Below are my DraftKings picks for Friday, October 9th, 2015.

As always, remember to check your players to make sure they are in their MLB starting lineups before lineups lock. My goal with these DFS picks, as always, is to try and identify MLB players who will outperform their expectations today and tomorrow, based on their matchups and FanDuel prices.

These players can be high-cost players, or they can be value pick sleepers, but we are always looking for players that have a chance to return the greatest value for your DFS lineups. Let’s get to it.

MLB & DraftKings DFS Game Notes

• Remember yesterday when I proposed that anything can happen? Yeah. Anything can happen. So whoever you think is a lock, go ahead and pick the complete opposite. Go 100% George Costanza.
• The Blue Jays are facing a southpaw. You know what that means.
• I love nearly every single first baseman for Friday. Even though you will not see them below, Prince Fielder, Anthony Rizzo and Mitch Moreland are three guys I would definitely look at for DFS play.
• Johnny Cueto and Scott Kazmir have looked downright awful over the last two months. Get plenty of action in the Astros-Royals matchup.

DFS Pitchers to Consider for DraftKings

Clayton Kershaw, LAD ($15,000)

Pitching God. No explanation needed.

Jon Lester, CHC ($10,500)

For salary cap relief, I relieve like Lester in Friday’s slate. The Cardinals are all sorts of banged up and struggled down the stretch against left-handed pitchers. Lester has a history of showing up in big games or getting bombed. Bet on the former showing up.

Marcus Stroman, TOR ($8,600)

It’s a lock that Stroman is going to be my second pitcher, especially if Kershaw gets the one pitcher status. Stroman has looked rather solid since his return. As he has worked his way back, he has increased his strikeout and innings totals in successive starts.

DFS Infielders to Consider for DraftKings

CATCHERS

Kyle Schwarber, CHC ($3,900)

It’s more likely than not that I will punt the catcher position. But should I have some budget to work with, you better believe the young catcher is going to get the nod. Coming off his monster bomb in the NL Wildcard game on Wednesday, Schwarber is locked in and ready to take the step in becoming the Chicago darling of the postseason.

FIRST BASE

Edwin Encarnacion, TOR ($5,100

I wrote yesterday that Encarnacion is primed for this series. He had two hits on Thursday and plated a run. Not a terribly great start but certainly better than his teammates. I like him even more on Friday. He is a career lefty-masher. This year at Rogers Centre, he finished with a wRC+ of 169 and a .420 wOBA. I love those odds.

Adrian Gonzalez, LAD ($3,500)

For some salary cap relief, Gonzalez looks to be a solid start. He had a tough second half but sometimes players like that break out in the postseason. He also owns solid career splits versus Jacob deGrom. In eight at-bats, he has two homeruns against the young starter.

SECOND BASE

Ben Zobrist, KC ($3,900)

Jose Altuve also looks like a solid play, but I will need the salary for some heavier hitters. Zobrist is an absolute on-base machine. He is also owns a career .358 wOBA against left-handed pitching.

SHORTSTOP

Johnny Peralta, STL ($3,200)

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome. This leads me to starting Peralta yet again.

THIRD BASE

Josh Donaldson, TOR ($4,700)

Donaldson is listed as day-to-day after leaving Thursday’s game early. There is a chance he doesn’t suit up. However, should he dress, you know he is going to bring it. The guy is an incredible hitter against left-handed pitching.

DFS Outfielders to Consider for DraftKings

Lorenzo Cain, KC ($4,800)

Okay Lorenzo Cain. You made me look like a fool yesterday. Today, I want you to do what I thought you would do. Don’t go all Dennis Green on me, bro.

Shin-Soo Choo, TEX ($4,200)

Before the playoffs started, Choo was on some kind of tear. He won AL Player of the Month and was an absolute force against right-handed pitching. He should continue that trend as the conditions are better for him on Friday.

Chris Coghlan, CHC ($3,000)

I’m not sure if Coghlan will get the start today. He should though. The lefty owns a .471 AVG in 17 career at bats against John Lackey. Even if he hits lower in the lineup, the dude should have a solid outing in what figures to be a Cubbie victory.

Jonny Gomes, KC ($2,200)

Go for Gomes on Friday in tournaments. The guy is a career .273 hitter against southpaws with a wRC+ of 131. Plus, he has to eventually get a hit off of Kazmir, right?

MLB & DFS Baseball Chat Room

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