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

Published: Oct 01, 2024
It’s postseason time! September ended in incredible fashion yesterday with one of the season's best games, and the Mets and Braves each earning spots in October with the Diamondback’s season ending.
October baseball gets underway fast and furious, with all four Wild Card Series kicking off today. Let’s kick the postseason off strong with some winning MLB DFS lineups!
We have a 4-game slate today, with game 1 of each wild card series happening today. It will get started with the Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros at 2:32 PM EST on DraftKings and Fanduel.
It will be an exciting day of baseball, and we have plenty to talk about in these four games for DFS, so let’s jump right into the first postseason playbook and all my favorite MLB DFS picks for the day!
MLB DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, October 1
Day 1 of the postseason means we have a lot of aces on the mound. Runs could be hard to come by today, and we have plenty of stud pitchers. Every pitcher outside Luis Severino and Ian Anderson has arguments for consideration today. Still, I think my 3 favorites are the best ones to target, with the others having too much volatility and blow-up potential.
On the offensive side, the Mets and Braves are coming off their double-headers yesterday, lacking aces and with weakened bullpens. They will be the best teams to attack, making the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers the top two offenses to stack today. However, I do think there are some other great plays today alongside them.
MLB Weather Today, 10/1
Rain this afternoon could push back the start time, but it shouldn’t affect the game beyond that.
MLB DFS Optimizer & Lineup Generator Today
This Playbook is your ultimate resource for crafting amazing MLB DFS picks. Dive into our expert advice and recommendations, and don’t forget to check out today’s MLB DFS projections, MLB DFS ownership projections and our special MLB lineups page!
You can easily mix all this info with the MLB DFS Lineup Generator, helping you lock in your Core Plays and create winning lineups quickly! Here’s a sample lineup for today’s games:
MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Starting Pitchers
Top Options For Strikeouts
- Framber Valdez vs. Detroit Tigers
- Freddy Peralta vs. New York Mets
- Tarik Skubal vs. Houston Astros
- Cole Ragans vs. Baltimore Orioles
Best Odds For A Win
- Tarik Skubal vs. Houston Astros
- Michael King vs. Atlanta Braves
- Corbin Burnes vs. Kansas City Royals
- Luis Severino vs. Milwaukee Brewers
MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Pitchers
Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
The Houston Astros are no easy task. They have a very strong offense and are pretty good against lefties, but Tarik Skubal is your AL Cy Young and Triple Crown winner. The Tigers have been on a magical run, and it could continue today with Skubal shutting down the Astros. He has been dominant all season, and I think he shines in his postseason debut in a tough matchup.
Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals
Cole Ragans might not quite be at Tarik Skubal's levels of dominance, but what an incredible first full season Ragans had. 186.1 innings with a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 223 strikeouts. He gets a better matchup than Ragans, though, being in a friendly ballpark as well.
The Orioles have been sputtering a bit to end the season. Against lefties in September, they had a 23.4% strikeout rate and were middle of the pack in offensive production. This will also be his first post-season start, and I think he adds to the resurgence of the AL Central with Skubal and pitches excellent today.
Michael King, San Diego Padres
This was also Michael King’s first full season as a starter after getting moved from the bullpen, where he had been dominant for a few years, and it was a successful transition. He threw 173.2 innings with a 2.95 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 201 strikeouts.
The Atlanta Braves are much better than they had been, with Matt Olson figuring things out, Ozzie Albies returning, and overall production across the lineup improving. They are coming off a tough double-header fight yesterday, though, and I think they could sputter out of the gate here. King has great strikeout upside and, with the Braves not having great pitchers to turn to right now, likely has a solid chance at getting a win.
MLB DFS Lineup Picks: Hitters
Highest Expected Run Totals
- Milwaukee Brewers vs. Luis Severino
- Baltimore Orioles vs. Cole Ragans
- San Diego Padres vs. Ian Anderson
- Houston Astros vs. Tarik Skubal
MLB DFS Lineups: Core MLB DFS Hitters
Jake Bauers, 1B Milwaukee Brewers
With pitching not being cheap and there being some other expensive plays I like today, you will need some value plays as well, and Jake Bauers is one of the best you can get at this price. While Severino has had a solid season, he is still one of the weaker pitchers today, and Jake Bauers should be getting the start with the righty on the mound.
If you can afford guys like Matt Olson or Pete Alonso, definitely still go there, but if you need to save some money, getting Bauers' power upside in this matchup is a good way to do so for your lineup.
Manny Machado, 3B San Diego Padres
The Padres are definitely one of the best stacks today, facing the Braves with their tough pitching situation. Machado has been arguably their best hitter through the end of the season. Since the all-star break, he has slashed .286/.333/.543 with 16 homers and 6 steals.
Machado is no stranger to the postseason and should be a big part of this team's deep postseason run. Third base also feels pretty weak with guys in tough matchups, so I think Machado has a big edge over the rest of the position.
Willy Adames, SS Milwaukee Brewers
We’ve got the magic spot for Willy Adames on day one of the postseason, at home and against a right-hander. If I were betting on anyone to hit a homer today, it would be Willy Adames in this spot.
