Daily Fantasy MLB Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 9/14/17

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Pitcher

Early Slate

Luke Weaver FD 9200 DK 10900
Opponent - CIN (Garrett) Park - @STL
FD - 34.26 DK - 22.55

The Cardinals appear to have hit a home run with their 2014 first round pick Luke Weaver. He struggled a bit(5.70 ERA, 21.2% HR/FB) during a late season call-up in 2016 but showed us his upside with an 11.1 K/9 rate. That same upside has been present during the 2017 season but he has found more control and has an impressive 2.16 ERA through six starts with a 2.77 xFIP to back it up. He is walking less and giving up fewer home runs. I am not thrilled about the season-high salary but on a four game slate, I am willing to take the risk.

Main Slate

Jose Berrios FD 8500 DK 10800
Opponent - TOR (Anderson) Park - @MIN
FD - 32.29 DK - 21.37

I hate to target against my favorite team but the Blue Jays have been awful in the second half ranking in the bottom third of the league in almost all offensive categories. Like Weaver, Berrios was also drafted in the first round, first overall pick, and has a ton of upside as both a real life and fantasy pitcher. He has a few blips on the radar when looking at the season game log but has maintained a sub 4.00 ERA on the season with 8.5 K/9 rate and has limited the long ball with a 10% HR/FB rate. Despite only striking out one Royals hitter in his last start, he struck out 7+ in his four previous starts.

*For a few other pitching options be sure to check out the starting pitcher article published later this morning*

Catcher

Early Slate

Yadier Molina FD 3500 DK 3800
Opponent - CIN (Garrett) Park - @STL
FD - 10.02 DK - 8.08

Before the early slate locks, you are going to hear a lot about targeting against Amir Garrett and for good reason. He was sent down in late June after posting a 7.41 ERA and 27.5% HR/FB rate and wasn't much better in his return giving up four earned runs(3 HR). This will make them popular but combine the fact Yadier Molina has been hot at the plate and under $4K on both sites and you have the top catcher play today. Molina comes in with three straight multi-hit games and has posted a .302 average since the All Star break.

Also Consider: Chris Iannetta(ARI)

Main Slate

J.T. Realmuto FD 3100 DK 3700
Opponent - PHI (Thompson) Park - @PHI
FD - 10.75 DK - 8.66

On the main slate, we get another red hot catcher in J.T. Realmuto who is coming off a well deserved night off on Wednesday. He enters with hits in six of his last seven games(12 for 35) including four multi-hit games, three doubles, and six RBI. He and the Marlins get a plus matchup vs. Jake Thompson who has posted a 4.50 ERA and 19.4% HR/FB rate in five starts since being moved to the rotation. With a price under $4K on both sites, Realmuto is safe in all formats.

Also Consider: Travis D'Arnaud(NYM)

First Base

Early Slate

Jose Abreu FD 4000 DK 4800
Opponent - DET (Bell) Park - @DET
FD - 11.77 DK - 8.96

Abreu cooled off yesterday afternoon going 0 for 4 but is once again a top play on the early slate. Since entering the league Abreu has been one of the most consistent options for fantasy at the first base position and enters tonight with an elite .305/.357/.561 slash line with 31 home runs, 92 RBI, and 86 runs scored. He has also been an absolute beast against left-handed pitching with a .460 wOBA, 194 wRC+ and ridiculous .3-01 Isolated Power. Thursday he faces rookie Chad Bell making just his third major league start after beginning the season out of the bullpen and has given up seven earned runs and has yet to make it out of the fifth inning. Abreu is safe in all formats.

Also Consider: Matt Carpenter(STL)

Main Slate

Carlos Santana FD 4200 DK 5100
Opponent - KC (Junis) Park - @CLE
FD - 12.28 DK - 9.21

The Indians continue to terrorize their opponents winning 21 straight games and at first base, I lean Carlos Santana who is cheaper and has been better than Edwin Encarnacion as of late. He has hits in eight of his last 10 games including four doubles, a triple, and two home runs. Santana is a switch hitter who has shown more power vs. righties this season with a .372 wOBA, 130 wRC+ and 14 home runs. Look for the Indians to continue to roll.

Also Consider: Kennys Vargas(MIN)

Second Base

Early Slate

DJ LeMahieu FD 3600 DK 4100
Opponent - ARI (Godley) Park - @ARI
FD - 9.46 DK - 7.72

The matchup isn't at the top of my list but LeMahieu is an excellent play if you are looking for a consistent bat in the middle of your lineup. Even on a small four-game slate, he is only the third most expensive on FanDuel and the fifth most expensive on DraftKings. With hits in 19 of his last 20 games, the reigning National League batting champ has pushed his average up to .316 on the season and hitting in front of All Star Nolan Arenado he gets a ton of opportunities to score runs.Safe in all formats.

Also Consider: Ian Kinsler(DET)

Main Slate

Dee Gordon FD 4200 DK 3700
Opponent - PHI (Thompson) Park - @PHI
FD - 9.74 DK - 9.31

The Phillies took it to the Marlins yesterday but Gordon still picked up a hit extending his hit streak to 16 games and pushing his average comfortably over the .300 mark for the season. The most impressive part about the recent streak is that 12 of those 16 games were of the multi-hit variety. This combined with the fact he hits at the top of the order in front of Giancarlo Stanton makes him a top play in all formats and he also provides additional upside with his speed as he comes in with 53 on the season.

