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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on September 5, 2023. Mike's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
I've been summoned from the depths of my couch after five straight days of college football bliss because there is still baseball going on. Five teams have gone rogue and decided to start their games 30 to 60 minutes earlier than the regular start times. In acts of defiance (that's the only rational explanation), DraftKings and FanDuel chopped them off the main slate. We "only" have 10 games, which is pretty light for a Tuesday.
This article contains my picks for the 10-game main slate on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, for both DraftKings and FanDuel, which locks at 7:05 PM ET. At least there are no weather concerns to cut the slate down even further.
The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Gerrit Cole, NYY vs. DET ($12,000 DK, $1,500 FD)
I don't usually advocate paying up for Gerrit Cole on a slate this large, but we can't ignore his career stats against Detroit.
The Tigers don't hit Cole well or hard, and they strike out a lot. The Tigers are fifth in the majors in K% against right-handed pitching since the beginning of August (26.3%). Even if Cole gives up a couple of runs, the strikeouts will mitigate the damage. I'm not enamored with anyone else at the top and there should be plenty of value tonight with roster expansion taking place over the weekend.
Dean Kremer, BAL at LAA ($8,600 DK, $9,000 FD)
Dean Kremer had a rough start to the season but has a 3.12 ERA in nine starts in the second half of the season. That ERA dipped to 2.37 in five August starts. Factor in his better numbers on the road and the Angels' bloated strikeout rate (26.1%) against right-handed pitching, and we have someone who could perform nicely compared to price. The Angels are 28th in wRC and wOBA since August began. I wouldn't be shocked if Kremer rivaled Cole's total output at a much lower price.
Others to consider: Kyle Hendricks ($8,300 DK, $8,100 FD) vs. SF; Patrick Corbin ($6,000 DK, $7,800 FD) vs. NYM
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Pete Alonso - 1B, NYM at WAS ($5,000 DK, $3,900 FD)
Pete Alonso's two homers on Sunday were his first since August 20. Maybe that means he'll get on a hot streak to close the season. A matchup with Patrick Corbin today certainly favors Alonso. He is 14-for-43 (.326) in his career against Corbin with two doubles and five home runs. Corbin has been much better than he was in 2021, but Alonso should still get something off of him tonight.
Gleyber Torres - 2B, NYY vs. DET ($4,500 DK, $3,300 FD)
Gleyber Torres has smacked four homers in his last five games. Three of those came in the four-game set against these same Tigers in Detroit last weekend. His back seems to be fine since he launched another against the Astros on Saturday. Torres has been on fire since the beginning of August, hitting .333 with eight homers, 14 RBI, 18 runs scored, and five steals in 29 games.
Ernie Clement - SS/3B, TOR at OAK ($2,400 DK, $2,200 FD)
The 27-year-old journeyman is finally having some success at the major league level for the Jays with Bo Bichette out. The fun could be over by the end of the week, but Ernie Clement has at least one hit in eight of nine games since Bichette went down with a strained quad. He is hitting a cool .444 in that span with a homer, five RBI, and four runs scored.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Yordan Alvarez - OF, HOU at TEX ($6,100 DK, $3,900 FD)
I could just be vanilla and recommend Ronald Acuna Jr. I think it's safe to say that you can use him on every slate. I won't be using him tonight except in Atlanta stacks. Yordan Alvarez absolutely clobbers Nathan Eovaldi. Alvarez has seven hits in 10 tries against Eovaldi with three doubles and a homer. I will pay the big bucks for those kind of elite numbers. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Alvarez is hitting .368 with nine walks, three doubles, a triple, two homers, nine RBI, and five runs scored in the last 10 games.
Jordan Walker - OF, STL at ATL ($3,500 DK, $2,800 FD)
The rookie is hot again. Jordan Walker has a modest six-game hitting streak going, but he has three homers and seven RBI in those six games. Four of those games have been multi-hit efforts with his first career four-hit game coming against the Padres on August 30. I'm riding him until he cools off at this price!
Jasson Dominguez - OF, NYY vs. DET ($3,000 DK, $2,800 FD)
Jasson Dominguez has a hit in each of his first three major league games. Two of those have left the yard and he has driven in four. So far, the hype seems to be real. This is a very reasonable price on DraftKings to see if Dominguez can crack another hit against the Tigers.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Kyle Freeland
The current Arizona roster has 12 career homers (and only 13 doubles) against Kyle Freeland with just 35 strikeouts. We already know that Freeland has been worse on the road than at Coors Field. He has also allowed four homers to the Diamondbacks in his two starts against them this season. Ketel Marte has slugged three of those homers against Freeland. Nick Ahmed and Christian Walker both have two.
Favorite pieces: Marte, Walker, Tommy Pham, Gabriel Moreno, Ahmed
Also consider: Atlanta Braves vs. Miles Mikolas
Miles Mikolas has allowed 19 runs over 23 innings in his last four starts. Two of those starts (and 11 of those runs) were against the A's and Mets. He's not striking anyone out lately and is giving up a ton of fly balls. Good luck keeping it in the yard in Hot 'Lanta against this team...
Favorite pieces: Acuna, Ozzie Albies, Marcell Ozuna, Michael Harris II, Matt Olson
Sneaky Stack: Texas Rangers vs. Framber Valdez
Framber Valdez has given up 18 runs (15 earned) in the five starts since his no-hitter on August 1. He also posted a horrid 7.29 ERA in July. Texas had a lot to do with that. They tagged him for six runs in 3 2/3 innings on July 26 and picked up five runs on him on April 16, though only one was earned. This Texas team has hit him well.
Favorite pieces: Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe, Adolis Garcia, Leody Taveras, Mitch Garver
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