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Kevin Luchansky highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 9/19/18, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
We've got a pretty health slate of games on deck tonight for the 7:05 Main slate, which consists of 10 games. It features a few upper tier pitchers and quite a few with a strikeout projection of six or more, which should add some spice to tournament selection.
As it's customary at this point, let's look at a few Vegas lines of interest before player talk. On the moneyline, the Indians, (-290)the Dodgers (-204) and the Pirates (-202) are all overwhelming favorites, followed by the Brewers (-175) and Padres (-142) to round out the notables. For the highest implied run totals, the Indians are up top there as well at 5.5, followed by the Brewers (5.2), the Pirates (4.8) and Athletics at 4.6.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 9/18/18. 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, vs CWS ($11,200)
Carrasco is my top option for the evening as he projects really well against the White Sox offense. He's put together a fantastic 2018 campaign, compiling a 3.06 SIERA, a 15% swinging strike rate and a 28% strikeout rate. Those skills combined with the fact that this Sox offense is quite strikeout friendly - their projected lineup owns a 28.% K rate split against right-handed pitching this season - and their implied run total is only 3.1 (and the Indians are the biggest moneyline favorites of the day). He should have little trouble with limiting damage (he's dominated him in both of his two appearances against Chicago dating back to June) and the high strikeout projection makes him a strong play for cash games and tournaments tonight.
Chris Archer - SP, vs KCR ($7,800)
He isn't cash game friendly in my opinion just yet (outside of two-pitcher sites), but Archer's GPP appeal has never been higher this season for me than it is right now. He's coming off back-to-back impressive starts as it pertains to strikeouts with 14 K's in his last 11 innings of work. The home runs were still an issue in the game against Milwaukee, but they are a far superior lineup to the one Archer will face today in the Royals. Archer's K/9 now sits at 9.3 and he'll face a Kansas City team whose projected lineup has struck out at a 28% clip against right-handed pitching this season with only a .291 wOBA. Adding more to the appeal is that the Pirates are big favorites on the moneyline and the Royals implied run total is still very low as of this morning at 3.2.
Also Consider: Walker Buehler - SP, vs COL ($9,400) - GPP only
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Justin Smoak - 1B, at BAL ($3,200)
This game is still without a Vegas line as there seems to be conflicting info regarding who is pitching for Baltimore tonight. Know this - it's going to be a good situation for Smoak either way, but it looks like Jimmy Yacabonis is getting the nod. In Yacabonis' 20+ innings of work at the MLB level, it's been real ugly for him as he's allowed over a .540 slugging percentage to both lefties and righties, including a .422 wOBA for lefties. The switch-hitting Smoak will be standing in from the left side, bringing a .363 wOBA and a .243 ISO to the dish.
Jose Ramirez - 2B, vs CWS ($4,900)
Ramirez and his lefty teammates draw a very nice matchup here against Dylan Covey in Cleveland, and not too surprisingly they're the top projected offense for the evening with a 5.5 implied run total. Covey's allowed a .351 wOBA to lefties this season and Ramirez, as you know by now, has been a terror against right-handed pitching with his .426 wOBA and .321 ISO splits.
Eugenio Suarez - 3B, at MIL ($3,600)
This price really feels like a steal. Suarez is going into a hitter's park to face a southpaw who has struggled more this year than ever, allowing a .342 wOBA to righties and Suarez has been elite against lefties in 2018. Suarez' .438 wOBA split creates a nice points floor for cash games and he has the power upside (.272 ISO) to be played in tournaments as well.
Lourdes Gurriel - SS, at BAL ($2,900)
Let me preface this selection by saying that, if you have the money, go ahead and get Frankie Lindor here. That said, if roster construction doesn't allow you to spend over 3K at every position, this is the spot to spend down. Gurriel will have nice lineup context here near the top of an order for an offense that could explore today. He has a .303 wOBA split for the season and has a 27% line drive rate in his past 12 games.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Starling Marte - OF, vs KCR ($3,500)
Marte has been running hot this week, collecting give hits over his past two starts. The good news is he draws a fantastic matchup tonight against Heath Fillmyer and his price remains pretty damn low, considering his stolen base upside. Marte also has a solid .340 wOBA split against right-handed pitching in 2018.
Curtis Granderson - OF, vs CIN ($3,600)
Granderson brings nice value out of the leadoff spot for this Milwaukee club facing Matt Harvey at home in Milwaukee. They have one of the highest projected run totals of the day at 5.1 and Granderson brings strong splits and a recent 52% hard contact rate.
Teoscar Hernandez - OF, at BAL ($3,000)
Hernandez is one of those types who comes up empty too often for cash games, but his big power piques my interest for tournaments. He too draws a good matchup and boasts a hard hit rate over 50% from the past two weeks of play, as well as a .240 ISO split in 2018.