Also Consider: Robinson Cano(SEA)

Shortstop

Early Slate

Paul DeJong FD 3400 DK 4400
Opponent - CIN (Garrett) Park - @STL
FD - 11.41 DK - 8.86

Back to picking on Garrett on the early slate and this time we find Paul Dejong hitting out of the three-hole for the Cards. He has been a staple of the offense since being called up in late May with a .363 wOBA, 125 wRC+ while adding some pop with 22 home runs. He went into Wednesday night's action with hits in four straight games including three doubles and a home run but this pick has more to do with the matchup vs. Garrett who I mentioned earlier has struggled mightily all season.

Also Consider: Tim Anderson(CWS)

Main Slate

Carlos Correa FD 3400 DK 4300
Opponent - LAA (Nolasco) Park - @LAA
FD - 12.41 DK - 9.4

Although Correa has struggled since returning to the Astros(.189 average), his price has hit a near season-low on both sites. This automatically brings him into the PTS/$ conversation especially considering the plus matchup vs. Ricky Nolasco who has been a gas can all season with a 5.19 ERA, 4.68 xFIP and for the fantasy, the best part is that he gives up a ton of home runs(17.8% HR/FB rate on 37% hard contact) and struggles more vs. righties with a .393 wOBA against. Considering the matchup and price, I will be playing Correa in all formats tonight.

Also Consider: Tim Beckham(BAL)

Third Base

Early Slate

Rafael Devers FD 3300 DK 3800
Opponent - OAK (Gossett) Park - @BOS
FD - 12.56 DK - 9.82

I have been mostly using Devers in matchup vs. southpaws but on a small slate, I will consider him on both sites at a price under $4K today. Hard to believe he is only 20 years old and already a steady contributor for the Red Sox with a very impressive .299/.357/.506 slash line through his first 41 games and he has also added some pop with eight home runs. His value goes significantly up if he makes his way back up the lineup as he has been sitting in the seven-hole for the most part over the last couple weeks. Either way, he is a top play at the position.

Also Consider: Nick Castellanos(DET), Jake Lamb(ARI) on FanDuel

Main Slate

Anthony Rendon FD 3500 DK 4800
Opponent - ATL (Foltynewicz) Park - @WSH
FD - 11.58 DK - 8.96

I would sure like this pick a whole lot more if the Nats would keep Rendon at the top of the lineup but we know how frustrating lineups are with Dusty Baker. If anything it may help keep his salary in that second tier and that is what pushes him up the PTS/$ rankings on a daily basis. He has been incredibly consistent all year with a .302/.400/.534 slash line and has added power to boot with 23 home runs and 91 RBI and has evolved into a very well-rounded player.  His best value comes on FanDuel where he is the seventh in salary on the eight-game slate.

Also Consider: Eduardo Escobar(MIN)

Outfield

Early slate

David Peralta FD 3300 DK 4200
Opponent - COL (Bettis) Park - @ARI
FD - 12.6 DK - 10.07

The theme of mid-priced value bats continues in the outfield with David Peralta. The fantasy point performances have been spotty as the Diamondbacks have lost four of their last five going into Wednesday but peeking at the scoreboard I see he is currently 2 for 3 and now has hits in five of his last seven games. Overall, he is another high floor, low ceiling player hitting leadoff on a high scoring team and coming into tonight has a respectable .296/.349/.442 slash line with 73 runs scored.

Harrison Bader FD 2200 DK 3100
Opponent - CIN (Garrett) Park - @STL
FD - 9.92 DK - 7.58

Whether you are stacking the Cardinals or just looking for a one off punt play, Harrison Bader fits the mold today. I previously mentioned the matchup vs. Amir Garrett(he stinks) and in a very small sample size early in his career, Bader has crushed lefties going 8 for 15 with two home runs. That is enough for me, especially on FanDuel where he sites in the low $2K range.

Also Consider: Mookie Betts(BOS), Alex Presley(DET)

Main Slate

Giancarlo Stanton FD 4600 DK 5600
Opponent - PHI (Thompson) Park - @PHI
FD - 15.63 DK - 11.74

With 17 games to go in the regular season, Mr. Stanton sits just six short of the infamous 60 mark and seven short of tying Roger Maris's 61 during the 1961 season. If you have been sleeping under a rock lately, he is the hottest thing since Aaron Judge in the first half and leads the world with 28 home runs in the second half. The way he is swinging the bat, I am willing to pay the price for the huge upside as I feel we may see one or two double dongs down the stretch and that will win you a tournament ladies and gentlemen.

Ben Zobrist FD 3500 DK 3700
Opponent - NYM (Lugo) Park - @CHC
FD - 11.36 DK - 8.75

From a value standpoint, it's Ben Zobrist hovering around the top of the PTS/$ ranks making him a great play once again today, especially if he is back up in the leadoff position. It's been a rough season overall for Zobrist hitting under .250 but he has been better lately with three straight multi hit games and hits in seven of his last eight with four doubles. Get a piece of him now before the price exceeds $4K once again on both sites.

Also Consider: Mitch Haniger(SEA), Lorenzo Cain(KC)

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