Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 9/19/16

 

In case you didn’t notice, we just released our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.

You can grab a free 3 day trial to test out yourself.

 

 

PITCHER

Jose Fernandez FD 11300 DK 12500
Opponent - WSH (Roark) Park - @MIA
FD - 40.57 DK - 26.73

Jose Fernandez is going to start us off here at the pitcher position, as he usually does when he is on the mound. Fernandez is one of the most dominant pitchers in the league against both righties and lefties. With a combined wOBA sitting below .280, you can have confidence that Fernandez is who he says he is. He will take on a Washington Nationals team that has been a little below average against right handers. They have struck out 23% of the time and only have a 7.6% walk rate. While the Nationals have a few big scary bats, they also strikeout a ton and can go cold for long stretches of time. Another factor to consider is that Fernandez is at home, where he is a completely different pitcher. Fernandez is my top option on the slate and he will be in the bulk of my cash games and tournaments.

Michael Pineda FD 8400 DK 8500
Opponent - TB (Smyly) Park - @TB
FD - 32.76 DK - 21.71

If you are looking to get a little risky and want to pay down a little in tournaments, take a look at Michael Pineda. Pineda has been absolutely dominant against right handers, and his numbers against aren't too bad themselves. He has held a .291 combined wOBA that is backed up by a low hard contact rate and a high swinging strike rate. His opponent, the Rays, strikeout a ton. In nearly 4500 at-bats, the Rays have struck out 23% of the time, which is the 3rd highest in the league behind just the Brewers and Orioles. He is similarly priced on both sites, so I like him more on DraftKings. Another reason I like him more on DraftKings is because of the win uncertainty. Smyly is pretty good and I could easily see this being a low scoring affair. Pineda is a pure tournament play for me, but I could see the upside in throwing him in a cash game on DK.

We're proud to introduce a brand new partner (and player in this space), Fantasy Factor! DFSR readers can get a bunch of sweet freebies (including a $5, no strings, no drip bonus) by signing up now!

CATCHER

Matt Wieters FD 2800 DK 3600
Opponent - BOS (Rodriguez) Park - @BAL
FD - 10.05 DK - 7.77

Matt Wieters used to be one of the best hitting catchers in baseball, then the injuries happen. Now he is a decent catcher with decent power that is nowhere near as good as he once was. That being said, he is a lot better against lefties and has a bit more power from the right side of the plate as well. In 2-16, Wieters has sported a .327 wOBA against lefties to go along with a 33.9% hard contact rate. The game will be played in Camden Yards, which is one of the best parks in the league for homers. Eduardo Rodriguez is an improving youngster that has struggled against righties, especially on the road.

Victor Martinez FD 3200 DK 3400
Opponent - MIN (Santiago) Park - @MIN
FD - 11.61 DK - 8.89

Moving on to my favorite catcher of them all, Victor Martinez. Martinez and the Tigers are in a terrific spot tonight, and you will see how much we like the offense. They are taking on Hector Santiago, who has huge splits and gives up a ton of homers and hard hit balls to right handers. Victor Martinez has been great against lefties over the past 3 seasons with a .362 wOBA that is supported by peripherals and batted ball rates. While Target Field is not hitters paradise, it ranked above average for right handed power in 2015. On FanDuel, I will likely have close to 100% of Victor Martinez, with a little bit of Matt Wieters sprinkled in.

FIRST BASE

Miguel Cabrera FD 3800 DK 4300
Opponent - MIN (Santiago) Park - @MIN
FD - 13.74 DK - 10.45

Moving on to first base, we are going to go right back to the Tigers and take a look at Miguel Cabrera. While it goes unsaid, Cabrera is still arguably the best hitter in the league and there is nobody more consistent at the plate at bat in and at bat out. Against right handers, Santiago has given up an astounding 22 home runs and a .327 wOBA. He has a ton of trouble with home runs and I expect a few of these Tigers to add to that huge number. Cabrera is not too pricey on either site, and I am comfortable using him in both cash games and tournaments across the board.

