2 HRs, 3 XBH and 2 SB over his last 5 appearances heading into Tuesday’s action, Braun is flashing elite category juice once again and he deserves GPP consideration despite his rising price tag on DK. He’ll actually get to face lefty Steven Brault after the Pirates SP was scratched on Monday and that bodes very well for Braun, who is a career .332 hitter against LHP.
Chris Taylor @ PHI ($3.9k DraftKings, $3.2k FanDuel)
Taylor’s lull in production had a lot to do with the Dodgers overall struggles earlier this month, but he returned to the starting lineup in style with an inside-the-park homer, walk and single in a loss to open this series at Philly. Tonight he has a great chance to match or exceed that production against young RHP Jake Thompson, who has allowed righties to hit .326 with a .418 wOBA and 2.49 HR/9 ratio this season. Taylor’s posting notable splits with a .335 average and .977 OPS on the road and he’s a bit under priced considering he could lead off and is just 4 SB away from a 20-20 season.
Kyle Seager vs. TEX ($3.7k DraftKings, $3.6k FanDuel)
He’s struggled throughout most of the season and that explains the low price tag, but Seager’s also flashed pretty impressive upside with a .362 wOBA and .328 ISO Mark over 16 appearances this month. Tonight he faces a weak RHP in Andrew Cashner, who is posting a 5.94 xFIP and 1.15 HR/9 ratio when facing lefties this year and has historically been vulnerable against the platoon. Seager is 6-for-18 with 2 HRs and a SB in his career against Cashner and he’s worth using tonight a value play in tournaments on DK.
Other hitters to consider: Trea Turner, Jose Altuve, Rhys Hoskins, Jay Bruce, Domingo Santana, Yan Gomes, Mitch Haniger, Rafael Devers, Hernan Perez, Sam Travis
9/20/17 DFS MLB STACKS
Nationals vs Luke Sims
The Nats offense could be all over a rookie RHP tonight and Daniel Murphy is clearly the best option to use with the platoon advantage while Bryce Harper is on the shelf. Braves SP Luke Sims is rocking a 5.05 ERA and allowing LHB to hit .303 with a .393 wOBA and 33.3% Hard Contact Rate this year. He’s giving up a 20% HR/FB ratio when facing righties, so Ryan Zimmerman has a lot of upside now that he’s hot again, while Jayson Werth and Michael A. Taylor could both serve as value plays in the outfield. Trea Turner obviously has elite upside as a true dual threat and Howie Kendrick could be worth a look depending on his placement within the lineup.
Indians vs Ricky Nolasco
The hottest-hitting team in the Majors faces one of the most vulnerable SPs in the league right now in veteran Ricky Nolasco. The 34-year-old righty is giving up a 22.9% HR/FB ratio and 39.2% Hard Contact Rate in RvR matchups and his performance continues to decline with a 5.18 ERA since the ASB. While Edwin Encarnacion is only 5-for-20 with a HR in his career against Nolasco, he has plenty of upside in this matchup as does cheap catcher Yan Gomes, who happens to be 4-for-12 with 3 HRs off the veteran. Francisco Lindor and Jay Bruce are still definitely worth a look with the platoon advantage against Nolasco and Austin Jackson’s a solid value OF now that he’s getting steady playing time with Lonnie Chisenhall out.
Other Stacks to consider:
Cardinals vs. Rookie Davis
Brewers vs. Steven Brault
Red Sox vs. Wade Miley
