RADIO
Joel Bartilotta highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 9/18/19, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
While we have a full 15-game schedule ahead of us, there are games spread all throughout the day. We have a five-game day slate and a 10-game nightcap. We’re going to try to offer up plays from both slates, so you can pick and choose which you want to play. With that in mind, let’s get to some of our best plays of the day.
We look pretty clear in terms of weather, so let's get into the action.
Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. 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 @Bartilottajoel
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Gerrit Cole, HOU vs. TEX ($12,100)
How can we possibly fade Cole on this slate? This dude has been the best pitcher in the league this season and is facing one of the worst lineups in baseball here. Let’s start with that matchup, with the Rangers ranked 21st in OBP, 29th in K rate and 20th in wOBA. That spells disaster against a guy like Cole, with the Astro righty pitching to a 2.62 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 39 percent K rate. That strikeout rate happens to be the best mark in the Majors and it’s scary that Cole has double-digit Ks in six straight outings. That’s why Cole and the Astros enter this matchup as a –500 favorite.
Homer Bailey, OAK vs. KC ($8,200)
Bailey has been a different pitcher since joining the A’s and it’s really no surprise when you consider that Oakland Coliseum is one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the Majors. That pairs beautifully with Bailey’s stuff, with the right-hander pitching to a 2.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 8.7 K/9 rate over his last six starts. Those brilliant numbers are scary for a struggling offense like this, with the Royals ranked 25th in wOBA, 27th in runs scored, 26th in OBP and 27th in OPS. All of that has Bailey entering this fixture as a –230 favorite.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Eric Thames – 1B, MIL vs. SD ($2,800)
Thames has quietly had a nice year for the Brewers and it’s hard to understand why his price remains so cheap. The reason we love him today is that he gets to face a righty, with Thames generating a .356 OBP, .526 SLG and .882 OPS against right-handers since joining Milwaukee. That’s bad news for Dinelson Lamet, with the Brewers projected for more than five runs and Thames hitting in the heart of their order.
Robinson Cano – 2B, NYM at COL ($3,500)
Cano is in the best stretch of his season right now and that’s great news considering he’s in Coors Field. Over his last 15 games, Cano has a .438 AVG, .500 OBP, .792 SLG and 1.292 OPS. That pairs beautifully with this spacious ballpark, as Cano is always better against right-handers. This is a righty we really want to exploit, with the Mets projected for seven runs against Jeff Hoffman and his 7.03 ERA and 1.67 WHIP.
Gio Urshela – 3B, NYY vs, LAA ($3,000)
Urshela has been one of the best players in the AL the past two months and he’s being priced like an average third baseman. Not only is he hitting .378 over his last 38 games, but Urshela is also providing a .676 SLG and 1.074 OPS in that span. That’s really all you can ask for from someone so cheap and it doesn’t even take into consideration that he gets the platoon advantage against Dillon Peters, who’s pitching to a 4.83 ERA and 1.49 WHIP.
Jonathan Villar – SS, BAL vs, TOR ($3,700)
Villar is simply one of the best shortstops in baseball right now. Over his last 49 games, Villar is accruing a .326 AVG, .397 OBP, .565 SLG and .962 OPS. He’s also providing about a run per game and 18 total steals in that span, making him one of the most dangerous leadoff hitters in baseball. All of that makes him a brilliant play against Clay Buchholz, with the right-hander pitching to a 5.63 ERA and 1.38 WHIP this season.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Juan Soto, WSH at STL ($4,100)
Soto is a personal favorite of mine and it’s truly amazing to see a 20-year-old kid do what he’s doing. Anyone posting a career OBP above .400 is a talented hitter but it’s truly frightening for opposing hitters considering this kid can’t even legally drink yet. That absurd OBP is backed up by a .575 SLG and .981 OPS and it’s clear that we have a superstar in the making. A lot of that production has come recently, with Soto totaling a .430 OBP, .742 SLG and 1.172 OPS over his last 34 games. Getting to face Adam Wainwright is simply a bonus, with the righty pitcher allowing left-handed hitters to post a .375 OBP and .858 OPS against him this season.
Aristides Aquino, CIN at CHC ($3,400)
While Aquino is mired in a bit of a slump right now, the numbers are still absurd. In 44 games with the Reds this season, AA is providing a .596 SLG and .923 OPS. A good amount of that damage has come against lefties, with Aquino amassing a .372 OBP, .667 SLG and 1.039 OPS against them this season. He happens to be facing a struggling southpaw here, with Jon Lester pitching to a 4.59 ERA and 1.50 WHIP so far this year.
Khris Davis, OAK vs, KC ($3,200)
Don’t look now but Davis is starting to find his stroke. That’s a scary sign for opposing hitters, as we’re still talking about a guy who leads the league in home runs since 2016. Davis actually has an ISO in the .250-range in that span and we have to believe that this recent hot streak is the start of a strong finish to the season. Over his last 16 games, Davis has four homers and 16 RBI en route to a .500 SLG and .833 OPS. That’s really all you can ask for against Danny Duffy, with the lefty pitching to a 4.55 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Not to mention, Davis has a .358 OBP, .533 SLG and .892 OPS against southpaws so far this year.
