DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Saturday 9/24/22(Main Slate)

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Pitchers

Framber Valdez FD - P 11200 DK - RP 10200
Opponent - BAL (Tyler Wells) Park - BAL
FD - 34.65 DK - 18.09

The one thing holding Valdez back from being a dominant pitcher early in the season was the lack of strikeouts. Well, he has shut up those critics(myself included) in the second half recording seven or more in eight of 10 starts while going 8-1 with a 2.42 ERA/2.71 xFIP. He now gets a plus matchup against the O's who came out firing in the second half but have fallen off big time sitting bottom five in wOBA(.288) and wRC+(86) over the last month. Considering Kershaw gets a much tougher matchup against the Cards and Darvish is pitching in Coors, Valdez is easily my top pitcher in all formats.

Logan Gilbert FD - P 10200 DK - SP 8500
Opponent - KC (Kris Bubic) Park - KC
FD - 36.09 DK - 20.02

While there is always a risk in rostering a pitcher in September on a team that has clinched, this is not the case with Gilbert and the Mariners who are in a tight battle for an AL Wildcard. That is great news as Gilbert has been phenomenal down the stretch allowing just six earned runs over his last six starts(1.57 ERA) and has struck out nine or more batters in three of his last four. Like Valdez, he also gets a terrific matchup as a -185 favorite against the Royals who are not only a below-average offense overall(.301 wOBA/92 wRC+) but also worse against right-handed pitching(.296 wOBA/.89 wRC+). He is in play in all formats, especially on DraftKings where the price still sits in the mid $8K range.

Catcher/First Base

Ty France FD - 1B 3000 DK - 1B 3900
Opponent - KC (Kris Bubic) Park - KC
FD - 10.82 DK - 8.25
Carlos Santana FD - 1B 2300 DK - 1B 2800
Opponent - KC (Kris Bubic) Park - KC
FD - 9.26 DK - 6.96

The Mariners will be without their star, Julio Rodriguez, for at least 10 days and that puts some pressure on the rest of the lineup as they are trying to hold on to the final AL Wildcard spot. The good news for us in fantasy is that it opens up some value and that starts at first base with France and Santana. France has been a little up and down lately but is by far the more talented option here as he has built on his breakout season from a year ago with his first 20 home run season while adding 78 RBI. For Santana, he has provided a nice power surge for the M's down the stretch with seven bombs in his last 12 games and has been hitting cleanup. Both players hit lefties well and get a plus matchup against Kris Bubic who has posted a 7.83 ERA with 46% hard contact in his seven starts. Both players come cheap on both sites and while you need to make a decision on DraftKings, you can play them both on FanDuel with the utility spot.

Josh Naylor FD - 1B 3000 DK - 1B 4300
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 9.2 DK - 7.06

The value continues at first base as the Guardians get one of the best matchups on the board against Glen Otto who has not only posted a 4.33 ERA/4.86 xFIP over his last 12 starts but has given up at least one home run in nine of those starts. Enter Josh Naylor who has been on fire down the stretch with hits in five straight including three multi-hit efforts and two home runs. He may not be as consistent overall, but in this matchup I see the hot streak continuing making him a top PTS/$ option on this slate.

Second Base

Andrés Giménez FD - 2B 3200 DK - 2B 4700
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 8.9 DK - 6.91

Despite being red-hot and getting one of the best matchups on the board, the Guardians are very likely overlooked tonight and that could be a mistake. If anything, people will load up on Jose Ramirez and while that makes sense I like the players behind him and if you're playing Naylor at first it makes even more sense to get exposure to Gimenez. He has been equally good in the short term with hits in five straight and eight of his last 10 games and much more consistent overall hitting .302 with an impressive .374 on-base percentage. I will have exposure in all formats tonight.

If paying up for pitching, the rest of the second base position is lacking any sort of value but if you have the salary, Jose Altuve is the play. He comes in riding a five-game hit streak and also has multiple hits in seven of his last 11 games.

