MLB DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Saturday (9/9)

This is a bizarre slate. Most of the games usually take place at night, but they’re spread throughout the day today. That’s why we will try to offer up plays from each one because there’s not really any crowded time slot. That leaves us with a ton to discuss, so let’s go ahead and get into it!

Starting Pitcher Rankings

Starting Pitcher Strategy

We’ve had a ton of aces toe the rubber over recent days, so we’re stepping into the backend of the rotations this weekend. I thought this Saturday slate was ugly from a pitching perspective, but wait until you see the guys we recommend tomorrow! Even with the ugly player pool, there are still some great options in some brilliant spots. With that in mind, let’s start with the potential AL Cy Young!

Cash Game Recommendations:

Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs. KC

Gausman has struggled a bit over his last four starts, but he’s still one of the best pitchers in the AL. KG had a 3.04 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 11.8 K/9 rate before that mini slide, but a matchup with Kansas City should get him out of it. The Royals rank in the bottom five in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and xwOBA. That was on full display when Gausman slung six scoreless innings against them earlier in the year, which is why he’s a -230 favorite in this game.

Justin Steele (CHC) vs. ARI

Steele has been climbing up the NL Cy Young leaderboard over recent weeks and could snatch that award if he finishes strong. He’s got a 16-3 record, thanks to his 2.55 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He’s also scored at least 25 FanDuel points in 25 of 27 starts, culminating in a season-high 70 FD points in his most recent start. Arizona is far from a scary matchup, ranked bottom 10 in nearly every offensive category since the All-Star break.

GPP Recommendations:

Logan Webb (SF) vs. COL

Anytime a pitcher faces the Rockies on the road, they will be in this article. Colorado ranks last in runs scored, OBP, and xwOBA on the road in each of the last three years. That’s terrifying against a pitcher like Webb, tallying a 2.51 ERA and 0.99 WHIP at home this season. In his most recent home start against the Rockies, Webb dropped a season-high 67 FanDuel points, striking out 10 batters in a complete game shutout. Wait till you see how big of a favorite Webb is!

Tarik Skubal (DET) vs. CWS

Skubal had one nightmare outing but has been outstanding outside of that. In fact, Tarik has a 2.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 10.6 K/9 rate in those other 10 starts. That’s quite the stretch, with Skubal scoring 46 FD points in his one matchup with the White Sox. That’s no surprise since Chicago sits 26th in runs scored, 28th in wOBA, and last in OBP.

Top Lineup Stacks

San Francisco Giants (vs. Chase Anderson)

• Home (Oracle Park)
• Value: Medium
• Risk: Medium
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8 Runs/SF -250

It sounds like Anderson will return to action for the Rockies, which means we must stack the Giants. The right-hander was the worst pitcher in baseball before landing on the IL, amassing a 10.16 ERA and 2.05 WHIP across his last seven starts. A stretch like that doesn’t make sense, and this solid San Fran offense should add to his atrocious averages after scoring nine runs on Friday.

Texas Rangers (vs. Kyle Muller)

• Home (Globe Life Field)
• Value: Medium
• Risk: Low
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/TEX-360

The Rangers have been one of the best offenses in baseball, ranked third in OBP, and runs scored. They have been struggling recently, but a matchup with Oakland could get them rolling because the A’s have the worst ERA and WHIP in the league. Muller hasn’t helped those terrible numbers, with the southpaw sporting a 7.68 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over the last two years.

Toronto Blue Jays (vs. Zack Greinke)

• Home (Rogers Centre)
• Value: Medium
• Risk: Medium
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/TOR-230

It’s sad that Greinke’s career will end like this because the veteran has a 1-14 record. No veteran should have to deal with a season like that, but he hasn’t been helping the cause behind his 5.34 ERA. That’s tough against a stingy Toronto lineup, with the Blue Jays ranked fourth in OBP. They’re also traditionally better at home and are projected to score over five runs in this magical matchup.

Core Studs

• Everyone talks about Acuna and Mookie in the NL MVP discussions, but Freeman is having one of the best bridesmaids seasons of all time. The LA first baseman has a .334 AVG, .411 OBP, .572 SLG and .983 OPS. He’s done that despite a weak opening month, and we love it even more since he has a 1.043 OPS against righties this year.
• Devers was dreadful through the opening three months, but he’s been playing at an All-Star level since then. Rafael has a .307 AVG, .390 OBP, .535 SLG, and .925 OPS across his last 61 outings. He’s also rocked right-handers throughout his career, collecting a .922 OPS against them over the last three years. We’re not worried about Jack Flaherty‘s 4.84 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.
• Olson might take the home run crown from Shohei Ohtani, connecting on his 46th bomb on Thursday. That home run binge has been happening for weeks, with Olson obtaining a .994 OPS across his last 12 outings. Johan Oviedo is not a problematic matchup, with Olson posting a 1.022 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor this season.
• Bryce got off to a slow start from Tommy John surgery, but he’s been crushing for weeks now. The former MVP has a .393 OBP, .560 SLG, and .951 OPS since July 1. He’s also been much better against right-handers and gets to face a journeyman like Johnny Cueto. He’s faced him nearly 20 times, tallying a .526 OBP against Cueto.
• Springer is our BvP play of the day. The Blue Jays outfielder has faced Greinke 18 times, totaling a .500 AVG, .556 OBP, .688 SLG, and 1.244 OPS against him. That’s truly absurd, making Springer an easy choice in the heart of a Toronto stack. Not to mention, he’s got a .393 OBP and .888 OPS across his last 27 games.

Value Plays/Punts

• Not many of the San Fran bats are expensive, so that they will be one of the best stacks against Anderson. That means we have to use Joc Jams, who always bats in the heart of their lineup against right-handers. Over the last three years, Pederson has provided a .338 OBP, .480 SLG, and .818 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. He’s also had his way with the Rockies and should annihilate Anderson.
• Belt has quietly had a terrific season in Toronto, batting third against right-handers. Since 2021, Belt has a .364 OBP, .515 SLG, and .879 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. He’s been even better recently, registering a .908 OPS since the end of May. He’s one of the only affordable Blue Jays bats, and he’s a great pairing with studs like Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr.
• Injuries have destroyed this Rangers lineup, but it should force Duran into a more prominent lineup spot. That’s massive when looking at his sensational splits, accumulating a .347 OBP, .536 SLG, and .883 OPS against lefties this year. That makes him way too cheap on both sites, especially against someone like Muller.
• Stanton goes on these binges where he looks like the most powerful man on the planet, and he’s starting one of those right now. He’s homered in four of his last 12 games and three out of his last seven. That makes him enticing against a soft-tossing southpaw like Wade Miley, with Giancarlo compiling a .623 SLG and .943 OPS against lefties this year.
• Luplow has been a staple for me in this section throughout his career because he’s slaughtered southpaws at every opportunity he’s given. In nearly 500 career at-bats against lefties, Luplow has a .336 OBP, .498 SLG and .832 OPS. That’s hard to believe from such a cheap player, and it makes him tough to avoid against a pitcher with a 5.40 ERA and 1.61 WHIP.

Hitter Strategy

We don’t have too many expensive pitchers on this slate, which is amazing since we have so many affordable stacks. The two teams we want to build around are the Giants and Blue Jays. San Fran is the most affordable stack on the day, and they’re actually my favorite offense. That makes things so much easier on us because you can stack that team however you want and use pitchers like Kevin Gausman or Justin Steele with them.

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.