RADIO
Welcome back to another edition of Sunday morning DFS picks and advice. I am your host, JB, and today we have a weather concern-free Sunday main slate that consists of a weak nine games on FanDuel and 11 games on DraftKings. DK knows we all prefer bigger slates, while FanDuel just doesn't seem to care what anyone thinks. In case you are curious, the extra two games are LAA-TEX and ARI-COL. The pitching options are about as ugly as I've ever seen on a main slate, so prepare yourself prior to looking and maybe have an empty bag or trash can close-by.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 9/3/17. 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
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DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider
Josh Tomlin, CLE at DET (DK - $9,500, FD - $8,500)
I am passing on Ervin Santana today, it just smells like a trap. He's not great at home, his favorite catcher is on the DL, and the Royals are due for an explosion. So the next man up is Josh Tomlin, and that's all you need to know about the pitching in today's main slate. He is returning from the disabled list after injuring his hamstring, and faces a Tigers offense that is only a shell of itself. Justin Upton is gone, Miguel Cabrera is not the man we once knew and is suspended, Victor Martinez is shut down for the season due to his heart condition, and the rest of the crew owns the sixth most strikeouts over the last seven days. Before hitting the shelf, Tomlin was on a hot streak after the all-star break. In those three starts he owned a 2.60 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and a 8.3 K/9 while holding opponents to a .169 BA. I still think this is way too much dough to spend on the likes of Josh Tomlin, but if you want a safe cash arm today, Tomlin is one of your two options.
Matt Andriese, TB at CWS (DK - $6,600, FD - $7,800)
The second option I feel semi warm and fuzzy about today is also making his first start since being shelved with an injury. Matt Andriese hasn't made a start since June, but did pitch three scoreless innings in relief prior to kicking Austin Pruitt out of the rotation for today's start. The Sox rank 22nd in runs over the last seven days, and would make a great match-up especially if Jose Abreu is out of the lineup yet again. Andriese just represents a high floor, low ceiling guy today that is absurdly under-priced on DraftKings.
Edwin Jackson, WSH at MIL (DK - $6,900, FD - $7,100)
If you are looking for a low ownership play for your GPP line, I can't believe I am saying this, but I will finally buy into old man Edwin Jackson. Over the last 30 days, the veteran is reppin' a 3.00 ERA. In his last four starts he has earned 37, 19 (at HOU), 40, and 40 FP (FD). On a day like today a 37+ from your P will go a long way. Milwaukee is a great team to be streaming against right now, as they rank 24th in runs scored and have struck out the second most over the last seven days.
DFS Infielders to Consider
Welington Castillo- C, BAL vs TOR (DK - $3,700, FD - $3,500)
I am not accustomed to spending up at the catcher position, but since we're saving so much dough on pitching today we need the big bats everywhere. Over the last two weeks, Castillo has hit four bombs and is boasting a 1.314 OPS. The dude is on fire. Today he is at home squaring off against Brett Anderson and his 6.38 ERA. When facing southpaws at home this season, Castillo owns a 288 wRC+, 1.496 OPS, and .467 ISO. Redonkulous! I know Sunday is usually "sit your starting catcher" day, but luckily Castillo was given a day off Friday so he certainly doesn't need a breather today.
Tommy Joseph - 1B, PHI at MIA (DK - $3,200, FD - $2,400)
Does this feel weird to you? It feels weird to me. I am by no means a huge BvP guy, but there is something about Jose Urena that ToJo absolutely loves. He is now 5-7 with a double and two HR against Urena. That is pretty undeniable. Will you need this amount of salary relief today? No, probably not. But if you do, there isn't a much safer option on the board.
Scooter Gennett - 2B, CIN at PIT (DK - $4,000, FD - $3,500)
I can't remember the last time I submitted a DFS lineup that didn't include a member of the Reds. Okay, not really, but man do I love using them. Scooter is red hot this week, hitting .400/.429/.800 with five XBH. Which coincidentally is almost identical (just six points off on the OBP) to his numbers through six games at PNC Park this season. He mashes righties, he likes the park, and Trevor Williams is Trevor Williams.
Josh Donaldson - 3B, TOR at BAL (DK - $5,000, FD - $3,600)
Happy Chris Tillman on the mound day! You can't possibly expect to win any contests today without picking on Tillman at least a little. In his last two starts, Tillman is rockin' an incredibly low 2.5 K/9 and an incredibly high 8.44 ERA. In those 10 2/3 innings, he has allowed 10 ER, four HR, and issued 10 BB. The Bringer of Rain is having a rough past two weeks, but still has 11 HR over the last 30 days. For what it's worth, he has also played much better during day games this season, hitting .270/.400/.591 compared to .244/.367/.474 a la noche. Bring the rain!
Javier Baez - SS, CHC at ATL (DK - $3,700, FD - $3,500)
Over his past four games, Baez has scored over 30 FP (FD) twice. He joined in on the fireworks in Atlanta yesterday taking Lucas Sims deep, continuing his trend of dominating Braves pitching this season. Today you have to love the match-up as the Bravos are rolling with the weak LHP, Max Fried. Baez is hitting .327/.359/.618 against southpaws this season.
Also Consider: Marwin Gonzalez, HOU vs NYM (DK - $3,300, FD - $2,900)
DFS Outfielders to Consider
Howie Kendrick - OF, WSH at MIL (DK - $4,800, FD - $3,000)
Thank you FanDuel for this pleasant surprise. With Craig Counsell electing to replace Matt Garza with Brent Suter today, we get the opportunity to roster Kendrick against a struggling LHP for only 3K. In his three starts in the month of August, Suter earned a 8.16 ERA and gave up five HR after allowing only two in his previous 45 IP. In his latest start against the Reds, he surrendered three long balls in just five innings. Against southpaws this season, Kendrick is hitting .352/.410/.577. If you're playing on DraftKings and pass up George Springer for the same price, you are a braver person than I.
Kevin Pillar - OF, TOR at BAL (DK - $3,900, FD - $3,000)
Here we get another great value in the outfield, as we continue our celebration of Chris Tillman on the mound day. He may well be the worst pitcher in baseball right now, and no Blue Jays hitter enjoys hitting Tillman more than Kevin Pillar. For his career, Pillar is hitting .348 with three long balls in 23 AB against the RHP. Pillar is also currently in the midst of an eight game hitting streak, while recording six in his last three contests.
Giancarlo Stanton - OF, MIA vs PHI (DK - $5,600, FD - $4,700)
The dude has 52 HR. Nothing else really matters, but since I have the time... Jake Thompson is allowing a .365/.433/.712 slash to RHB, along with five dongs in just 52 AB. On the road this season, he is allowing a .391/.440/.870 line. That ugly flamingo get-up in center field is about to have a few more dents in it.
Also Consider: George Springer, HOU vs NYM (DK - $4,800, FD - $3,700)
Sample Lineups
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