Shortstop

Elvis Andrus FD 2800 DK 3900
Opponent - DET (Drew Hutchison) Park - DET
FD - 9.23 DK - 7.26

Since being moved to the leadoff spot for the White Sox to close out August, Elvis Andrus has been on a rampage recording hits in 19 of 22 games posting an elite .333/.373/.573 slash line with .406 wOBA and 170 wRC+. He has been better against left-handed pitching but can't be ignored with his price and plus matchup against struggling Drew Hutchinson who has given up 16 hits and 10 earned runs over his last two starts. Fire up Andrus in all formats on Saturday.

Carlos Correa FD 3000 DK 5300
Opponent - LAA (Reid Detmers) Park - LAA
FD - 8.53 DK - 6.46

In cash games, Andrus is going to be the chalk play with his price which allows us to spend up at pitching but don't ignore Carlos Correa if you have the salary. He has the option to opt out of his deal with the Twins after the season and is putting together a solid resume to find a new home. He comes into tonight with hits in 17 of his last 19 games with a crazy .392/.442/.684 slash line with six home runs and 15 RBI. He has also crushed lefties(.401 wOBA/168 wRC+) and gets a plus matchup against Detmers who has multiple walks in six straight and has allowed four earned runs in three of his last five starts. Correa is not a lock on DraftKings but on FanDuel the price is still in the value range making him our top play at the position.

Third Base

Manny Machado FD 4500 DK 5500
Opponent - COL (Chad Kuhl) Park - COL
FD - 16.87 DK - 12.8

The price on FanDuel has us hesitant on the Padres even in Coors but on DraftKings it's all systems go for this terrific matchup. The Padres are narrowly hanging on to the final wildcard spot in the NL and to get there they will need Machado to keep it going as he enters the night with hits in six of his last seven games pushing his average up to .296 for the season. He has also been an elite run producer with 30 home runs and 95 RBI for a .381 wOBA and 151 wRC+. Add in that he gets an elite matchup against Chad Kuhl who has posted an ugly 8.53 ERA with 49% hard contact rate over his last 11 starts and you have a top payup in all formats.

Gio Urshela FD 2300 DK 3100
Opponent - LAA (Reid Detmers) Park - LAA
FD - 6.7 DK - 5.17

Once again, the narrative around this slate is paying up for top pitching and that means we have to pick and choose our spots. If not paying up for Machado in Coors, it is an easy value pivot to Gio Urshela who is projected to hit leadoff for the Twins tonight. He comes cheap on both sites and has been terrific down the stretch hitting .308 with a .395 OBP over his last 17 games and has been solid against lefties with a 115 wRC+. He is most definitely in play in all formats.

Outfield

Steven Kwan FD 3600 DK 4600
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 9.01 DK - 7

There is a path to paying up for bats in the outfield and Juan Soto and Eloy Jimenez are two of my favorite but I will stick with the value route to get to top pitching. That sends me back to the Guardians and their leadoff hitter Steven Kwan who has been leading the way(no pun intended) with hits in seven straight games including five mulit-hit efforts, four extra-base hits, and 10 runs scored. That consistency has also been there all season for the rookie as he enters the night with a very impressive .296 average and .372 OBP. In one of the best matchups on the slate combined with his mid-tier price, he is my favorite PTS/$ play in the outfield.

Corbin Carroll FD 3200 DK 3100
Opponent - SF (Alex Cobb) Park - SF
FD - 7.72 DK - 5.9

While Carroll won't be considered a rookie until next season with his late-season callup, he is one of the top prospects in baseball and quickly showing why at the major league level. He has already tallied hits in 15 of 17 games in which he has started and is hitting .271 with three home runs and a 135 wRC+. The price has adjusted FanDuel where he isn't a must play at all but on DraftKings, I am fully on board at $3,100 given we are looking to pay up for elite pitching.

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