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Mark Kieffer highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 9/12/21, and a couple of FanDuel DFS sleepers to consider while building daily fantasy rosters.
If you're still playing MLB DFS by the point in the season, first of all, let me salute you because it's a long season and many have already given up on this game we love. And secondly, I hope you have learned to embrace the variance that occurs in baseball and especially some of the weird and wacky stuff that can happen in September baseball. Lastly, with it being Week 1 of the NFL season, if you are playing MLB DFS today I have to give you some more props
With 11 games on the slate, there are plenty of options for our rosters. My biggest piece of advice on large slates is to trust your research and process. Don't be afraid to fade some chalky spots or cross off some games entirely if you're not interested in them. Even if you are playing 150 lineups, you can't get exposure to every pitcher with a favorable matchup or offense with a solid Vegas total. You have to pick your spots!
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 9/12/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game Play
Aaron Nola vs. COL ($8,800)
Nola is the 5th most expensive pitcher on the slate and in a better spot than any of the pitchers in the $9k range going against a Rockies team that struggles on the road. On the road, the Rockies as a team have a K% of 25.2% and an ISO of 0.128 which would make them the 2nd worst offense on the road by both measures. Nola has the highest K-BB% on the slate at 24%. Don't overthink it, save a few bucks from the $9k range and plug-in Nola.
GPP Play
Bailey Ober ($7,900) vs. KC - Ober has the 2nd best K-BB% on the slate at 19.8%. Averaging 1.86 HR/9, there is some risk as he gives up the long ball. The Royals have an ISO of just 0.148 so there's a chance he can mitigate that risk today and put up a start with plenty of fantasy points for our lineups.
Others to consider:
Max Fried ($9,300) vs. MIA - Miami has the 2nd lowest ISO (0.139) and the highest K% (26.2%) in baseball.
Eric Lauer ($8,100) vs. CLE - On the surface, not much to see here as he has a pedestrian K% of just 22.6% and a SIERA of 4.35. But his last two starts, he has pitched a combined 14 innings and allowed 1 run. The Brewers are playing good baseball, and this is more of play into that, as Cleveland is about average in both ISO and K%. That said, this is also a good spot to fade as one could believe that Lauer is due to some regression as his peripherals are not that good.
FanDuel GPP Stacks
I am a tournament player, so I am going to give some GPP recommendations, and then I will give some value plays on the slate that I think can be good for either your GPP lineup or for cash games.
1. San Francisco Giants: The wind is blowing out at Wrigley and their offense is one of the best in baseball: 2nd in home runs (225), 2nd in ISO (0.192), and 4th in wOBA (0.348). Don't overthink this one.
2. Philadelphia Phillies: I imagine they will be pretty popular with the second-highest total on the slate and less expensive than the Blue Jays. Jean Segura does not have great power numbers, but the rest of the lineup has an ISO of above 0.160 against RHP and I would consider. To be different, I would consider going 3-6 in the lineup to get some slightly different exposure. If the Phillies roll out a similar lineup today to Friday night (against an RHP), that would be Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Brad Miller, and Andrew McCutchen.
3. Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton, Josh Donaldson, and Jorge Polanco all have ISO above 0.200 against LHP this season. The Twins don't stand out on paper and haven't had a good season, but Bubic's K-BB% is 9.1%. Minnesota is sneaky and could smash here at low ownership.
FanDuel DFS Value Plays
Here are some one-off options to help fill out your rosters that are at a value. You can also use any players from the above stacks as one-offs or make mini-stacks off of the recommended stacks above as well.
1. Michael Brantley- OF vs. LAA ($2,600) - Doesn't have the power upside of others, his ISO is just 0.130. He is a solid fantasy contributor in general, he will likely bat 2nd and the Astros have one of the higher implied run totals on the slate of over 5 runs.
2. Darin Ruf- OF vs. CHC ($2,700) - Has an iso of .340 against LHP. I love him in a Giants stack or as a one-off, looking for cheap power.
3. Tyler Stephenson- C/1B vs. STL ($2,600) - Stephenson is facing J.A. Happ and has an ISO of 0.170 against LHP. Should be hitting towards the top of the order as he bat 2nd against Lester on Friday night.
4. Joc Pederson - OF vs. MIA ($2,200) - Has an ISO of 0.190 against RHP, the Braves have one of the higher run totals on the slate. I don't love it as much if he bats 8th and there is risk of him getting pinch-hit for, but if he bats 6th or 7th and I need some salary savings, I'd take a shot.
5. Yoshi Tsutsugo - 3B/OF - vs. WSH ($2,400) - Should be hitting in the middle of the order today against Patrick Corbin. Has an ISO of 0.260 against LHP.
Be on the lookout when lineups come out for guys in run-producing spots that aren't expensive. Sundays can often be different as some players get extra rest with a day game after a night game, opening up opportunities for other players to play.
Best of luck and I hope it's a profitable slate for you!
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