There's only one game on the afternoon slate on Wednesday, so we will focus on the 14 games that are due to start on or after 7 EST. Below are my DraftKings picks for Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015.  As always, remember to check your players to make sure they are in their MLB starting lineups before lineups lock.

My goal with these DFS picks, as always, is to try and identify MLB players who will outperform their expectations today, based on their matchups and FanDuel prices. These players can be high-cost players, or they can be value pick sleepers, but we are always looking for players that have a chance to return the greatest value for your DFS lineups. Let’s get to it.

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MLB & DraftKings DFS Game Notes

• The Pirates-Reds game is in serious danger of being delayed or postponed due to thunderstorms. Monitor the weather situation like a hawk if you plan on utilizing any player in that game. Surprisingly, San Diego may see some rain around game time as well, but is not nearly in danger of being postponed.
• A ton of mid-tier pitchers will take the mound tonight, meaning that tournament lineups are more likely better plays than cash games considering the volatility.
• For stacking purposes, the Red Sox will face Drew Hutchison who has struggled mightily away from Rogers Centre this season. Look for cheap value from left-handed bats against Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hutch.
• Should the game start on time and be played, the Pirates figure to have premium stacking potential against Keyvius Sampson. Sampson owns a 9.00 ERA over his last five starts and has really struggled with his command as he is averaging close to a handful of walks per outing.
• A contrarian stack play could be Atlanta. They have been absolutely reeling since the All Star Break but do face off against David Buchanan, who is proving to be a fringe pitcher at best. Atlanta bats will be cheap and are fliers at best.
• Grab some players from the Orioles and Yankees matchup in the Bronx. Ubaldo Jimenez and C.C. Sabathia are two guys that everyone loves to face.

 

DFS Pitchers to Consider for DraftKings

Jacob deGrom, NYM - $11,800

As explained above, deGrom is the best pitcher going on Wednesday but may not be the best option. He owns an FIP that is nearly two runs per game higher on the road (3.93) than his home FIP (1.84) and he has been suspect over his last four starts in giving up base runners. He should get a hefty chunk of strikeouts but his price tag compared to his suspectability just isn’t a match made in heaven.

James Shields, SD - $9,400

Shields is a much better play as a first pitching option. He has been striking out over a quarter of batters faced and will square off against a Rockies team that owns a wRC+ of 78 and a 23.9% K rate on the road. Look for a lot of strikeouts and not a lot of runs.

J.A. Happ, PIT - $7,000

Taking a flier on Happ for tournaments or a second starter kind of makes sense. The Pirates figure to score a lot of runs today for him and the Reds havne’t exactly been lighting it up offensively. Happ has given up only one earned run or fewer in his last five outings. Solid flier for GPPs.

 

DFS Infielders to Consider for DraftKings

CATCHERS

Derek Norris, SD - $3,100

Rockies starter Chris Rusin does not toss strikeouts and Norris is a guy that has elite production against lefties, both this season and for his career. His price gives enough flexibility to manipulate your roster in most anyway.

FIRST BASE

David Ortiz, BOS - $4,900

In his quest for 500 homeruns, Ortiz has been quietly putting up great numbers after the All Star Break. He has had some success against Hutchison in a small sample size and figures to do much of the same.

Freddie Freeman, ATL - $4,700

The Atlanta veteran is starting to heat up and will be teeing off against a Phillies pitcher that is really, really trending down.

Ryan Zimmerman, WAS - $4,400

In only eight career at-bats, Zimmerman has hit deGrom hard including a homerun. He has been white hot over the last couple weeks but is listed as day-to-day, so it goes without saying to make sure to check the lineups.

SECOND BASE

Neil Walker, PIT - $3,600

Walker is a much better hitter against righties rather than lefties and he will have nice atmospheric and park conditions for Wednesday night’s game. Look for Walker to go yard against Sampson.

SHORTSTOP

Eduardo Escobar, MIN - $3,400

Royals starter Kris Medlen looked inadequate in his last start. Escobar has looked anything but over the last 10 days. In this situation, nothing has to give.

Didi Gregorius, NYY - $3,100

Despite batting in the bottom third of the lineup, Gregorius has put up some solid numbers over the last two weeks. His .484 wOBA is tops among all eligible shortstops during that span while his 216 wRC+ places him second on that same list. I like him tonight against a very hittable Jimenez.

THIRD BASE

Manny Machado, BAL - $4,600

I like Machado against C.C. Sabathia. In case you need an explanation for one of the top third basemen in the game against a left-hander that has clearly seen better days in a ballpark that favors pull hitters, here it is: read the previous sentence.

Evan Longoria, TB - $4,000

Longoria has been red hot over the last two weeks. He has hit six homeruns en route to a .388 ISO in 58 plate appearances. And he has done that with a .237 BABIP. Meaning he could be even better that his .429 wOBA or 182 wRC+ during that span. He is my top play of the day.

 

DFS Outfielders to Consider for DraftKings

Yoenis Cespedes, NYM - $4,800

Allow this to serve as the obligatory “Cespedes is scorching hot right now” sentence.

Jackie Bradley, Jr., BOS - $4,800

Bradley is priced relatively high compared to his overall value, but it’s hard to ignore his upside against Hutchison Wednesday night. He has hit three homeruns over the last 12 games and driven in 14 while scoring 13 runs. Look for him to anchor a high scoring affair in Boston.

Starling Marte, PIT - $4,600

This pick makes sense only if Marte is batting second in the lineup. He’s eligible to be dropped lower in the lineup against RHPs as Walker has routinely hit second. If Marte does somehow take that second spot, I like him to produce across the board against Sampson.

Jacoby Ellsbury, NYY - $4,200

Jimenez won’t scare anyone in a Yankees uniform, especially Ellsbury. Look for him to hit early and often against the Oriole starter in a game that should feature a lot of runs.

 

DFS Q&A with Max Petrie @ 6 PM on 9/9

Leave your question here and then come back at 6 PM when Max answers everything. For our regular MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat, click here.