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Jesse Borek highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 9/8/20, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
Yours truly had ample time to mentally dive through Tuesday’s selections as I trekked across the country and rocked out with energy drinks. That isn’t a predictor of success, of course, but let’s just say that I thought about Brandon Belt’s recent hot stretch, how electric Tyler Mahle has looked, and J.D. Davis’ splits against lefties more than anyone not spending 12-plus hours in a vehicle should.
With that in mind, I’ve compiled a collaboration of my favorite plays across the slate, whether they be cash, GPP, or up for consideration in both.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 9/8/2020. 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 too.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Mike Clevinger - SDP vs. COL ($9,600)
Clevinger’s debut with the Padres was a solid performance, but it lacked strikeouts. He was also outmatched by Angels southpaw Andrew Heaney, blocking him from earning the win and further capping his points total. Entering Tuesday, he gets to shift to Petco Park for the first time, while also being matched up against Chi Chi Gonzalez, who has won a single road start since 2015. While Colorado’s offense boasts a plethora of All-Star talent, they’ve proven to be not nearly as lethal away from Coors Field this season, posting a collective .665 OPS through its first 19 non-Coors affairs. The triumvirate of Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, and Trevor Story, has combined to go 0-for-5 in their careers against Clevinger, with much of their power neutralized by the pitcher-friendly environment that’ll take centerstage Tuesday.
Tyler Mahle - CIN @ CHC ($7,900)
The last time that Mahle and the Cubs squared off, things appeared that they would go sideways for the Cincinnati right-hander, and quickly. With two solo home runs in the first inning at Great American Ball Park, it appeared that Mahle’s home run bugaboo would strike again -- only, it didn’t. He finished the start with two runs allowed (the homers) and struck out a season-high 11 batters.
Now, he runs it back against Chicago, this time at Wrigley Field, and to make things even more tantalizing, the wind is set to be blowing in. Mahle has averaged 29 FD points per appearance this season, which goes right in line with his price tag. Having posted a .197 xBA to this point, Mahle grades out as above-average in numerous Statcast categories. With few overly appealing low-end starters Tuesday, Mahle represents an upside selection that still allows fantasy managers to get their favorite bats into lineups.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Brandon Belt - 1B, SFG vs. SEA ($3,100)
If there were All-Stars for the 2020 season, Belt would definitely be in consideration for the starting nod at first base in the National League. Having compiled a gaudy 1.117 OPS through his first 94 at-bats, Belt has turned Oracle Park into his own personal hitter’s haven with a .462/.588/.949 slash line through his first 16 games at the yard. Those numbers make him worth rostering no matter the opposition, but get an additional uptick when facing Ljay Newsome, who will be making just his second big league start.
Nick Madrigal - 2B, CWS @ PIT ($2,500)
Despite being located at the bottom of the White Sox order, Madrigal still holds appeal Tuesday due to the .372 average that he has amassed through his first 12 games. He is a premier punt play option on a sufficiently-sized slate, with his .462 average against fastballs standing out versus Pirates starter Joe Musgrove, who has gotten a mere 11.3% Whiff rate against his fastball this season.
Kyle Seager - 3B, SEA @ SFG ($3,200)
Firmly entrenched back in the lineup after a brief interlude, Seager has homered in back-to-back games entering Tuesday. Walking more (14) than he has struck out (13) against righties this year, Seager’s matchup versus Giants starter Logan Webb stands out as the right-hander has walked 15 batters in his first 36 ⅓ frames while owning a 1.45 WHIP at Oracle Park. Seager has shown a propensity for collecting total bases in stretches, with at least 15 FD in each of his last four appearances.
Jose Iglesias - SS, BAL @ NYM ($2,600)
Iglesias’ lack of extra-base hit power in 2020 has been well-documented, but entering play Tuesday with a 12-game hitting streak under his belt bodes well for the shortstop in the midst of a career offensive year that has produced a .396 batting average. Fairly obviously, Iglesias will need hits to be relevant as a cash play at his price tag; fortunately, he faces Mets right-hander Michael Wacha, who has yielded a whopping 12.6 H/9 this year. While scoring runs (and potentially collecting a double) will ultimately determine how high Iglesias’ point total can rise, he presents a safe floor without much flashy upside.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Christian Yelich - OF, MIL @ DET ($4,200)
When Yelich matched up with the Tigers twice last week, he reached base in six of the nine plate appearances that he had. His 2020 campaign has been confounding in light of how dominant he has been over the previous two years, but fortunately, him figuring it out for one night is a safer proposition than over the final three weeks. Despite his drastic reverse splits, he has continued to mash the ball at Miller Park, posting a .579 SLG there this year.
Starling Marte - OF, MIA @ ATL ($3,100)
In his first six games as a Marlin, Marte has racked up seven hits, two of which have gone for home runs. He’s proven to be a vital cog in the heart of the club’s order with the overwhelming majority of his damage done against right-handed pitching; which is where his matchup versus Atlanta righty Kyle Wright comes in. Wright owns an eye-popping 2.20 WHIP through his first four starts this season, a recipe for disaster when facing a Marlins club that ranks third in the Majors in stolen bases (25).
J.D. Davis - OF, NYM vs. BAL ($2,600)
Locking in Davis against left-handed pitching has become one of the premier edges in 2020 for mid-priced assets. On Tuesday, he’ll face Orioles southpaw John Means, who has been walloped to the tune of 24 hits and 18 runs yielded in just 20 innings this season. With a .436 on-base percentage against southpaws -- in addition to an overall .990 OPS over his last seven games -- Davis has ample upside.
