MLB DFS Playbook October 16: Top Plays for DraftKings and FanDuel
Hello and welcome to the MLB DFS Playbook for October 16! We have a 2-game slate on DK and FD on our hands today as playoff action continues. We have a 4:37 pm ET start time, so plenty of time to make lineups. Make sure to check out all of our amazing MLB DFS tools as they are always worth going through before building your lineups as are the Vegas Odds. However, as I am sure you have figured out by now, the new playbook will be a one-stop shop that includes everything from easy-to-read player write-ups and suggestions to MLB Weather Reports to lineup construction tips to our best value plays for DraftKings and FanDuel. You will be given core plays around which to build your lineups, DFS stacks to consider for GPP tournaments and key statistics to help you in your DFS research. Let’s dive in!
MLB DFS Playbook October 16
MLB Weather Updates
None.
Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers
Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
Wheeler has been my guy all postseason any time he takes the mound and we are going to keep going to that well today. It hasn’t let me down yet as he has been incredible, scoring 30 and 27.9 dk points in his first two playoff starts this postseason. He has pitched 6.2 and 6.1 innings while averaging 96 pitches per start, so as I've said multiple times, nobody has a better leash than Wheeler right now. He is the most expensive pitcher available, but for good reason.
Honorable mention: Framber Valdez
Recommended DFS Hitters
Favorite Infielders
Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies
Much like Wheeler, Turner has been one of my headline plays all throughout playoffs, but it has proven to be a good decision time and time again, so why stop now. He has scored 20, 15, 7, 21, and 25 dk points in the Phillies 6 playoff games thus far, which is just insane production against some of the top arms in the league. He was amazing at home this year with a .926 OPS, compared to .680 on the road. Continue to ride the hot bat.
Jung has been performing very well in the playoffs, scoring 24, 14, 14, 8, and 3 dk points over his last 5 games with a home run, three doubles, and 6 runs scored. Jung smashed against southpaws this season, slashing .327/.368/.627 (good for nearly a 1.000 OPS - .995), compared to .247/.299/.419 against righties. He is swinging it well and facing a lefty, count me in.
Honorable mention: Jose Abreu, Bryson Stott, Marcus Semien
Favorite Outfielders
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
Alvarez has proven to be a force in the playoffs in his career, already accumulating some of the best numbers in MLB history, despite being young still. He had four home runs, 6 RBI, and 7 runs scored in the four games against the Twins. He was shut down by Monty in Game 1, but I don’t expect that to be the case in Game 2 against Eovaldi.
Michael Brantley, Houston Astros
Brantley doesn’t provide monster upside and he has no chance of getting you a stolen base, and the odds of a home run aren’t that great either, BUT he is a solid hitter and he is extremely cheap. I also like the Astros against Eovaldi more than any other matchup today. Brantley hit .310 at home this year in a small sample and he has scored double-digit DK points in two of his past three games.
Honorable mention: Kyle Tucker, Leody Taveras, Brandon Marsh
Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.