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Kevin Luchansky highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 9/12/18, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
On deck for today? One of the last doubleheader slates of the year - and this is one of just a few times in recent memory that both slates have been worth playing. The early slate (4 game) features a ridiculous amount of pitching talent and the eight game Main slate has a solid offering as well in offense and pitching.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 9/11/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
You can also read more DFS lineup picks for DraftKings and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me up on Twitter @kpLuch.
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FanDuel DFS Pitcher
Carlos Carrasco - SP, at TBR ($10,600) - Early
Carrasco has kicked it up a notch over the past month delivering 74 FanDuel points over his price implied value in that stretch. In his last start, it really all came together for him as he punched out 14 Toronto batters en route to a dominant night. He draws a good matchup tonight in a road contest with the Rays who, as of this writing, just a 3.5 implied run total (one of the lowest on the slate) and they offer big strikeout opportunity without much of a power threat. Their projected lineup for the evening owns a 26% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season and only a .292 wOBA.
Aaron Nola - SP, vs WAS ($11,200) - Main
The price appears steep, but this is now Nola's fourth consecutive start priced over 11k and he's managed to go above his price implied total in each of those games - including once against the Nationals team he faces tonight. The Nationals still have some pop at the top of this order, but Nola has been so dominant at home - especially to right-handed hitters - and Vegas has the Nationals pegged with the lowest implied run total (3.5), that it helps ease any concern I have. Nola brings really strong run prevention numbers (0.9 WHIP, 0.5 HR/9) and strike out numbers (27% K rate, 9.7 K/9), making him playable in either format tonight.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Yasmani Grandal - C, at CIN ($3,000)
The switch-hitting Grandal and his Dodger teammates get a major park upgrade in this matchup in Cincinnati and, not too surprisingly, they have one of the loftiest run projections of the day at 5.3. Opposing starter Anthony DeSclafani has really let lefty batters get the best of him this year, surrendering a .365 wOBA and a .547 slugging percentage. Grandal happens to be strong from the left side (.254 ISO) and he has a 47% hard contact rate in the past two weeks.
Mitch Moreland - 1B, vs TOR ($3,000)
The Red Sox offense may have let a lot of us down yesterday, but Vegas sure is high on them again tonight as they have a 5.6 implied run total going up against Aaron Sanchez. Sanchez will have his hands full with the Boston lefties especially, as he's allowed a .392 wOBA split to that group in 2018. Moreland is a really nice value at this price point and he's held good splits this season against righties - .331 wOBA and a .221 ISO.
Jose Altuve - 2B, at DET ($4,200)
The Astros right-handed bats have a chance to feast tonight against Daniel Norris up in Detroit. Norris hasn't thrown much at the MLB level this season, but when he has, he's been torched by the righty bats, allowing a 52% hard contact rate and a 24% HR/FB ratio. Altuve has been up and down as of late, but his recent BABIP shows us he's been pretty damn unlucky for someone with a 28% line drive rate in that stretch. For the season, he has a solid .353 wOBA split against southpaws.
Trevor Story - SS, vs ARI ($4,100)
If you're playing cash games, I think you should look to guys like Xander Bogaerts and Didi Gregorius who face softer matchups. In tournaments, however, I want a piece of the hot hitting Story, even in a tough matchup against Patrick Corbin. Story has been tremendous at collecting extra base hits this season and his batted ball profile in the past two weeks shows just how locked in he's been - 54% hard hit rate and a 45% fly ball rate. He's also a southpaw specialist, posting elite splits in the wOBA and ISO categories at .425 and .332, respectively.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Joc Pederson - OF, at CIN ($2,000)
I know Joc is slumping, but we'd be crazy not to take a shot at him at this price point - especially if he's leading off. Pederson will have the platoon advantage and face a pitcher who struggles with the lefties, as I went into more detail on in the Grandal write-up. Pederson boasts a solid wOBA split but I'm most interested in the power department as this is a great park to take advantage in, and he grades out really well there with a .275 ISO.
Andrew Benintendi - OF, vs TOR ($3,700)
Like his teammate Moreland, Benintendi is a really nice value here with big upside hitting in the two-hole of this potent lineup. As I mentioned, Sanchez has been awful against lefties and Benintendi has performed well against righties this season, posting a .383 wOBA and a .201 ISO mark. He's especially been good at home in Boston, too, where he's posted a higher wOBA than on the road and a .500 slugging percentage.
