Happy Monday, Rotoballers! Today was the last day on the schedule we could've had two games on our MLB slates. But, alas, the Astros dispatched the Mariners in three games, and we are down to single-game contests for the rest of the postseason. Cleveland has the unenviable task of trying to win a winner-take-all matchup against New York in the Bronx. Is it impossible for the Guardians? No. But, according to Vegas, 98 percent of the money so far has been on the Yankees.
For showdown mode on DraftKings, we pick one captain who costs 1.5x his normal salary but also scores 1.5x the points. We must have at least one player from each team, and relievers are fair game if you think you have a bead on which relievers will pitch. On FanDuel, the format is a bit different. Player salaries aren't multiplied, but you get one MVP who scores double points and one start that scores 1.5x points, along with three utility slots. Oh...and it's only hitters.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 10/17/22. The lineup will range from some elite players to mid-priced options, and value plays. It's also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, contact me on Twitter.
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MLB DFS Captain Options
Jose Ramirez ($15,000 DraftKings; $9,000 FanDuel)
The Guardians' hopes for an upset win will start and end with Jose Ramirez. The talismanic third baseman for Cleveland has a hit in five of six postseason contests and multiple hits in three. He's the cheapest option among the $15,000 players on DK (Jameson Taillon, Aaron Civale, Aaron Judge), but he's got the safest floor. I'm fading the pitchers for tonight's matchup because an elimination game can lead to an early hook whenever things get tough.
Josh Naylor ($10,500 DK; $6,500 FD)
Batting behind Jose Ramirez leads to plenty of RBI opportunities. And when a righty is on the mound in the postseason, that man is Josh Naylor. The outfielder's snagged a double and a home run in this series and has registered a hit in five of Cleveland's six playoff contests. Naylor's salary makes him a good Utility option on both sites, but if you're looking for a differential captain in a tournament setting, you can do much worse than the 25-year-old lefty.
Star/MVP options: Aaron Judge, Amed Rosario, Anthony Rizzo
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DraftKings/FanDuel DFS Utility Options
Aaron Judge ($10,200 DK; $10,000 FD)
There's not a lot to be said about Aaron Judge. He's one of the most dangerous hitters in the postseason, and he showed us 62 times in the regular season and once in Game 3 what he can do with one swing of the bat.
Brand new ballgame 👨⚖️ pic.twitter.com/Kd3NoEjVqp
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 16, 2022
If you slot Josh Naylor as your Captain on DK, it's not difficult to build a lineup with Judge as a Utility. He'll be a trendy Captain pick on DK, so I'll fade him there. However, on FD, you may as well lock him in as your MVP.
Steven Kwan ($8,400 DK; $7,500 FD)
At times, Yankees Stadium probably gets too much grief for its dimensions. However, it's a tough look when Steven Kwan (seven home runs in 2022) hits one out as he did in Game 2. Still, regardless of the park, Kwan's getting it done in DFS land. In this series, he's averaging 12.25 DK FPPG and 15.45 FD FPPG thanks to seven hits, four runs, a double, a homer, two RBI, and a stolen base across four games. He's an excellent alternative if you want to build a lineup without Judge.
Oswaldo Cabrera ($6,800 DK; $7,000 FD)
In a one-game contest, any player with a 23-point ceiling deserves consideration. While Oswaldo Cabrera had his breakout performance in that Game 3 loss, his double and home run put the Yankees in a winning position. In the playoffs, he's struggled outside of that game, but Aaron Boone said Cabrera would likely get the starting nod in Game 5. He's batted fifth or sixth in three of the series' four games, and if he remains there tonight, he'll get a spot in my lineups.
Other Options: Jameson Taillon, Aaron Civale, Giancarlo Stanton, Andres Gimenez, Gleyber Torres
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