The MLB DFS Deep Dive is back! This article is intended to give you an in-depth look at the top MLB DFS picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on the day’s fantasy baseball slate. It is recommended that you use this article in conjunction with Awesemo’s MLB projections, ownership projections and the Top Stack tool.
MLB DFS Deep Dive: DraftKings + FanDuel Picks | Sept. 24
Top Pitchers
Gerrit Cole ($10,800 DraftKings/$11,000 FanDuel) has a dangerous matchup against the Boston Red Sox, but his ceiling cannot be discounted. His 34.2% strikeout rate leads the slate, and his 2.87 xFIP is tied with Shane Bieber for the best mark of any pitcher tonight. Boston’s active roster has a 118 wRC+ and has only struck out 20.6% of the time since the trade deadline, so this is a rare slate Cole will not make cash game lineups. In tournaments, however, he is only projected for about 15% ownership on DraftKings and 4% ownership on FanDuel. The Yankees need to win this game, so if he is pitching well, Cole is likely to have as long a leash as any pitcher on the slate.
Jose Berrios ($9,500 DraftKings/$9,700 FanDuel) faces his former team tonight in Minnesota. Since the trade deadline, the Twins active roster has been an average offense, with a 96 wRC+ and 24.1% strikeout rate. Berrios has struck out 25.5% of hitters this season and has a 3.68 xFIP. While the matchup is not perfect, he is currently projected for just 4% ownership on DraftKings, and he is one of the best options in GPPs because of the ownership gap between Berrios and the popular pitchers in his price range.
Dylan Cease ($9,000 DraftKings/$9,000 FanDuel) will be one of the most popular pitchers on tonight’s slate as he takes on the Indians. Cease’s 31.6% strikeout rate is the second highest on the slate behind Cole (excluding Bieber since he is likely to be limited), and he has a respectable 3.81 xFIP. Cleveland has been a league-average offense since the trade deadline, with a 101 wRC+ and 23.4% strikeout rate. While Cease projects as one of the best options available, this is mediocre matchup.
Sonny Gray ($8,600 DraftKings/$8,800 FanDuel) has a difficult strikeout matchup against the Nationals, who have struck out just 19.8% of the time since the trade deadline. They have also been productive with a 107 wRC+. Much of their production can be attributed to Juan Soto individually, so that is not as much of a concern as the low strikeout rate. That said, Gray has struck out 27.4% of hitters this season and also has a strong 47.6% ground-ball rate. He projects as one of the best options in his price range despite the lack of strikeouts in Washington’s lineup.
Kyle Gibson ($7,900 DraftKings/$8,600 FanDuel) is basically the opposite of Cease and Gray. He is a below-average strikeout pitcher with just a 20.1% strikeout rate this season, but he has an excellent matchup against the Pirates. The Pirates have been one of the least productive offenses in baseball all season long, and they have just an 83 wRC+ and a 23% strikeout rate since the trade deadline. Gibson does not offer the same raw upside as Cease or Gray, but he projects well because of his opponent.
Logan Gilbert ($6,400 DraftKings/$8,200 FanDuel) is a reasonable option on FanDuel, but he really stands out on DraftKings where he should be one of the highest-owned pitchers. Gilbert has struck out 26.3% of hitters and has a 4.06 xFIP in his rookie season. He has a favorable matchup against the Angels, who have a 24.8% strikeout rate and 79 wRC+ since the trade deadline. There are lower-owned alternatives in his price range on DraftKings like Jose Suarez and Carlos Hernandez, but Gilbert is the priority SP2 option.
Top Hitters
Buster Posey ($5,200 DraftKings/$3,800 FanDuel)
C.J. Cron ($3,400 DraftKings/$3,700 FanDuel)
Tommy La Stella ($3,900 DraftKings/$3,100 FanDuel)
Kris Bryant ($5,700 DraftKings/$4,000 FanDuel)
Corey Seager ($4,800 DraftKings/$4,000 FanDuel)
Bryce Harper ($6,000 DraftKings/$4,400 FanDuel)
LaMonte Wade Jr. ($4,600 DraftKings/$3,300 FanDuel)
Cedric Mullins ($4,200 DraftKings/$3,400 FanDuel)
Top Stacks
Note: Be sure to check out the Top Stacks Tool to compare a team’s chances of success to their aggregate ownership.
- San Francisco Giants
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Toronto Blue Jays
Top Under-owned Stacks: San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners
