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MLB DFS Picks: Starting Pitcher Rankings for Wild Card Series Wednesday 9/30/26

MLB DFS Picks: Starting Pitcher Rankings for Wild Card Series Wednesday 9/30/26

MLB DraftKings Fantasy Advice DFS MLB DFS

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By: Sam Connon

The 2026 MLB postseason is officially underway. With the Game 2 of each AL and NL Wild Card Series on the books for Wednesday, there is no better time to dive right into the Daily Fantasy action. Pitchers are already ranked by price, with the ones who are projected to perform better eating up more of your budget, but I am here to add my two cents. I have my own DFS rankings for the top pitchers in the four-game Wednesday afternoon contest that locks at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $150K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]

MLB DFS Pitcher Rankings — Wednesday, September 30

RankNameTeamOpponentSalary
1.Max FriedNew York YankeesBoston Red Sox$8,300
2.Hunter BrownHouston AstrosChicago White Sox$8,700
3.Sonny GrayBoston Red SoxNew York Yankees$8,500
4.Cristopher SanchezPhiladelphia PhilliesAtlanta Braves$9,700
5. Sean BurkeChicago White SoxHouston Astros$7,000
6.Nick PivettaSan Diego PadresChicago Cubs$7,500
7.Kevin GausmanChicago CubsSan Diego Padres$8,000
8.Tyler MahleAtlanta BravesPhiladelphia Phillies$6,500

Best MLB DFS Value Picks, Pitchers

LHP Max Fried, NYY (vs. BOS)

Salary: $8,300

2025 Stats: 32 G, 32 GS, 195.1 IP, 19-5, 2.86 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 189 K, 51 BB, 4.8 WAR
2026 Stats: 20 G, 20 GS, 112.2 IP, 5-5, 2.80 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 104 K, 33 BB, 3.5 WAR, 17.2 FPPG
Career Postseason Stats: 22 G, 14 GS, 76.1 IP, 2-6, 5.31 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 73 K, 23 BB

RHP Hunter Brown, HOU (vs. CHW)

Salary: $8,700

2025 Stats: 31 G, 31 GS, 185.1 IP, 12-9, 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 206 K, 57 BB, 4.5 WAR
2026 Stats: 20 G, 20 GS, 107.1 IP, 6-4, 3.19 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 124 K, 55 BB, 1.9 WAR, 17.7 FPPG
Career Postseason Stats: 8 G, 1 GS, 16.1 IP, 0-0, 1.65 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 16 K, 6 BB

RHP Sean Burke, CHW (@ HOU)

Salary: $7,000

2025 Stats: 28 G, 22 GS, 134.1 IP, 4-11, 4.22 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 133 K, 63 BB, 0.6 WAR
2026 Stats: 32 G, 27 GS, 172.1 IP, 11-7, 3.34 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 185 K, 62 BB, 3.2 WAR, 17.0 FPPG
Career Postseason Stats: N/A

More MLB DFS Content & Picks

Check out more MLB daily fantasy content throughout the season on DraftKings Network.

Good luck with your MLB DFS lineups today!

Sam Connon
Sam joined DraftKings in 2025 following five years with Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network. He has covered the UCLA Bruins, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Rays, MLB, MiLB and NBA, on top of earning awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and College Media Association during his time as a student at UCLA.
Disclaimer

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user 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.