C.J. Cron FD 2700 DK 4000
Opponent - TEX (Griffin) Park - @TEX
FD - 10.49 DK - 8.18

C.J. Cron comes in as my cheap tournament option for first base. He is going to be very low owned, but has the upside to take you to the promised land. The Angels are facing off with A.J. Griffin, who is overall just not that good. He has a decent fastball, but his secondary pitches don't move much and he can give up a lot of homers that way. Cron is the perfect guy to hit a dinger off of him as he loves the low fastball and can hit the ball to all fields. In 2016, Cron has sported a .341 wOBA against right handers and his peripherals back it up. Globe Life Park is a great hitters park, so that will only help. On DraftKings, he is way too expensive, but on FanDuel, you have to give him a look in tournaments.

SECOND BASE

Rougned Odor FD 3700 DK 4700
Opponent - LAA (Wright) Park - @TEX
FD - 12.15 DK - 9.84

The Rangers are facing off with the Los Angeles Angles and the ever elusive Daniel Wright. Though the sample size is rather small, Wright has been absolutely atrocious against both righties and lefties. SO far in 2016 against lefties, Wright has sported a .411 wOBA that is backed up by a 36% hard contact rate and a 8.4% HR/FB rate. The Rangers should be able to pile on quickly here and get to the leagues 25th worst bullpen rather soon. Odor specifically, has been fantastic against right handers in 2016 with a .377 wOBA. Odor is one of the most powerful second baseman in the game, so he always as the ability to hit a home run, though he is not reliant on the power.

Jose Altuve FD 3600 DK 4200
Opponent - OAK (Manaea) Park - @OAK
FD - 11.54 DK - 10

If you are looking for a guy in cash games and have the money to spend, you have to take a look at Jose Altuve. Altuve is an absolute monster against lefties and has sported a wOBA close to .400 for a couple years now. He will be taking on a pitcher in Sean Manaea that has struggled against righties and has actually struggled with giving up stolen bases. While the Oakland Coliseum is a huge park, Altuve is far from home run reliant and can score points in more ways than most guys. Because of the park, I prefer him in cash games and would rather have Rougned Odor in tournaments. He is a bit cheaper and has a lot more home run upside.

SHORTSTOP

Jhonny Peralta FD 3200 DK 4000
Opponent - COL (De La Rosa) Park - @COL
FD - 12.52 DK - 9.67
Aledmys Diaz FD 4000 DK 4800
Opponent - COL (De La Rosa) Park - @COL
FD - 13.87 DK - 11

Jorge De La Rosa. Can I stop? De La Rosa has been absolutely atrocious against righties on the year and I think he has finally hit a wall. Both Aledmys Diaz and Jhonny Peralta are very good against lefties, as evident by their .340 + wOBA since 2015. The Cardinals are still in Coors Field and will have a Vegas run line of around 5-6. We will touch more on De La Rosa in a bit, but for now, just know that he is absolutely horrible against both sides of the plate. He is aging like crazy and his arm speed is nowhere near what it used to be. I prefer Diaz in cash games and Peralta in tournaments. While they are both expensive, they are worth it in my eyes as the Coors Field factor is huge.

Tim Anderson FD 2900 DK 3800
Opponent - PHI (Thompson) Park - @PHI
FD - 9.22 DK - 8.2

Tim Anderson is a guy that I have used since his debut and he has paid off for me over and over. He has ht righties well, hit for power and showcased a little bit of speed. Anderson has sported a .344 wOBA against righties, and will face off with one today that is very underwhelming. Jake Thompson is a right handed youngster that ha struggled against righties with a .327 wOBA and a 32.9% hard contact rate. The game will take place in Citizens Bank Park, which gives Anderson a ton of upside in both cash games and tournaments. On FanDuel, I like him in all formats because of his great price.

