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Baseball Picks Daily Fantasy Expert Advice

09/21/2019
Joel Bartilotta

DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Friday 9/22/19

Now’s your chance to get DFSR PRO, which will give you access to our MLB and NBA optimizers and our new player lab! Get started for free by clicking the button below. We're down to a week left in the regular season and this time of the year is truly impossible to predict. What makes it even more frustrating is the fact that managers are benching studs and changing rotations at will. While that does make it tough, it also opens up a boatload of value for us. With that in mind, let's get to our favorite pitcher of the day.

Pitchers

Hyun-Jin RyuHyun-Jin Ryu FD 8100 DK 9500
Opponent - COL (Antonio Senzatela) Park - COL
FD - 37.3 DK - 20.51

Ryu is in contention to land the NL Cy Young and that alone makes this price tag truly shocking in such a supreme spot. This matchup with the Rockies is sensational, with Colorado ranked 23rd in K rate, 28th in runs scored, 30th in OBP and 29th in OPS on the road. That's truly terrifying against a pitcher with a 2.35 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Ryu has been especially good at home, totaling a 1.77 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 rate at Dodgers Stadium this season. All of this has Ryu entering this matchup as a -350 favorite.  Matthew BoydMatthew Boyd FD 9100 DK 10500
Opponent - CHW (Reynaldo Lopez) Park - CHW
FD - 36.45 DK - 20.36

While Boyd has been struggling recently, we really like him in this spot. Getting to face the Tigers is the best match-up in baseball but the White Sox aren't far behind. In fact, Chicago currently ranks 25th in K rate, 23rd in xwOBA, 26th in runs scored, 24th in OBP, and 26th in OPS. That's bad news against one of the best strikeout pitchers in the Majors, with Boyd generating a 3.81 xFIP, 1.20 WHIP and 31 percent K rate. In his two starts against the White Sox this season, Boyd has struck out 22 batters across 11.1 innings, collecting at least 43 FanDuel points in both outings.  We also love Luis Severino against a bad Blue Jays offense but he might see a limited pitch count with this being his second start off the IL. ad

Catcher/First Base

Freddie FreemanFreddie Freeman FD 4200 DK 4700
Opponent - SF (Logan Webb) Park - SF
FD - 13.85 DK - 10.5

Freeman sat out on Saturday after celebrating an NL East title but he should be fully ready to go here. He earned every bit of that rest too, as he's currently one of the leading contenders for NL MVP. That's crystal clear when you see his .298 AVG, .392 OBP, .558 SLG and .950 OPS. His splits are even more impressive, with Freeman amassing a .423 OBP, .602 SLG and 1.025 OPS against right-handers this season. Logan Webb is certainly not a guy we're worried about either, pitching to a 6.51 ERA and 1.70 WHIP this season. Ji-Man ChoiJi-Man Choi FD - 1B 3000 DK 4200 - Opponent - BOS (Nathan Eovaldi) Park - TB FD - 10.39 DK - 10.11 Choi has quietly been a stud for the Rays and it's hard to understand why these sites continue to keep his price so low. Over his last 22 games played, Choi has a .417 OBP and 1.038 OPS. Those are amazing numbers from a player in the $3,000-range and it doesn't even take into consideration this superb matchup. Nathan Eovaldi has a 6.19 ERA and 1.61 WHIP, giving Choi the platoon advantage. Dating back to 2017, the slugging first baseman has a .373 OBP and .871 OPS against right-handers.

Second Base

Gleyber TorresGleyber Torres FD 3900 DK 4500
Opponent - TOR (Trent Thornton) Park - TOR
FD - 13.58 DK - 10.35

Torres isn't really talked about as one of the best Yankees but his statistics would say otherwise. A .546 SLG and .889 OPS tell you everything you need to know, as he's been even better recently. Over his last 34 games played, Torres has 15 homers and 28 RBI en route to a .679 SLG and 1.017 OPS. That's terrible news for Trent Thornton, with the Blue Jays righty pitching to a 4.93 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. Ozzie AlbiesOzzie Albies FD 3700 DK 4700
Opponent - SF (Logan Webb) Park - SF
FD - 12.55 DK - 9.71

Albies has been one of the hottest hitters in the NL since the All-Star break and we have to love him in this Braves stack. Over his last 25 games played, Albies has a .333 AVG, .396 OBP, .596 SLG and .992 OPS. That stretch dates back even further, with Albies putting together a .935 OPS over his last 92 games. That indicates that he's in the midst of a full-on breakout and we simply can't fade him against those ugly Webb numbers mentioned when we discussed Freeman.

