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DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Sunday 9/1/19
We are now in the final month of the season and it's getting down to the good stuff. We're finally seeing meaningful games and that's all we can ask for as DFS players. That makes things so much more predictable and that's really all we wanr. With that in mind, let's get to the two best pitching options on the board.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.
Pitchers
Justin Verlander FD 11900 DK 12000 Opponent - TOR (Wilmer Font) Park - TOR
FD - 48.54 DK - 28.18
This guy is simply the best pitcher of my generation and he's still doing serious damage at the age of 36. It's truly amazing just how consistent this guy is, as he's currently pitching to a 2.69 ERA and 0.80 WHIP this season. Those are some of the best numbers of an already Hall-of-Fame career and if doesn't even take into consideration that he has a K rate north of 30 percent. That's truly frightening for a Blue Jays lineup who ranks 22nd in K rate, 28th in OBP, 24th in OPS and 27th in wOBA. That's why Verlander and the Astros enter this matchup as a -300 favorite.
Patrick Corbin FD 11200 DK 11100 Opponent - MIA (Caleb Smith) Park - MIA
FD - 41.77 DK - 23.01
This is probably the best play on the board. The main reason why is because of this matchup, with the Marlins ranked bottom-two in runs scored, OBP, OPS and xwOBA. That's really no surprise when you consider the fact that Marlins Park is arguably the toughest park to hit in. It's not like Corbin is some slouch either, with the lefty generating a 29 percent K rate to match his 3.15 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. That's why Corbin enters this matchup as a -280 favorite with Miami projected for fewer than four runs.
If the wind is blowing in in Wrigley we might be getting Yu Darvish (FD $9000 DK $10200) at a discount even in a tough matchup against the Brewers.
Miles Mikolas (FD $6700 DK $7100) also makes for a decent DraftKings SP2 option against the Reds.
Catcher/First Base
Ji-Man Choi FD 2600 DK 4000 Opponent - CLE (Adam Plutko) Park - CLE
FD - 11.08 DK - 8.34
Why do these sites continue to disrespect Choi? This guy has been superb all season long and has done nothing but destroy right-handed pitching throughout his career. In fact, Choi has a .371 OBP, .489 SLG and .860 OPS against righties since 2017. That's why he typically bats leadoff or cleanup in these circumstances and it's really no surprise when you look at his recent form. Over his last 23 games. Choi has a .399 OBP, .500 SLG and .898 OPS. We're definitely not worried about Adam Plutko and his 5.53 xFIP either.
Danny Santana FD 3100 DK 5400 Opponent - SEA (Yusei Kikuchi) Park - SEA
FD - 10.52 DK - 8.06
Talk about a league-winner. This man has been brilliant all season long and it's crazy that FanDuel has lowered his price to $3,100. A .289 AVG, .554 SLG and .869 OPS tell you everything you need to know about this guy, as he's actually on pace to be a 30-15 stud too. That means the breakout is real and we definitely love him against a pitcher like Kikuchi. The Seattle southpaw is currently pitching to a 5.36 ERA and 1.48 WHIP this season, which is really scary in a hitter's haven like Globe Life Park.
If you're in need of a catcher, Gary Sanchez (FD $4000 DK $4600) leads all backstops in dingers after homering twice on Saturday and gets the platoon advantage against Sean Manaea
Second Base
Whit Merrifield FD 3400 DK 4700 Opponent - BAL (Aaron Brooks) Park - BAL
FD - 12.24 DK - 9.58
Merrifield has been the Royals best player for three years now and we like him anytime he's in this price range. We're talking about a .300-hitter who averages over 30 steals per year. That pairs beautifully with an OPS north of .800 and it's impressive just how reliable this dude has been. The reason we like him today is because he gets to face Aaron Brooks, who's currently pitching to a 5.79 ERA and 1.38 WHIP for the worst pitching staff in baseball.
Jose Altuve FD 4300 DK 5300 Opponent - TOR (Wilmer Font) Park - TOR
FD - 13.04 DK - 10.1
Altuve is the first of many Astros in this article and it's easy to see why when you see his second half. While he struggled early on, this is the best Altuve we've ever seen. Over his last 51 games, Altuve is hitting .353 en route to a .401 OBP, .642 SLG and .943 OPS. Those fantastic numbers don't even consider his speed, as Altuve is one of the league leaders in steals since joining the Astros. All of that looks even better when you consider this matchup, with the Blue Jays riding a bullpen game and the Astros projected for more than five runs.
Eric Sogard (FD $2600 DK $4100) has been underrated all season and very well might leadoff against Adam Plutko.
