FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks, Advice & Sleepers for 9/8

Happy Monday, FanDuel players. We have twelve games today, beginning with a few afternoon tilts that won’t factor in to the late-game contests. Nonetheless, I will make recommendations based on the complete slate of games, just in case you want to play some of the full-day contests.

Today, we have one clear ace on the mound: Felix Hernandez. I expect that he'll be a heavy play, and I'd recommend that everyone start him against the Astros. If not, you’ll be putting yourself into a hole that your hitters will be forced to make up. For that reason, I'll focus on some of the more economical hitters that you’ll have to turn to if you want to spend your dough on King Felix.

These picks are posted early in the day for your convenience, and without knowledge of the teams’ starting lineups. ALWAYS check the actual starting lineups and weather before finalizing your Fanduel entries.

Also keep in mind that these picks are based upon Fanduel’s dollar values and won’t necessarily be the best plays in other formats.

Editor's Note: be sure to check out RotoBaller's BvP (batter vs. pitcher) analysis tool, which shows you all the daily matchup stats for every single hitter in the MLB.

Starting Pitchers DFS Picks for 9/8

FELIX HERNANDEZ, SEA ($10800): This is one of the easiest pitching picks you’ll find on FanDuel. Felix is by far the most expensive option, but he's also the only ace on today’s slate. He faces the Astros, a team that strikes out more than 23% of the time against righties. Usually I'd list a few cheaper options here, but today there are none to recommend. If you don’t start Felix today, you are doing your opponents a favor. At $10,800, he isn't really cost prohibitive, either.  This is a no-brainer.

OTHERS TO CONSIDER: Don’t even think about it.

Catcher DFS Picks for 9/8

Salvador Perez, KC ($2900): Justin Verlander has had a lot of trouble with right-handed hitters this season, and Perez was fairly hot until running into a few 0-fers against the Yankees. I still have faith in him as a nice value option at the position, with a price coming in under $3,000. Perez has actually been a better hitter against right-handed pitching this season, and Verlander should be good matchup for him.

Carlos Ruiz, PHI ($3000): I would never consider Ruiz against a right-hander, but against a lefty he has about a .900 OPS this season. Jeff Locke is a classic lefty who struggles against hitters like Ruiz. Chooch has homered in two of his last three games, and the Phillies have moved him up in the order where he can be in the mix for more runs and RBI.

OTHERS TO CONSIDER: Devin Mesoraco ($3600), Dioner Navarro ($3100)

First Base DFS Picks for 9/8

Adam Lind, TOR ($2500): Jacob Turner has been bad against righties and lefties alike, so I think that a Jays stack will be a popular gambit today. Lind bats in the middle of it all with a price tag near the minimum. Lind is a righty-killer, with a wOBA over .400 against RHP this year, and he has three multi-hit games in his past five. At this price, I’m rolling with him.

Steve Pearce, BAL ($3400): When he plays, Pearce hits. Today he faces Joe Kelly, who has been less-than-effective since his trade to Boston. Pearce has battled an injury of late, and he went 0-for-4 in his return to the starting lineup yesterday, but his price comes in at an affordable level in a lineup that should score some runs.

ALSO CONSIDER: Adrian Gonzalez ($4000). If you have the salary to spare, A-Gone is the top 1B option tonight. He’s a streaky hitter coming off a two-homer game.

Second Base DFS Picks for 9/8

Howie Kendrick, LAA ($2600): This is a tremendous value today. The Angels’ offense is running on all cylinders right now and Kendrick is in the middle of it. Kendrick comes off a 4-for-5 game on Saturday and a 3-for-4, 4-RBI game (with a homer) yesterday afternoon. He is still available at a rock-bottom price on a day where the second base position is weak. Danny Salazar has shown a pretty extreme reverse split this year, so I have no problem getting some righty bats in my lineup against him.

ALSO CONSIDER: Dustin Pedroia ($3100), Anthony Rendon ($4000)

Third Base DFS Picks for 9/8

Josh Donaldson, OAK ($3100): His price has sunk to the “bargain” range, as he (and his team) have cooled off big-time since early in the season. Nonetheless, the A’s get to face Hector Noesi tomorrow, one of the more vulnerable starting pitchers out there. Noesi has allowed a wOBA of .374 against him this season, and he's fairly homer-prone in that ballpark. Donaldson is a reasonable value selection.

Kyle Seager, SEA ($3500): His price tag isn't terrible against the Astros’ Brad Peacock. Peacock walks a lot of guys and struggles with lefties and righties alike. Seager has hit in 13 of his last 15 games with three homers in his last six.

Lonnie Chisenhall, CLE ($2400): If you're looking for a bargain-basement option at the hot corner, then Chisenhall is your guy. Jered Weaver is no slouch, but he’s a fly-ball guy in a park that loves lefty power. Chisenhall could be a hit-or-miss guy in this matchup, but at $2400 he’s worth the risk-- save some money to spend on your other hitters.

ALSO CONSIDER: Todd Frazier ($3100), Casey McGehee ($2400)

Shortstop DFS Picks for 9/8

Brad Miller, SEA ($2900): I’d recommend him on the same basis that I recommended Kyle Seager: Miller's a hot lefty bat against Brad Peacock. After a tepid season, Miller has run hot lately, with a 3-for-3 and a 4-for-4 on his resume over the past week.

Jhonny Peralta, STL ($2800): I seem to recommend Peralta every week, and he typically comes through. The Reds’ Dylan Axelrod has allowed a near .400 wOBA against righties this season and Peralta comes off a big game on Sunday, homering for the second time in three games. At this price, he’ll be a heavy play in today’s contests. The Cardinals are rolling right now.

ALSO CONSIDER: Josh Rutledge ($2900), J.J. Hardy ($3000).

Outfield DFS Picks for 9/8

Bryce Harper, WAS ($3200): I’m not sure if he’ll be in the lineup against the lefty (Mike Minor), but Harper is one of the hottest hitters around, as he’s finally put a streak of good games together-- getting on base, hitting homers and scoring runs. Minor is a strange lefty who sports a reverse split, so Harper is probably a good bet to continue his hot hitting today.

Jose Bautista, TOR ($4400): This is not a value option, but Bautista is the top outfielder play today against Jacob Turner. I expect the Jays to put up some runs, and Bautista has been scorching hot. During his 11-game hitting streak, Joey Bats has homered in seven and driven in 12 runs. Even at his price, I’m going to have to find room for him in my lineups tonight.

Khris Davis, MIL ($2700) and Ryan Braun, MIL ($3300): The Brewers get the pleasure of facing Brad Penny tonight, so I feel that I need to get a piece of the Milwaukee offense into my lineups. I believe that both Davis and Braun are underpriced considering the matchup and potential. I’d try to get at least one of them on the board tonight.

ALSO CONSIDER: Mookie Betts ($3000), Endy Chavez ($2400)