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Jake Finnen discusses the matchups on September 3rd and gives advice on which players daily fantasy players should pick up for your DraftKings DFS lineup.
There are only six games today which gives us limited options throughout the field. For the sake of assuming that the highest priced players are nearly automatic, I will go game by game and select one or two players from each team that is the perfect balance of potential and price.
I will be using normal RHB vs LHP, LHB vs LHP, etc., splits. I will advise a few must-start, high-priced players, but my main focus will be exploiting match ups for cheaper options to help free up cap space to implement those high-priced players. I will be brief but will give reasoning behind my picks.
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Game by Game Analysis for DraftKings Lineups
White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija gets destroyed by LHB and RHB this year, so I advise Eduardo Nunez (.449 SLG% / .344 wOBA / 119 wRC+) as a cheaper option with added risk and strongly advise Miguel Sano (.661 SLG% / .450 wOBA / 193 wRC+) but with added price. Twins’’ Kyle Gibson is my sleeper pitcher for the day with his slightly above average ERA, 3.98 vs. RHB and 3.67 vs. LHB along with his consistency of a 6.0+ K/9 against both sides of the plate. If any White Sox player would get the nod in my lineup, Jose Abreu (.535 SLG% / .378 wOBA / 142 wRC+) would be my best bet.
The Nationals face a weak pitcher in Matt Wisler who struggles severely against LHB this season. With A 9.4 K% against LHB, Bryce Harper (.671 SLG% / .473 wOBA / 206 wRC+) should eat Wisler alive today. Pay the price; he should be worth it. I could not find any threats on the Braves offense to advise or scare me from playing Jordan Zimmermann today. Above average numbers around the board for Zimmermann, and he should notch quite a few strikeouts today against Atlanta.
Francisco Liriano should rip apart the Brewers, and I do not advise starting any Brewers players today. Liriano is the top-priced pitcher, and his 26.9 K% vs. RHB and 23.4 K% vs. LHB enforces that. For the Pirates, Jung ho-Kang (.478 SLG% / .366 wOBA / 136 wRC+) should get the best of Taylor Jungmann who has significant trouble with RHB.
Tigers pitcher Matt Boyd is inexperienced, with only 36.2 IP this year, he gets demolished by LHB this year giving up an 11.36 ERA. This gives the green light to Alex Gordon (.448 SLG% / .365 wOBA / 133 wRC+) hoping that he gets the start. For the Tigers we have Edinson Volquez, who I am confidently starting. The Royals may seem intimidating, but recently they have lacked that punch they possessed earlier in the season. They are also playing in a pitcher-favorable park whitch only helps Volquez, who is an already consistent pitcher with his above average 2.70 ERA vs. LHB and 3.84 ERA vs. RHB. Risky play but worth the investment for middle ranged pitcher.
Due to the tendencies at Coors Field to favor batters heavily, I would not advise either pitcher in this game. For the offensive players, Rockies Carlos Gonzalez (.622 SLG% / .409 wOBA / 145 wRC+) is always consistent, and Ben Paulsen (.504 SLG% / .371 wOBA / 143 wRC+) would be a cheaper option with plenty of upside. Giants Kelby Tomlinson (.520 SLG% / .371 wOBA / 143 wRC+) is a very cheap option that has potential to own Chris Rusin along with a riskier play in Gregor Blanco (.348 SLG% / .309 wOBA / 101 wRC+).
The last game to start for today. The pitchers have the early advantage due to Petco Park favoring pitchers. I do not feel confident advising Colin Rea or Mat Latos regardless of the park. They are simply too inconsistent to trust. Padres’ Brett Wallace (.684 SLG% / .487 wOBA / 220 wRC+) is as cheap as possible, which means he must be played with his potential against Latos who struggles with LHB. Dodgers’ Justin Turner (.552 SLG% / .399 wOBA / 158 wRC+) and must-start Andre Ethier (.510 SLG% / .384 wOBA / 148 wRC+) should have no problem owning the young Colin Rea.
Pitchers to Target for DraftKings
Kyle Gibson (MIN) - $7,900
Jordan Zimmermann (WAS) - $10,400
Francisco Liriano (PIT) - $11,300
Edinson Volquez (KC) - $9,800
Infielders to Target for DraftKings
Eduardo Nunez (MIN, 3B/SS) - $2,700
Miguel Sano (MIN, 3B) - $5,200
Jose Abreu (CWS, 1B) - $4,600
Jung ho-Kang (PIT, 3B/SS) - $4,100
Ben Paulsen (COL, 1B/OF) - $3,500
Kelby Tomlinson (SF, 2B/SS) - $3,300
Brett Wallace (SD, 1B/3B) - $2,000
Justin Turner (LAD, 2B/3B) - $3,500
Outfielders to Target for DraftKings
Bryce Harper (WAS) - $5,600
Alex Gordon (KC) - $4,200
J.D. Martinez (DET) - $5,000
Carlos Gonzalez (COL) - $4,300
Gregor Blanco (SF) - $3,900
Andre Ethier (LAD) - $3,300
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