THIRD BASE

Jedd Gyorko FD 3200 DK 3900
Opponent - COL (De La Rosa) Park - @COL
FD - 14.19 DK - 10.78

While I didn't mention any Cardinals for the first half of the article, I made sure I packed them up in the 2nd half. Gyorko is one of my favorite Cardinals to roster against lefties a she is consistently low owned and almost always pays off against southpaws. De La Rosa has sported a .362 wOBA against lefties, and his peripherals support the insane regression monster that has hit him. Gyorko on the other hand, has sported a .348 wOBA against lefties on the year and there is no chance that it is a fluke. He has hit righties well for about 5 seasons now and he has improved each and every year. I am a bog fan of Gyorko in both tournaments and cash games.

Maikel Franco FD 2500 DK 3900
Opponent - CHW (Shields) Park - @PHI
FD - 11.61 DK - 8.96

While this is the first Philly that I have mentioned, the offense is in a good spot and they might be in the stack article that I write later in the day. Franco has sported a very nice .331 wOBA against righties, but he has also showcased a lot of power. If Franco is able to get a hold of one here, it will be in the upper deck. Shields has taken a turn for the worst and has some of the absolute worst numbers in the league. Against righties, Shields sported a .364 wOBA and has given up a 34.9% hard contact rate. This is a FanDuel specific play as he is a lot cheaper over there and has just as much upside as anyone at the position.

OUTFIELD

Stephen Piscotty FD 3700 DK 5100
Opponent - COL (De La Rosa) Park - @COL
FD - 14.38 DK - 11.27

Stephen Piscotty comes in as my favorite outfielder on the day, and he will be in almost all of my lineup. Piscotty is arguably the best hitters on the Cardinals, especially against lefties. So far in 2016, Piscotty has sported a .384 wOBA that is backed up by a ton of peripherals and batted ball rates. He is facing off with Jorge De La Rosa, who as I mentioned, has been absolutely disastrous against righties. He has given up more home runs this year than all of last year combined and the 37% hard contact rate is just scary bad. Piscotty is my favorite option in both cash games and tournaments, though I prefer him on FanDuel because of his insane DK price.

Carlos Beltran FD 3600 DK 4400
Opponent - LAA (Wright) Park - @TEX
FD - 12.78 DK - 9.8

Carlos Beltran is going to be the 2nd and final Texas Ranger we take a look at. Even though they are one of my favorite teams on the slate, I only put 2 guys listed as the rest of the team is very tournament specific. However, you can play Beltran in both cash games and tournaments. Beltran has been fantastic against righties on the season with a .384 wOBA alongside a .211 ISO. As mentioned, Daniel Wright is atrocious against lefties and has sported a measly .411 wOBA. If the Rangers don't get to him quickly, I will be astonished. Beltran makes for a great play in both cash games and tournaments, though I prefer him in FanDuel as the DK price is a bit steep.

J.D. Martinez FD 3700 DK 4500
Opponent - MIN (Santiago) Park - @MIN
FD - 13.03 DK - 9.97
Justin Upton FD 3200 DK 4500
Opponent - MIN (Santiago) Park - @MIN
FD - 11.3 DK - 8.85

Lastly, we are going to take a look at the left handed mashing duo of J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton. Both Martinez and Upton have mashed left handers dating back to 2013 with a + .360 from both of them. They will be taking on the previously mentioned Hector Santiago, who as mentioned, has serious home run issues. Both of these guys are going to be swinging for the fences and I expect at least 1 of them to get a hold of it. Target Field is slightly above average for power, though it is a huge upgrade from Comerica Park. The Tigers are a team you will want exposure to and both of these guys are fantastic ways to get exposure. As a note, Upton is too cheap on FD and I would consider him for cash games.

Be sure to get a copy of our free eBook on setting Weekly DFS NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings!

And again, leading into the daily fantasy NFL season we're offering a free 2 week trial of our brand spanking new NFL DFS Player Lab! Click the button below to get started making lineups on FanDuel and DraftKings!