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

Welcome to another day of MLB DFS here at Fantasy Alarm. We have a 7-game main slate on DraftKings kicking off at 7:15 PM EST. 

This slate features some interesting but not completely ideal pitching matchups, and the Dodgers in Coors Field. Shohei Ohtani’s price tag continues to climb, yet he continues to deliver.

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MLB DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook 

MLB Weather: Today, 9/21

Kansas City Royals vs Atlanta Braves

There are still some scattered showers in the Atlanta area so this game has a chance to be delayed.

MLB DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts

The pitching on this slate is all over the place. I have an interest in both sides of the Braves vs Royals game and the discounted Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Coors. Andrew Heaney is my favorite value pitcher with how bad the Angels have been against southpaws over the last month.

The Dodgers are in Coors with a 6.9 implied runs total, so they are very much in play if you can afford them. The Rangers are in a great spot against Griffin Canning and the Diamondbacks are interesting as well.

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

Top Options for Strikeouts

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5.5 Ks -135) vs Colorado Rockies
• Andrew Heaney (5.5 Ks +105) vs Los Angeles Angels
• Zebby Matthews (4.5 Ks -120) vs Baltimore Orioles
• Emmerson Hancock (4.5 Ks -135) vs Oakland Athletics

Best Odds for a Win

• Eduardo Rodriguez vs San Diego Padres
• Andrew Heaney vs Los Angeles Angels

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals

Outside his start against the Tigers, Seth Lugo has been fantastic down the stretch. He has gone seven innings in four of his last five starts while allowing two runs or less. Atlanta’s offense has definitely picked up from where it was mid-season, but they still sit outside the top 10 in most offensive categories against righties over the last 30 days. He has a 2.67 ERA on the road and has consistently produced fantasy points. The Royals have already clinched a playoff spot but I still expect him to end the season with another solid outing.

Reynaldo Lopez, Atlanta Braves

On the other side of this matchup, we have Reynaldo Lopez who holds a 2.03 ERA through 128 innings. I don’t necessarily love the price tag considering he’s coming off a shoulder injury, but he is not expected to be limited. The Braves still have playoff aspirations and will look to Lopez to keep them live. The Royals rank 25th or worse in most offensive categories against righties over the last 30 days and with the playoffs locked up, they are not under pressure to perform. Lopez has had double-digit strikeouts in two of his last five and though the Royals don’t typically strike out a lot, he has a solid ceiling potential.

Andrew Heaney, Texas Rangers

Andrew Heaney gets an interesting matchup against the Angels, who were once one of the best teams against lefties but are currently sitting 28th or worse in most categories over the last 30 days. He’s given up 11 runs over his last three starts but should have strikeout appeal here while the Angels hold a 26.8% strikeout rate. He found eight strikeouts through six innings in their matchup earlier this month and he should be set up to have another solid start against this team.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers

Yamamoto did not look great in his last start, but he will get another chance against the Rockies, this time in Coors. He has not pitched beyond the 4th inning since returning from injury but his pitch count has been trending upwards, with 79 in his last start. The Rockies can hit for power, especially in Coors, with a .176 team ISO, but they also hold the highest strikeout rate against righties at 29.8%. Yamamoto is striking out 28.3% of batters and I like his upside while he has a discounted price tag.

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

Highest Expected Run Totals  

• Los Angeles Dodgers (6.9)
• Arizona Diamondbacks (5.1)
• Texas Rangers (4.7) 
• Colorado Rockies (4.4)
• Milwaukee Brewers (4.2)

Core MLB DFS Hitters

Note: Will Be Updated as Official Starting Lineups Are Released

Shohei Ohtani, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

His price tag is absolutely insane, but so is everything he is doing. He now has 54 home runs and 57 steals on the season and has chances to win the Triple Crown. He’s had multi-hit games in four of his last five games and continues to pay off his price tag regardless of how high it gets. It’s perfectly fine to skip him in single-entry contests, but you might be on the outside looking in when he has another 38-point game like he did on Friday. The Dodgers have clinched so the team can relax, but Ohtani is chasing history and is dialed in right now.

Mark Vientos, 3B, New York Mets

The Brewers are opening the game with a lefty but righty Colin Rea will eventually take over. Vientos has a .250+ ISO against both splits so it should not matter to us which pitcher he sees first. Of his 27 home runs, 20 have come off righties and Colin Rea is allowing 1.56 HR/9 this season. Vientos has homered in back-to-back games, with three over his last six games, and comes in at a good price tag. If you play Ketel Marte, you can pay a little more to stack him with Eugenio Suarez at third.

Wyatt Langford, OF, Texas Rangers

Wyatt Langford is heating up, with hits in five of his last six games, and home runs in three of his last five. Griffin Canning is starting for the Angels, so it is no surprise the Rangers have the third-highest run total on the board. Griffin has been slightly worse against lefties, but he’s been bad against both sides, offering a .328 wOBA, .443 SLG, and 1.65 HR/9 to righties. You can pay down for Adolis Garcia if you need to save salary but having exposure to either Texas outfielder in this matchup feels good.

Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks

There may not be a lefty on the mound, but Ketel is in a great spot against San Diego’s Randy Vasquez. Marte holds a .850 OPS and .228 ISO against righties on the year while 18 of his 35 home runs have come off righties. Lefties are batting .383 with a .563 SLG against Vasquez on the year and the Diamondbacks should be in a good spot to take advantage of his struggles. 

Player Pool

• DraftKings
• FanDuel

$ Tier	SP	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	OF
High	Seth Lugo $9,700	William Contreras $3,500	Matt Olson $3,500	Ketel Marte $4,000	Max Muncy $4,200	Ezequiel Tovar $3,500	Shohei Ohtani $5,400
	Reynaldo López $10,600		Christian Walker $3,300		Manny Machado $3,500	Francisco Lindor $3,900	Mookie Betts $4,500
							Fernando Tatis $3,800
							Teoscar Hernández $4,000
							Corbin Carroll $3,700
							Anthony Santander $3,700
Medium	Yoshinobu Yamamoto $9,100	Cal Raleigh $3,100	Salvador Perez $2,800	Marcus Semien $3,300	Eugenio Suárez $3,400	Tommy Edman $3,800	Randy Arozarena $3,100
	Jose Quintana $9,600	Shea Langeliers $2,800	Pete Alonso $3,100	Ozzie Albies $3,000	Mark Vientos $3,000	Willy Adames $3,600	Jackson Merrill $3,300
							Julio Rodríguez $3,500
							Colton Cowser $3,200
							Wyatt Langford $3,300
							Adolis García $3,200
Low	Andrew Heaney $8,500	Gabriel Moreno $2,600	Rhys Hoskins $3,000	Jackson Holliday $2,700	Joey Ortiz $2,800	Josh Smith $3,000	Joc Pederson $3,000
	Emerson Hancock $7,200	Jonah Heim $2,700	Ryan O'Hearn $2,800	Jose Iglesias $2,700		Jacob Wilson $2,400	Victor Robles $3,000
			Eric Wagaman $2,800				Willi Castro $2,900
							Luke Raley $2,700
							Trevor Larnach $3,100

Stacks

Diamondbacks	Ketel Marte	Joc Pederson	Corbin Carroll
DraftKings	6200	4700	5600
Fanduel	4000	3000	3700

Rangers	Adolis García	Marcus Semien	Wyatt Langford
DraftKings	4100	4800	4300
Fanduel	3200	3300	3300

Padres	Manny Machado	Jackson Merrill	Fernando Tatis
DraftKings	5400	4600	5800
Fanduel	3500	3300	3800