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The NFL might be the main event on Sunday, but don’t forget about baseball! Today’s main MLB slate starts at 1:05 p.m. ET and features eight games to choose from. Let’s take a look at some of the top studs and values at each position to help you set your DraftKings lineups.
Set your DraftKings lineups here: MLB $20K Extra Inning [$5K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Michael Pineda, MIN vs. CLE, $8,200 – This is easily one of the weakest pitching slates of the entire season. There are no true studs to choose from – no one owns a salary above $8,900 – and every option has at least one red flag.
Pineda ultimately seems like the top guy if you’re choosing to pay up at the position. He has a solid matchup vs. the Indians, who rank merely 24th in wRC+ vs. right-handers this season, and their implied team total of 3.8 runs is one of the lowest on the slate. Pineda has also been excellent through his first two starts, pitching to a 2.77 ERA and 2.04 FIP.
Other Options – Tyler Mahle ($8,700), Charlie Morton ($7,500)
Value
Sixto Sanchez, MIA vs. PHI, $6,200 – Sanchez entered the season as the Marlins’ top prospect and the No. 20 prospect overall, and he hasn’t disappointed through his first four starts at the major league level. He’s pitched to a 1.80 ERA and 9.00 K/9, and his advanced metrics are also solid.
He should be one of the most popular pitchers on the slate at just $6,200, and he has a solid matchup vs. the Phillies. They’ve been merely average vs. right-handed pitchers this season, ranking 17th in wRC+, and their projected lineup has struggled to a .272 wOBA vs. right-handers over the past 12 months.
The only real concern is that the Phillies don’t strike out very often, but Sanchez doesn’t need a ton of strikeouts to return value at his current salary. He also likely doesn’t need to score 30+ DKFP to finish as the highest-scoring pitcher on such a weak slate.
Other Options – Alec Mills ($7,400), Brad Keller ($6,800)
CATCHER
Stud
Yasmani Grandal, CWS vs. DET, $4,900 – Some people might be scared away from Grandal today given his matchup vs. Spencer Turnbull ($8,500). Grandal has historically been better against left-handers than right-handers, and Turnbull has pitched to a 3.32 ERA in 2020.
That said, Turnbull has been one of the luckiest pitchers in baseball from a HR perspective. Only 3.2% of the fly balls he’s allowed have turned into homers, which is a crazy low number. The White Sox have plenty of power, so perhaps some of the fly balls he allows in this contest will actually make it over the fence.
Grandal is definitely a better hitter vs. southpaws, but he’s still posted a 114 wRC+ vs. right-handers in 2020. That’s well above average for a catcher, and he’s also expected to occupy a premium spot in the White Sox’ lineup.
Other Options – Gary Sanchez ($4,500), Salvador Perez ($4,300)
Value
Kevan Smith, TB vs. BOS, $3,000 – Smith is expected to get the start at catcher for the Rays today vs. Red Sox left-hander Martin Perez ($7,200). Smith doesn’t possess a ton of pop, but he’s still posted a .437 wOBA vs. southpaws over the past 12 months. That includes a mark of .355 this season, albeit over a minuscule sample size.
The Rays also stand out as one of the better teams to target on today’s slate. They’re currently implied for 4.7 runs, which is the fourth-highest mark on the slate.
Other Options – Austin Romine ($3,300), Victor Caratini ($2,600)
FIRST BASE
Stud
Luke Voit, NYY vs. BAL, $5,400 – Voit continues to absolutely rake in 2020. He’s been especially potent vs. left-handed pitchers, posting a 168 wRC+ and a .469 ISO. He’ll be on the positive side of his splits today vs. John Means ($6,400), who has pitched to a dreadful 6.58 ERA and 7.19 FIP this season. The Yankees are also implied for 6.0 runs, which is the top mark on the slate by a significant margin.
Other Options – Anthony Rizzo ($4,500), Joey Votto ($4,100)
Value
Dan Vogelbach, MIL vs. CHC, $3,400 – Vogelbach doesn’t do a lot well on the baseball field, but the one thing he does well is hit for power vs. right-handed pitchers. He posted a 126 wRC+ and .260 ISO vs. right-handers in 2019, and 25 of his 30 homers came in those matchups. He’s expected to bat fifth for the Brewers today vs. Alec Mills ($7,400), which makes him a cheap potential source of upside.