Shortstop

Jorge PolancoJorge Polanco FD 3700 DK 4900
Opponent - KC (Jorge Lopez) Park - KC
FD - 13.12 DK - 10.17

Polanco is one of the most underrated players in baseball and it's time for people to start taking notice of his talent. Any guy hitting third for the Twins has to be a great DFS play and it's no surprise when you see his .299 AVG and .853 OPS. Those are very good numbers but his statistics against right-handers are absolutely ridiculous. In fact, Polanco has a .310 AVG, .383 OBP, .520 SLG and .903 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor this season. Jorge Lopez' 5.93 ERA and 1.45 WHIP definitely makes him a guy we want to exploit too. Didi GregoriusDidi Gregorius FD 3400 DK 4200
Opponent - TOR (Trent Thornton) Park - TOR
FD - 12.33 DK - 9.44

Gregorious hitting third in this potent Yankees lineup makes him one of the best options on the board. The reason for that is because this lineup is projected for about six runs, one of the highest totals on the slate. While he's not the best hitter on this team statistically, he's actually on pace for about 100 RBI and 100 runs if he played a full season. Having this sort of lineup spot will do that and we love that he gets to face Thornton's 4.93 ERA. Not to mention, Gregorious has a .506 SLG and .828 OPS against righties since 2017.

Third Base

Josh DonaldsonJosh Donaldson FD 3400 DK 4400
Opponent - SF (Logan Webb) Park - SF
FD - 12.56 DK - 9.39

Donaldson has been in this article all season and it's easy to see why. These sites just continue to keep his price low and it really doesn't make sense. We're talking about a dude who has an OBP north of .400 and an OPS above 1.000 since the beginning of July. He's been even more absurd at home this season, accruing a .428 OBP and 1.047 OPS at SunTrust Park. Those are MVP-caliber numbers and he's being priced like an average third baseman. Giovanny UrshelaGiovanny Urshela FD 3000 DK 4000
Opponent - TOR (Trent Thornton) Park - TOR
FD - 11.96 DK - 9.15

This is yet another shocking price tag. This guy has been one of the best hitters in baseball the last two months and he's being priced like a platoon player. Over his last 53 games played, Urshela is hitting .351 while posting a .644 SLG and 1.024 OPS. Those brilliant numbers have guaranteed him every-day at-bats and it's truly hard to understand why he's so affordable. We already discussed the Thornton matchup, as that only adds to Urshela's intrigue.

Outfield

Nelson CruzNelson Cruz FD 4200 DK 5400
Opponent - KC (Jorge Lopez) Park - KC
FD - 13.92 DK - 10.48

Eddie RosarioEddie Rosario FD 3500 DK 4900
Opponent - KC (Jorge Lopez) Park - KC
FD - 13.4 DK - 10.32

We haven't discussed the Twins a whole lot yet but this is one of the best stacks on the board. Having the highest-scoring offense in baseball is obviously a major reason why but facing Jorge Lopez is simply the icing on the cake. The Royals righty is currently pitching to a 5.93 ERA and 1.45 WHIP, which is why this Twins team is projected for about six runs. If we like these Twinkies, we have to love Cruz and Rosario. Let's start with Cruz, as his .383 OBP, .626 SLG and 1.009 OPS are some of the best numbers around. He's been ridiculous recently, collecting four homers and 11 RBI over his last eight games. Rosario has been nearly as good, accumulating a .498 SLG and .798 OPS this season. He's typically better against righties too, posting an .853 OPS against them dating back to 2017. Juan SotoJuan Soto FD 4200 DK 5000
Opponent - MIA (Pablo Lopez) Park - MIA
FD - 13.27 DK - 9.98

This kid is truly unbelievable. How often do you see a 20-year-old post an OBP north of .400 and an OPS above .900. That's truly mind-boggling and it's clear that this kid will be a force for years to come. He's actually in the midst of the best stretch of his career too, totaling a .415 OBP, .667 SLG and 1.082 OPS over his last 50 games played. He also gets to bat from the left side against Pablo Lopez, with the Marlins pitcher posting a 4.94 ERA from the right side. Michael ConfortoMichael Conforto FD 3000 DK 4100
Opponent - CIN (Trevor Bauer) Park - CIN
FD - 10.54 DK - 7.91

While Bauer is not an easy matchup by any means, we like Conforto against any righty. In fact, the slugging outfielder has a .374 OBP, .520 SLG and .894 OPS against right-handers this season. Even though Bauer has been a stud the last two years, he's been struggling mightily recently. Over his last 10 starts, Bauer is pitching to a 7.04 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. Not to mention, Great American Ballpark is one of the toughest parks in the Majors to pitch in.

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