The Monday, September 9 DraftKings fantasy baseball slate features six games. Get a head start on the competition by checking out the best MLB DFS stud and value picks for each position.
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PITCHER
Stud
David Festa, Minnesota Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels ($8,600) — Welcome to the Festa-Verse. Monday is Festavus. The Angels’ lackluster hitters — 24% K-Rate, .143 ISO, .293 wOBA and 87 wRC+ vs. RHP and 25% K-Rate, .131 ISO, .265 wOBA and 69 wRC+ over the last week — will follow the tradition and air their grievances against Festa. Minnesota’s top prospect is recording 11.9 K/9 to just 2.5 BB/9 since his mid-season call-up. After a hiccup in his debut (BABIP), Festa has stabilized and routinely turns out quality starts.
Value
Paul Blackburn, New York Mets at Toronto Blue Jays ($7,900) — This is risky. Blackburn isn’t cheap, and he’s coming off the IL. He’s struggled with right-handed hitters, and the Jays lineup leans righty. It’s MLB DFS, risks must be taken. The former sinker pitcher has reverted to his early-career form. This is the Mets’ philosophy. Their veteran rotation disregards velo and spin. They pound the bottom of the zone with sinkers. It’s not flashy, but it’s efficient and productive.
INFIELD
Stud
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox ($6,200) — SP Nick Nastrini ($6,000) will be a popular target on Monday’s slate. In 32 innings, Nastrini owns a 0-7 record and 7.79 ERA. Rameriz is in a slump. His price is high based on current production. His price is great leverage given the matchup.
Stud
Francisco Lindor, New York Mets at Toronto Blue Jays ($5,600) — Cleveland kept Jose Ramirez and let Lindor walk. Both could be headed to the playoffs. Every game counts for the Mets. Every at-bat matters. This is the type of player to pick in MLB DFS in September. SP Chris Bassitt ($8,400) struggles with left-handed hitters — .376 wOBA, 1.7 HR/9, 4.90 xFIP and 43% Hard Contact Rate.
Value
Dansby Swanson, Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,900) — The son of the swan is one of the hottest hitters in baseball. Swanson has a .439 wOBA and .412 ISO over the last week. SP Walker Buehler ($7,700) has a 5.67 ERA and allows 2.2 HR/9.
Value
Kyle Manzardo, Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox ($2,700) — Cleveland’s No. 6 Prospect killed it at Triple-A this season (20 home runs in 83 games). The Majors have been a struggle. Manzardo got a day off on Sunday. He’ll look to regroup in a favorable park against a favorable pitcher. Nick Nastrini has a .447 wOBA, 1.4 HR/9 and 10.40 xFIP against left-handed hitters.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals ($6,900) — Why split the atom? There are plenty of difficult decisions on this slate. Why add one more? Pick the Judge and move on. The Yankees are returning home to their hitter-friendly park after a rough road start to September. This feels like a statement game against a playoff contender. That statement could be two home runs.
Stud
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs ($7,000) — Speaking of home runs, Ohtani is at the top of the home run probability board. The soon-to-be NL MVP is only five home runs behind Aaron Judge. Ohtani is closing the gap (two home runs in the last three games). He has a better matchup on Monday. SP Kyle Hendricks ($6,200) has a .396 wOBA, 2.3 HR/9 and 4.91 xFIP vs. left-handed hitters.
Value
Jesse Winker, New York Mets at Toronto Blue Jays ($3,500) — Move over Aaron Judge, there’s a new King of New York. Aaron Rodgers is the other New York king that everyone is talking about, but in the Queens, there’s a different king. Winker has a .379 wOBA and .243 ISO since joining the Mets on Aug. 22.
Value
Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs ($3,400) — This is a cheap piece of the Dodgers stack. Pages is nothing to get excited about but the Dodgers draw a favorable matchup. As a one-off, Pages is a reach. In the stack, he works in the wrap-around stack. OF Kevin Kiermaier ($2,400) and 2B Gavin Lux ($3,800) are value options, too.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $100K Relay Throw [$25K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is greenflagradio2) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