Severino has done pretty well limiting homers to right-handers this season. Still, Adames is not your average right-hander and pretty much eliminates any good matchup split that pitchers have against righties.
San Diego Padres OF
The Padres outfield provides some great options, namely Fernando Tatis and Jackson Merrill. It is hard not to be drawn to both of those two in this matchup, and they are both very reasonable prices.
If you want to throw Profar into the mix and do a 3-man Padres outfield, you can, but getting Tatis and Merrill both in there is an absolute must for me today.
Player Pool
$ Tier | SP | C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF |
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Stacks
Brewers | William Contreras | Brice Turang | Jake Bauers | Willy Adames | Jackson Chourio |
![]() | 4700 | 4000 | 3100 | 4500 | 4300 |
![]() | 3500 | 3000 | 2500 | 3600 | 3200 |
Padres | Xander Bogaerts | Manny Machado | Jackson Merrill | Jurickson Profar | Fernando Tatis |
![]() | 3900 | 5400 | 4300 | 4100 | 5500 |
![]() | 2900 | 3600 | 3300 | 3400 | 4300 |
Royals | Vinnie Pasquantino | Bobby Witt | MJ Melendez | Tommy Pham | Michael Massey |
![]() | 4100 | 6200 | 3000 | 3600 | 3600 |
![]() | 2000 | 4500 | 2500 | 2800 | 2800 |
Tigers | Spencer Torkelson | Andy Ibáñez | Matt Vierling | Wenceel Pérez | Riley Greene |
![]() | 3700 | 2800 | 3900 | 3500 | 4800 |
![]() | 2800 | 2500 | 2900 | 2600 | 3200 |
Brewers | William Contreras | Brice Turang | Jake Bauers | Willy Adames | Jackson Chourio |
![]() | 4700 | 4000 | 3100 | 4500 | 4300 |
![]() | 3500 | 3000 | 2500 | 3600 | 3200 |
Padres | Xander Bogaerts | Manny Machado | Jackson Merrill | Jurickson Profar | Fernando Tatis |
![]() | 3900 | 5400 | 4300 | 4100 | 5500 |
![]() | 2900 | 3600 | 3300 | 3400 | 4300 |
Royals | Vinnie Pasquantino | Bobby Witt | MJ Melendez | Tommy Pham | Michael Massey |
![]() | 4100 | 6200 | 3000 | 3600 | 3600 |
![]() | 2000 | 4500 | 2500 | 2800 | 2800 |
Tigers | Spencer Torkelson | Andy Ibáñez | Matt Vierling | Wenceel Pérez | Riley Greene |
![]() | 3700 | 2800 | 3900 | 3500 | 4800 |
![]() | 2800 | 2500 | 2900 | 2600 | 3200 |
Player News
Giants optioned RHP Hayden Birdsong to Triple-A Sacramento.
Birdsong will head back to Triple-A after losing the strike zone and giving up five runs without retiring a batter last night. He had a 2.79 ERA in five starts and 11 relief appearances through June 12, but he’d since given up 20 earned runs and walked 18 in 17 1/3 innings over his last five starts. Carson Seymour was called up and could jump into the rotation in his place next week. Carson Whisenhunt could also be an option, and there’s the chance the Giants could trade for a starter before the deadline.
Giants optioned RHP Tristan Beck to Triple-A Sacramento.
Because he wasn’t going to be available to pitch tonight, Beck loses his spot despite having pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings since the All-Star break. He has a 5.68 ERA overall in 19 innings this season, though half of the runs he allowed came in one outing in a game the Giants weren’t winning anyway.
Giants recalled RHP Carson Seymour from Triple-A Sacramento.
It’s Seymour’s second major league stint after he allowed two runs over four innings in two relief appearances last month. A starter with a 3.86 ERA in Triple-A, he’ll be available to pitch several innings tonight if needed. With Hayden Birdsong getting demoted, Seymour could also be a candidate to pitch next time the Giants need a fifth starter.
Giants recalled RHP Sean Hjelle from Triple-A Sacramento.
MLB still hasn’t had anything to say about the abuse allegations made by Hjelle’s wife last month, and he apparently remains in good standing with the Giants organization. He’ll return to his middle relief role after amassing a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings since being shipped out last month.
Orioles C/1B prospect Samuel Basallo (oblique) has begun a hitting progression.
Basallo suffered an oblique injury last week. It was thought to be minor at the time, and it appears that it actually is. He is likely to return to Triple-A Norfolk this weekend. The 20-year-old is pushing hard for an MLB call-up, but there is no spot for him behind the plate, and the Orioles have played him at DH and first base as much as they have at catcher while he’s been at Triple-A. Perhaps Basallo could get called up to fill the first base and DH roles after the trade deadline if players like Ryan O’Hearn are no longer in Baltimore.
Jerar Encarnacion (oblique) had his rehab assignment transferred from the Arizona Complex League to Triple-A Sacramento.
Encarnacion was placed on the IL on June 17 after going just 3-for-22 in eight games following a return from wrist surgery. He now no longer has a designated hitter spot with Rafael Devers in town, but Encarnacion was working out at first base during his first rehab assignment, so that could perhaps be a path to get him into the lineup for the Giants.