MLB DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Stacks Today: Monday Playbook

On Monday, October 14th, we have a solid two-game MLB DFS main slate kicking off at 4:08 PM ET. 

We're starting the American League Champion Series between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees and the New York Mets will look to tie the National League Championship Series at one after they lost 9-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1. Let's dive into today's MLB DFS picks.

NOTE - 15 MPH winds are blowing OUT to right field at Yankee Stadium. An already small stadium playing smaller is a HUGE bump to bats.

MLB DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, October 14th

MLB DFS Optimizer & Lineup Generator Today

This Playbook is your go-to guide for making awesome MLB DFS picks. Check out our expert tips and suggestions, and make sure to look at today’s MLB DFS projections, MLB DFS ownership projections and our dedicated MLB lineups page! 

You can seamlessly combine all this info with the MLB DFS Lineup Generator to secure your Core Plays and whip up winning lineups in no time! Here’s a sample lineup for today’s games:

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers

Top Options For Strikeouts

• Sean Manaea, New York Mets - 5.5 (+110)
• Carlos Rodon, New York Yankees - 5.5 (+115)
• Alex Cobb, Cleveland Guardians - 2.5 (-160)

Odds For A Win

• Sean Manaea, New York Mets (+205)
• Carlos Rodon, New York Yankees (+210)

Bullpen ERAs (Playoffs)

• New York Yankees - 0.00 ERA
• Los Angeles Dodgers - 2.05 ERA
• Cleveland Guardians - 3.16 ERA
• New York Mets - 4.31 ERA

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Pitchers

I’m going to rank the four starting pitchers on tonight’s slate:

1) Carlos Rodon, New York Yankees

There are two pitchers who will get all the ownership, and it’s not even close. Carlos Rodon and Sean Manaea will be getting all the rosters because they’re the two who have shown the ability to go deep into games. Although Rodon struggled in his lone playoff start, he did have seven strikeouts, which is where he makes his dough. Strikeouts. I also will make it known that Rodon is risky. The Guardians were a top-five offense against left-handed pitching this year.

2) Sean Manaea, New York Mets

The Mets' sidewinding lefty has made two playoff starts and has looked sharp in each allowing two or fewer runs while getting through at least five innings. This is a *very* tough spot for Manaea, however, considering the Los Angeles Dodgers rank first or second in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ against lefties this year. However, that didn’t stop Manaea when he faced Philly, as they ranked third against lefties. He’s big enough for the moment.

3) Alex Cobb, Cleveland Guardians

I think the Guardians will take three innings from Cobb so they can just get to their bullpen. They didn’t have one starter in their five-game series with Detroit make it through five innings. I don’t love Cobb, especially if he’s tagged up early. Something I would *consider* doing is using Cade Smith knowing Cleveland WILL use him at some point and they’re not afraid to extend him for a second inning either. Smith pitched in ALL five games in the ALDS. He had 115 strikeouts in 81.2 innings this season.

4) Landon Knack, Los Angeles Dodgers

Although Ryan Brasier is opening the game, manager Dave Roberts outwardly said Knack will record “most of the outs” meaning he'll be the bulk pitcher in this game for Los Angeles. I'm tempted to put him ahead of Alex Cobb because his stuff is better, but he allows a bunch of home runs, and that's my worry in Dodger Stadium.

MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Hitters

Highest Expected Run Totals 

• Los Angeles Dodgers - 4.4
• New York Yankees - 4.3
• New York Mets - 3.8
• Cleveland Guardians - 3.4

MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters

Juan Soto & Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

This is who the Yankees have leaned on all year long and it won't stop here. The two best players on their team. Judge, against righties this year, posted a 1.132 OPS and Soto wasn't too far behind at .999. Soto has had the better start to his postseason but Judge showed signs of life in each of the final two games against the Royals. You can tell he's turning a corner into the MVP he's been all year.

Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

Death, taxes, and Jose Ramirez against southpaws. He's soooo good against them. He posted a .695 SLG%, 1.081 OPS, .348 ISO, and .443 wOBA. After a slow start to his postseason, Ramirez had an extra-base hit in back-to-back games and drove in a run in each as well.

