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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on September 7th, 2018. Adam Meyer's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
With the Padres and Reds playing at 6:40pm EST on Friday, we are left with a 14-game slate. Of those games, five have an over/under of at least nine total runs. Two matchups lead the way with 9.5 projected total runs: LAD/COL and KC/MIN.
As for the pitchers, three teams are strong favorites (-200 odds, or greater): Cleveland, Tampa Bay, and Pittsburgh. Also, two games have an over/under of seven total runs: PHI/NYM and BAL/TB.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 9/7/18. 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 @CharlieSideHstl.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Clayton Kershaw, LAD (@ COL) - $8,800
I understand that he’s pitching in Coors Field, but Kershaw is the best pitcher in the slate and he’s given the low price of $8,800. I’ll take it. Kershaw has allowed two earned runs, or less, in eight consecutive appearances and has tallied at least seven strikeouts in three of the past four outings. However, be warned, Kershaw has a career 4.65 ERA in 20 starts in Colorado.
Chris Archer, PIT (vs. MIA) - $7,300
Archer has had good days (6 IP, 1 ER, and 5 K @ ATL) and bad days (4 IP, 6 ER, and 5 K @ MIL) with the Pirates. I’m thinking we’ll see a strong outing from Archer on Friday night. Earlier this season, while he was with the Rays, Archer dominated the Marlins. He pitched six innings, allowed three earned runs, and struck out 13 batters (July 22nd). Miami is 30th in runs scored (421 runs in 140 games) this season.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Mike Zunino, SEA (vs. NYY) - $2,800
Saving money at the catcher position is a favorable way to build your bats. When looking to save some green, there are two main places to look when adding a bat to assure that you aren’t completely “punting” the position: 1) past seven days, 2) BvP. Lucky for us, Zunino has decent numbers against tonight’s starter. In his career, Zunino is 4-for-13 (.308) with two extra-base hits (one home run) when Masahiro Tanaka is on the hill.
1B - C.J. Cron, TB (vs. BAL) - $4,200
Like Zunino, Cron has crushed against his opposing pitcher. In his career, Cron is 4-for-13 (.308) with all for hits going for extra bases and three of those hits leaving the yard. Also, Bundy has allowed at least four earned runs in four of the past five appearances, including a three-start stretch of seven earned runs apiece.
2B - Javier Baez, CHC (@ WSH) - $5,100
This is where I’m spending a large portion of my allotted salary on Friday. In the past week, Baez is 10-for-32 (.313 AVG) with one triple and two home runs. The Cubs are projected to score 5.1 runs on Friday, which is the fourth-most of the slate. Chicago will face Joe Ross, who’s making his 2018 debut on Friday after missing time with Tommy John surgery.
3B - Matt Chapman, OAK (vs. TEX) - $4,500
While Chapman doesn’t possess the strong weekly numbers as Baez or the past success against Friday night’s starter, he still has the ISO we look for when constructing our DraftKings lineup. Chapman has the third-highest ISO on the Athletics (.264) since 2017. Yovani Gallardo will be on the hill for the Rangers. He’s allowed at least three earned runs in three of the past four games.
SS - Paul DeJong, STL (@ DET) - $4,200
Similar to Chapman, DeJong carries a strong ISO against his opposing pitchers handedness on Friday. DeJong has a .233 ISO against left-handed pitchers, which is fourth-best on the Cardinals. St. Louis is projected to score 4.9 runs on Friday, too (sixth-most on the slate).
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Nomar Mazara, TEX (@ OAK) - $4,600
Mazara is mashing in the past week. He is 9-for-24 (.375) with three doubles and four home runs in the last seven days. Chris Bassitt toes the rubber for Oakland on Friday. He’s allowed at least three earned runs in two of the past five outings.
Khris Davis, OAK (vs. TEX) - $4,500
Davis leads Oakland with a remarkable .304 ISO against right-handed pitchers. In his career, Davis is 3-for-10 (.300) against Gallardo, with all three hits leaving the yard. Davis is batting .269 at home this season, as opposed to his .228 AVG on the road.
Jake Cave, MIN (vs. KC) - $3,900
Minnesota leads the slate with an implied run total of 5.2 runs, so I feel obligated to have at least one Twin in my lineup. Cave has the third-highest ISO (.226) against right-handed pitchers, since 2017, on the Minnesota roster. In the past week, Cave has compiled five hits (.294 AVG), with one double and two home runs.