Shortstop
Trevor Story FD 4400 DK 5700 Opponent - PIT (Steven Brault) Park - PIT
FD - 17 DK - 12.9
We have a Coors Field slate and this is the first Rockie on the board? Yeah, sorry about that but Story very well may be the best option of any player on this slate. Let's start with this matchup, as he gets the platoon advantage against Steven Brault and his 4.06 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. That's truly horrifying for Brault, as Story has been abusing lefties at home throughout his career. In fact, Story has a .386 OBP, .637 SLG and 1.023 OPS against lefties since 2017 and .407 OBP, .681 SLG SLG and 1.089 OPS at home this season.
Elvis Andrus FD 3200 DK 4400 Opponent - SEA (Yusei Kikuchi) Park - SEA
FD - 12.02 DK - 9.36
The Rangers are a sneaky stack against Kikuchi's aforementioned ugly numbers and Andrus is one of the few guys who actually has the platoon advantage against him. While his splits are pretty much even, it's clear that Andrus has much better power when seeing the ball from a left-hander. That's evident by his .442 SLG against them since 2017, which is 30 points higher than his total against righties. Hitting in the heart of an order projected for six runs is the main reason we like him though.
We love the Astros, so you know we like Alex Bregman (FD $4100 DK $5300) too.
Third Base
Matt Chapman FD 3800 DK 4600 Opponent - NYY (J.A. Happ) Park - NYY
FD - 12.14 DK - 9.15
Chapman has quietly had a brilliant season for the A's and it's time that this guy starts getting some consideration for AL MVP. A .526 SLG and .870 OPS really shows just how special of a season this guy has been having, as a good amount of that damage has come against left-handed pitching. With the platoon advantage in his favor, Chapman has a .587 SLG and .937 OPS so far this season. Those are scary for a guy like J.A. Happ, who's 5.57 ERA and 1.36 WHIP make him a terrible option in a place like Yankee Stadium.
Nolan Arenado FD 4600 DK 5600 Opponent - PIT (Steven Brault) Park - PIT
FD - 16.88 DK - 12.71
You probably could have seen this coming after the Story write-up and it's going to be tough to avoid the Rockies in general. The reason for that is because they have an implied team total north of 7, which is easily the highest on the slate. Story and Arenado are the major reasons why, as Arenado's splits are just as drastic as the stud shortstops. In fact, Arenado has a .371 AVG, .448 OBP, .735 SLG and 1.184 OPS against lefties since 2017 while amassing a .406 OBP, .650 SLG and 1.055 at home in that same span.
Outfield
Mookie Betts FD 3800 DK 4400 Opponent - LAA (Andrew Heaney) Park - LAA
FD - 13.31 DK - 10.12
Betts and J.D. Martinez are always a great two-man stack and they're even better in a situation like this. Whenever these two face a left-hander, they have to be some of the first outfielders considered. What makes Betts so intriguing here is his recent form, with the leadoff man amassing a .384 OBP, .546 SLG and .930 OPS over his last 61 fixtures. His last 13 games have been even better, with Betts posting a .993 OPS in that span. We're really not scared of Andrew Heaney either, with the Red Sox projected for about five runs.
Eddie Rosario FD 3600 DK 4500 Opponent - DET (Spencer Turnbull) Park - DET
FD - 12.43 DK - 9.57
The Twins are always one of the most stackable teams anytime they take the field and people seem to forget about Rosario. This man has been awesome for three seasons now, which is evident by his .287 AVG, .497 SLG and .817 OPS since 2017. That's all you can ask for from someone priced so reasonably, especially when they bat in the heart of a lineup who's projected for more than five runs. The reason they have such a high team total is because they face Spencer Turnbull and his 4.18 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Not to mention, Rosario is hitting .355 over his last seven games in total.
George Springer FD 4200 DK 5400 Opponent - TOR (Wilmer Font) Park - TOR
FD - 13.38 DK - 10.12
Springer dinger has been living up to his name this season, as his .590 SLG and .955 OPS both mark career-highs. That's really frightening atop one of the best lineups in baseball, particularly since Springer has homered in two of his last three games in total. That extends a stretch in which Springer has a .455 OBP and 1.083 OPS over his last nine games. We're really not worried about the Astros facing all of these bullpen arms in Toronto, as this is one of the worst bullpens in the league.
If you are looking for some cheaper options, Nick Solak (FD $3100 DK $3900) looks decent if he's in the middle of the Ranger lineup.
Chad Pinder (FD $2700 DK $3400) is also coming cheap against J.A. Happ.