Teoscar Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers

Amongst the Dodgers big guns, it's not Shohei Ohtani or Mookie Betts or Freddy Freeman that leads the team in OPS it's Teoscar Hernandez. Hernandez, during the regular season, posted a .931 OPS, .284 OPS, and .391 wOBA against southpaws. He's had a monster postseason and that should continue here.

Lane Thomas, Cleveland Guardians

Lane Thomas has had an incredible start to his postseason and now has a lefty on tap, which he's crushed. He hit a grand slam against Tarik Skubal for crying out loud! On the year, Thomas hit lefties at a .302 clip while posting a .878 OPS, .190 ISO, and .378 wOBA.

Tommy Edman & Kike Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers

I'm pretty firm on this take that Edman and Hernandez are the best two values on the board. Edman has been fantastic against southpaws this year, albeit a small sample, but he has a 1.299 OPS against them and that leads the team. He also has SS/OF MPE. Hernandez has been electric this postseason and as wild as it may sound, is one of the best postseason performances over the last decade. He also has MPE.

David Fry, Cleveland Guardians

Fry is one of the Guardians' top hitters against left-handed pitching and normally slots in second in their order against them. Fry posted a .996 OPS, .279 ISO, and .418 wOBA against southpaws this season. I love the value and the positional MPE he has too.

Anthony Rizzo or Oswaldo Cabrera, New York Yankees

With Anthony Rizzo back on the roster for the ALCS, the expectation is that he'll start at 1B. The Yankees must feel good enough about the health of Rizzo's fingers to have him back on the roster and he was hitting so well down the stretch of the year hitting in four straight and seven of eight.

Added - Mets Power Hitters

With the official news that the Dodgers will turn to Landon Knack for a bulk of the outs after Ryan Brasier, more Mets are on my radar. Mostly because Knack allows a lot of power and on two-game slates, you need the home runs.

RHH vs. Knack: .222 ISO, 2.2 HR/9, 50.5% FB

LHH vs. Knack: .196 ISO, 1.5 HR/9, 49.5% FB

I really like Mark Vientos, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Jesse Winker, and Francisco Alvarez.

Player Pool

• DraftKings Player Pool
• FanDuel Player Pool

$ Tier	SP	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	OF
High			Pete Alonso $3,900	Mookie Betts $4,200	José Ramírez $4,100	Francisco Lindor $4,300	Juan Soto $4,500
							Aaron Judge $4,600
							Shohei Ohtani $4,700
Medium	Carlos Rodón $9,200	Will Smith $3,300			Jazz Chisholm $3,300	Anthony Volpe $3,000	Teoscar Hernández $3,500
	Sean Manaea $9,000				Mark Vientos $3,600		Lane Thomas $3,600
	Alex Cobb $8,400						Steven Kwan $3,200
Low		David Fry $2,700	Anthony Rizzo $2,000	Gleyber Torres $2,900	Enrique Hernández $2,600	Tommy Edman $2,800	Alex Verdugo $2,600
		Francisco Alvarez $2,500				Brayan Rocchio $2,500	Jhonkensy Noel $2,500
							Andy Pages $2,500
							Jesse Winker $2,600

Stacks

Yankees	Juan Soto	Jazz Chisholm	Anthony Rizzo	Gleyber Torres	Aaron Judge
DraftKings	6000	4700	3000	4300	6300
Fanduel	4500	3300	2000	2900	4600

Dodgers	Mookie Betts	Teoscar Hernández	Will Smith	Tommy Edman	Enrique Hernández
DraftKings	5300	5100	4000	3600	3100
Fanduel	4200	3500	3300	2800	2600

Guardians	José Ramírez	Lane Thomas	David Fry	Steven Kwan
DraftKings	5800	4200	3500	4500
Fanduel	4100	3600	2700	3200

Mets	Mark Vientos	Francisco Lindor	Jeff McNeil	Jesse Winker	Pete Alonso
DraftKings	4100	5500	2800	3200	4600
Fanduel	3600	4300	-	2600	3900