FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks (9/29/21): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

Mike Schwarzenbach highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 9/29/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.

It's the last Wednesday slate of the regular season and we've got a doozie as 13 games are on the main slate. The Nationals/Rockies game at Coors is, unfortunately, one of the two games not on the main slate, but there's plenty of other offenses sporting high implied run totals led by the Red Sox (5.9), Giants (5.4), and Dodgers (5.2). On the other side of the coin, there are aces galore as Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole and a host of other high-end pitching options will toe-the-rubber.

Given this is the last Wednesday of the regular season, I'd like to take this time to both a.) thank everyone for reading along this season and b.) remind you RotoBaller MLB's crew will provide DFS insight throughout the postseason, so the DFS fun won't end just because the regular season will. That being said, there's nothing quite like diving into a massive slate, so let's enjoy these full nights of MLB action while we have them!

I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 9/29/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.

FanDuel DFS Pitchers

Cash Game / GPP Anchor Play:

Max Scherzer - LAD vs. SDP ($11,500)   

Mad Max got roughed up in his last outing, but fantasy managers should toss that performance in the trash as it came at Coors Field. Before his mile-high clunker, Scherzer was as automatic a play as you will find in DFS, and it's hard to get away from him in cash games, despite a number of other high-end pitchers going tonight.

Prior to his last start, Scherzer had five straight scoreless outings totaling 35 2/3 innings. He had at least nine strikeouts in four of those five outings as Scherzer has been nearly unhittable since joining the Dodgers. Since his first start with L.A. on August 4, Scherzer has a 1.43 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 63 innings (and that's with his 5ER performance @ COL). A look under the hood fully supports Scherzer's dominance as he's got an elite .186 xBA against, a .256 xwOBA on contact, and, of course, an excellent 35% strikeout rate. The Dodgers are playing for a division title, Scherzer is pitching for a Cy Young, and I'm not betting on the Padres disrupting either quest in this game.

GPP Alternate Play(s)

Logan Gilbert - SEA vs. OAK ($7,700)

At first glance, Gilbert doesn't seem like a viable option as he's sporting a 4.83 ERA and facing an Oakland lineup that should be good on paper. There are a few things working in Gilbert's favor, however, and he's a sneaky GPP play on a night he shouldn't be highly rostered. First, Oakland is in a freefall offensively, despite good season-long numbers. Starling Marte has been out with a lat injury, so if he's out of the lineup again tonight that's one more blow to an already depleted A's lineup.

Secondly, Gilbert is not as bad as his ERA indicates as his 3.65 FIP, 4.11 xFIP, and 4.06 xERA all imply his ERA should be at least half a run lower. The rookie right-hander has a strong 12.5% swinging-strike rate and a 26% called-plus-swinging strike rate, so he has the stuff to compete at the Major League level. Gilbert averages over a strikeout-per-inning and pitches in a forgiving home ballpark. Fire him up in this one and load up on the big bats.

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FanDuel DFS Infielders

Bobby Dalbec- 1B, BOS at BAL ($3,000)

Bobby D. has been crushing it in the second half of the season as 14 of his 24 homers have come since the All-Star Break. More recently, Dalbec has a .961 OPS in September and gets to face a lefty tonight, a split that also works in Dalbec's favor. The Boston first baseman is slugging .544 versus southpaws compared to .458 versus righties. Toss in the fact this game is in the friendly confines of Camden Yards and all signs point to a big game for Dalbec.

Luis Urias -  2B/SS/3B, MIL at STL ($2,600)

Urias has been one of my go-to guys in the second half of the season as he's not flashy, but he's a high-floor player with enough power to pop the occasional homer and return crazy value at a low salary. He's been an on-base machine lately as his .465 OBP over the last two weeks ranks ninth in baseball in that span. Urias has triple-eligibility and is priced at just $2.6K, he's a valuable piece to help fit Scherzer's salary into lineups.

Nolan Arenado - 3B, STL vs. MIL ($3,800)

Not much to overthink here, the Cardinals have been the hottest team in baseball and Arenado is slugging .600 during its 17 game win streak with eight walks against just nine strikeouts. Paul Goldschmidt has been slightly better and gets more notoriety, but teams don't go on runs like this without everyone contributing. Arenado is a great option tonight.

Wander Franco - SS, TB at HOU ($3,800)

Wander Franco has made it on-base in 42 consecutive games and will try and match Frank Robinson's on-base record for a player under 21-years-old in tonight's game. In his last 15 games, Franco has at least 18 FanDuel points 10 times and, obviously, hasn't posted a goose-egg in that span as he's been on base constantly. If you have the funds leftover, plug in the rookie sensation.

FanDuel DFS Outfielders

Harrison Bader - OF, STL vs. MIL ($3,200)

Speaking of Cardinals that are scorching-hot, Harrison Bader will enter this game with a .796 slugging percentage over the last two weeks. He's scored at least 15 FanDuel points in four of his last six games including a 54-point outburst last Saturday. He's still priced well below his St. Louis teammates like Arenado, Goldschmidt, and Tyler O'Neill, so be sure to fire up Bader with your Cardinal stacks.

Jesus Sanchez - OF, MIA at NYM ($3,000)

The Marlins are just playing out the schedule but that's the perfect time to give young guys playing time to scout for the future. One player that's taken full advantage of extra playing time is Jesus Sanchez who ranks 14th in baseball over the last 14 days with a .651 slugging percentage. The lefty-swinger has a .941 OPS in September and is slugging an even .500 versus right-handed pitching this season. He's my homer call of the night.

Hunter Renfroe - OF, BOS at BAL ($3,600) 

We'll want plenty of Red Sox exposure versus lefty Zac Lowther in Camden Yards. Dalbec, J.D. Martinez, and the usual cast of characters are all in play, but let's highlight Renfroe who has a .520 slugging percentage versus lefties and is one-shy of 30 homers on the season. He's got a good shot of hitting the 30 homer plateau tonight in Baltimore.

FanDuel DFS Stacks

• Boston Red Sox
• St. Louis Cardinals
• San Francisco Giants

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