Other Options – Jed Gyorko ($4,000), Miguel Cabrera ($3,100)
SECOND BASE
Stud
D.J. LeMahieu, NYY vs. BAL, $5,600 – If you can’t already tell, the Yankees are one of my favorite teams to target on today’s slate. Their right-handed batters in particular should be able to get to Means, who has surrendered a .367 wOBA in those matchups this season. LeMahieu has also historically been at his best vs. southpaws, posting a 116 wRC+.
Other Options – Keston Huira ($5,300), Whit Merrifield ($4,600)
Value
Hanser Alberto, BAL @ NYY, $4,000 – On the other side of this matchup, the Orioles have some appeal vs. J.A. Happ ($8,900). Happ is the most expensive pitcher on the slate, but that doesn’t mean he’s actually good. He’s pitched to a 5.33 FIP this season, and he’s unsurprisingly struggled vs. right-handed batters.
Alberto fits that description, which makes him a nice option as the projected leadoff hitter. He’s also smoked left-handed pitching this season, posting a 185 wRC+.
Other Options – Jonathan Schoop ($4,300), Adam Frazier ($3,100)
THIRD BASE
Stud
Yoan Moncada, CWS vs. DET, $5,200 – Moncada is another member of the White Sox you can target vs. Turnbull. Their implied team total of 5.3 runs ranks second on the slate, and Moncada posted a 148 wRC+ vs. right-handers in 2019. His numbers haven’t been as impressive in 2020, but they’re over a much smaller sample size.
Other Options – Kris Bryant ($4,500), Josh Donaldson ($4,400)
Value
Miguel Andujar, NYY vs. BAL, $3,800 – Another position, another Yankee righty. Andujar is one of the cheaper members of the lineup today, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous. He’s posted a 106 wRC+ and a .219 ISO vs. southpaws throughout his career.
Other Options – Ke’Bryan Hayes ($2,900), Kelvin Gutierrez ($2,300)
SHORTSTOP
Stud
Gleyber Torres, NYY vs. BAL, $4,900 – At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Torres is another Yankee righty who stands out as an elite option on today’s slate. He’s disappointed this season offensively, but he’s still an extremely gifted hitter for a 23-year-old. He’s going to break out of his slump eventually, and this seems like as good of a spot as any.
Other Options – Tim Anderson ($5,500), Javier Baez ($4,700)
Value
Adalberto Mondesi, KC vs. PIT, $3,100 – Mondesi is back to hitting near the top of the lineup, and he has one of the most tantalizing skill sets in DFS. He capable of doing damage with his bat and with his legs, and he’s done plenty of both recently. He’s recorded at least one HR and one stolen base in each of his past three games. Typically, one of those events results in a good fantasy day, so any batter than can do both in the same game has massive appeal. The fact that he’s so cheap at $3,100 makes him even more appealing.
Other Options – Willy Adames ($3,900), Erik Gonzalez ($3,800)
OUTFIELD
Stud
Christian Yelich, MIL vs. CHC, $5,500 – Yelich got off to a slow start this season, but he’s turned things around recently. He posted a 143 wRC+ in August, and he’s followed that up with a 139 wRC+ to start September.
He’s in an excellent spot today vs. Mills, who has been dreadful vs. left-handed batters in 2020. He’s allowed them to post a .356 wOBA while averaging 2.13 HRs per nine innings.
Other Options – Ian Happ ($4,700), Clint Frazier ($4,400)
Value
Manuel Margot, TB vs. BOS, $3,100 – There are an abundance of quality value options in the OF position, but Margot stands out as the best of them. He’s projected to bat leadoff for the Rays at just $3,100. That’s cheap for virtually any leadoff hitter, let alone one with an implied team total of 4.7 runs. Margot isn’t an elite hitter by any stretch of the imagination, but he has posted a respectable 100 wRC+ vs. southpaws in 2020.
Other Options – Randy Arozarena ($3,500), Avisail Garcia ($3,000)
Set your DraftKings lineups here: MLB $20K Extra Inning [$5K to 1st]
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