RADIO
I'm not crying, you're crying! Welcome to the last day of the 2017 MLB regular season. I have thoroughly enjoyed giving you sub-par DFS advice all season, and want more than anyone for you to hit the big money today in the season's finale. Today will be one of the strangest days of the entire year thanks to every spot in the playoffs being clinched already and players all over the country will be either resting for their playoff series or getting a head start of their off season to allow younger guys to gain some experience. So please make sure to be heavily checking lineups all the way up until the slate kicks off. Speaking of the slate, we have a Sunday blessing in the form of a full 15 game slate, with every single game starting between 3:05 and 3:20 PM EST. That means we can watch the early football games, then all the baseball games, and then finish it up with some Sunday night football. Now that's how you do Sunday.
Some quick Starting Pitcher notes to be aware of for today:
Robbie Ray will be very limited in his start today before the teams Wild Card game versus the Rockies Tuesday.
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Zach Davies is not starting for Milwaukee, rookie RHP Aaron Wilkerson takes his place today.
There is some uncertainty surrounding Cole Hamels. Even if he does start, don't expect it to be a long outing.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 10/1/17. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @RowdyRotoJB.
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider
Johnny Cueto - vs SDP (DK - $9,300, FD - $8,400)
Today is a good day to not worry about finding value in your pitching choices, as once lineups are posted, you should see plenty of cheap names in favorable lineup spots with stars potentially resting for the playoffs or getting a head start on the off-season. With that being said, pay up for Johnny Cueto! In Cueto's last four starts he owns a 3.80 ERA, but is boasting a 12.2 K/9 and has only surrendered one long ball (21.1 IP). His last start was an eight strikeout QS against a playoff team in a hitters park in Arizona. Today he faces the Padres who are tied for the fewest runs and second lowest OPS over the last week. You can imagine at this point the Padres are just looking forward to their vacations. The current San Diego hitters own a .184/.262/.276 line against Cueto for their careers, with only one HR in 84 PA.
Daniel Mengden - at TEX (DK - $8,500, FD - $7,400)
We're playing it safe and going with easy match-ups today, and the Texas Rangers have been even worse than the Padres to finish the season. Over the last week they are also tied with the fewest runs scored, but are also wayyyy last in OPS (.565). Mengden's overall numbers may look a little bland at first glance, but that is due to two FUGLY starts prior to the All-Star break. Through four starts in September however, he owns a 1.93 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP across 28 innings. He has been fantastic on the road and more than likely will be opposing a combination of Rangers bullpen arms today as it is believed Hamels may not return to the mound for the finale. If this is the case, it not only bodes well for potential run support, but also means Bruce Maxwell should be given the start behind the dish (sits against LHP). With Maxwell catching this season, Mengden boasts a 0.82 ERA and a .182 BAA through 22 IP.
DFS Infielders to Consider
Stephen Vogt - C, at STL (DK - $3,200, FD - $2,400)
In his last five games, Vogt is rockin' a 1.053 OPS with four XBH. Today will be the man's 10th straight start behind the dish thanks to Manny Pina's injured thumb, but he is rewarded today with a juicy match-up against rookie Jack Flaherty. The young right-hander owns a 6.06 ERA through 16.1 IP this season, and has struggled against LHB.
Tyler Austin - 1B, vs TOR (DK - $3,300, FD - $2,000)
Perfect example of the value hitters I was mentioning before. In a seemingly meaningless game after clinching one of the A.L. Wildcard spots, and facing an awful LHP in Brett Anderson, it's almost a guarantee that Austin is manning first base for the Bronx Bombers today. Anderson has been surprisingly decent on the road this season but regardless he has allowed 11 ER in 6.1 IP in his last two starts and is dealing with a blister on his throwing hand. He has only surrendered five HR this season, but all have been to RHB. Tyler Austin on the other hand is 5-12 with two dongs against southpaws in his short 2017 MLB stints.
Robinson Cano- 2B, at LAA (DK - $4,800, FD - $3,400)
Cano is a man on fire, and is finishing the 2017 in style. In September he hit .320/.375/.485 with four HR. He squares off with Parker Bridwell in the finale, who has not been great this month nor has he been good at home this season. Cano is 4-9 with a double and a dong against Bridwell and has destroyed the ball at Angel Stadium in 2017. In seven games he hit four HR and a double along with a .300/.323/.733 line.
Miguel Sano - 3B, vs DET (DK - $4,500, FD - $3,400)
Whenever I use Cano in DFS I have to use Sano too, because I am easily amused and like seeing their names next to each other. But I digress, Sano is a great choice today as he faces Anibal Sanchez at home. Sanchez is on a hot streak, but he is still Anibal Sanchez, who was destroyed by RHB this season to the tune of .340/.382/.605 and owns a 7.43 ERA on the road. You might think Sano would be resting today before Tuesday's Wildcard game but since he is just two games off a DL stint, I think Paul Molitor gives him one more game to knock any remaining rust off. Sano is 5-16 with a double and a dong against Sanchez for his career.
Wilmer Difo - SS, vs PIT (DK - $3,400, FD - $2,300)
Assuming that both Daniel Murphy and Trea Turner get a rest tomorrow, Washington's MIF should be manned by Stephen Drew and Wilmer Difo. Difo makes for a great play facing Steven Brault at home. Against LHP this season, Difo is hitting .317/.356/.512. At home this season, Difo is hitting .328/.369/.437.
Cano, Sano, and Difo. Come on, that's funny.
DFS Outfielders to Consider
Giancarlo Stanton - OF, vs ATL (DK - $5,700, FD - $4,500)
If you don't play Stanton today, you are either a Braves fan or you enjoy throwing away money. He enters the last game of the regular season with 59 HR, just one shy of Babe Ruth's record, and two shy of the coveted Roger Maris 61 mark. He is playing in front of his home crowd, with his father most likely sitting right behind the plate, and he is facing a young left handed pitcher who he has already taken deep once in just two PA. Buckle up folks, with every playoff position already clinched, this is the top story to follow today.
Ian Happ - OF, vs CIN (DK - $4,600, FD - $3,600)
The Cubs are certainly resting players today, but Happ has yet to sit this weekend, which leads me to believe he gets the nod once again today. He is in the midst of a hot streak, hitting a triple and two HR in his last four games. 15 of his 24 dongs this season have come at Wrigley Field, and 11 of those 15 were off a RHP. Cincy is rolling out rookie RHP Deck McGuire which obviously means Happ is hitting one to upper DECK in center field today. Okay I'm done with jokes, I promise. If Happ does sit however, then there is no way that compadre Kyle Schwarber sits as well. So feel free to pivot to Schwarbs if need be.
If playing on DraftKings, I would rather use Khris Davis - OF, at TEX (DK - $4,600) who will most likely get to feast on Rangers bullpen all game.
Dexter Fowler - OF, vs MIL (DK - $4,300, FD - $3,700)
Fowler is the least likely candidate in this article to play today, considering he has sit the past two contests in favor of younger Cards. But if for some reason Matheny wants to let him play ball today, you got to get him in your lineup. For as much as I have played teammate Tommy Pham on the road this season, I have played Fowler at Busch Stadium versus RHP just as much. At home versus righties this season, Fowler has a .311 ISO and a 143 wRC+. Zach Davies was supposed to draw the start but it looks like youngster Aaron Wilkerson will take the mound for the Brew Crew. It's all the same for Fowler.
Also Consider: Brett Phillips - OF, at STL (DK - $2,600, FD - $2,900)
Sample Lineups
*$200 of wiggle room, can pivot to Fowler or Blackmon if for some reason either of them are playing today
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