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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on September 5th, 2018. Justin Bales' MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
There are a few early games today, but the majority of the games take place after 7 PM. Overall, there are 12 games for the main slate, which is what we will be attacking here.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 9/5/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @BalesSJustin.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Hyun-Jin Ryu - P, vs NYM ($9,200)
Ryu has been throwing at an elite level over his last nine starts, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.85 ERA over that span. He's also averaging nearly 20 fantasy points per game, while scoring less than 10 fantasy points in two of the contests. Ryu also gets a great matchup against the New York Mets, and he's a -183 favorite in a game set at 7.5 runs.
Nick Pivetta - P, at MIA ($8,200)
Pivetta is a player that can always be considered in plus matchups because of his strikeout potential. Through 27 starts, he owns a 7-10 record with a 4.66 ERA. He has also posted a 10.7 K/9 through 141 innings. He gets an elite matchup against the Miami Marlins in a pitcher friendly stadium tonight, as well. Pivetta is currently a -156 favorite in a game set at only 7.5 runs.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Justin Smoak - 1B, vs TB ($4,200)
Smoak has been struggling with consistency recently, but four of his last five hits have been home runs. He has also scored 15+ fantasy points in four of his last six games. He gets a tough matchup against Tyler Glasnow, but Smoak owns 0.058 wOBA and 0.103 ISO differentials against right-handed pitching. He's a player that is best suited for tournaments at this point.
Adam Frazier - 2B, vs CIN ($4,700)
Frazier has been playing at a high level over his last 10 games. Over that span, he's hitting .389 with six extra-base hits (three home runs), 10 RBIs, and one steal. He's also hitting over .300 with a slugging percentage north of .500 in Pittsburgh this season. Frazier gets one of the best matchups on the slate against Homer Bailey, making him an elite play tonight.
Kyle Seager - 3B, vs BAL ($3,400)
Seager has been struggling recently, but that has caused his price tag to drop. He still comes with plenty of upside, as he possesses 45% hard-hit and fly ball rates with a 96 mph exit velocity over the last 15 days. He also gets a great matchup against Andrew Cashner, who has struggled on the road this season. Even with his struggles, Seager has found ways to contribute fantasy points, though.
Trevor Story - SS, vs SF ($5,800)
It's tough to pay this much for Story, but any time he is facing off against a left-handed pitching in Colorado, he needs to be considered. Story is hitting .309 with a .654 slugging percentage and a 1.022 OPS in Coors this season. He also owns a .660 slugging percentage and a .333 ISO against left-handed pitching this season. He is not going to come cheap, but he's one of the best options on the slate.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Mitch Haniger - OF, vs BAL ($4,700)
Haniger continues to play at a high level, as he's hitting .318 with a .659 slugging percentage and a 1.047 OPS over his last 10 games. Over that span, he owns eight extra-base hits (three home runs) and three RBIs. Haniger also gets a great matchup against Andrew Cashner, although he'll be playing in a pitcher friendly stadium tonight.
Billy McKinney - OF, vs TB ($3,600)
McKinney has only played in 16 games this season, but he has looked outstanding during that time. He features a .360 average with a .640 slugging percentage and a 1.081 OPS. He also owns 0.055 wOBA and 0.122 ISO differentials against right-handed pitching. McKinney gets somewhat of a tough matchup against Tyler Glasnow, but he's leading off for an offense that has the potential to score plenty of runs tonight.
