MLB DFS Playbook September 12: Top Plays for DraftKings and FanDuel
Published: Sep 12, 2023
We have 11 games on tonight's MLB DFS main slate with some interesting pitching matchups and great spots for offenses to put up some nice run totals. Be sure to check in with our MLB DFS Tools, with the daily MLB projections, MLB DFS rostership projections, and our MLB DFS Lineup Generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting!
MLB DFS Playbook: September 12
MLB Weather Updates
No weather issues for tonight's slate!
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
We have a 11 game slate here with some pretty obvious builds that should get some decent ownership. I'm not going to shy away from the chalk plays which likely center around the matchup in Coors Field and Justin Verlander's chalk matchup against the Oakland A's on this slate but I will look to find ways to be different while still having the chalk plays in my lineups.
Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers
Top Options for Strikeouts
Best Odds for a Win
- Justin Verlander vs Oakland Athletics
- Max Scherzer vs Toronto Blue Jays
- Joe Ryan vs Tampa Bay Rays
- Freddy Peralta vs Miami Marlins
- Lance Lynn vs San Diego Padres
- See More
Favorite Starters to Use for DFS Lineups
Justin Verlander, Houston Astros
Listen, he is going to be a chalk monster here against the Athletics but that doesn't mean we have to not play him. On FanDuel he is locked in as my top starting pitcher without question. On DraftKings he anchors as my SP1 and I'll look to be different elsewhere. Attacking the A's presents too much of a ceiling opportunity here for Verlander to not be in my lineups.
Javier Assad, Chicago Cubs
We talked on the podcast how using a pitcher in Coors Field isn't as scary as it once was and we saw that play out again on Monday night when Jordan Wicks held the Rockies to just one run over six innings. Assad isn't a sexy pick by any stretch but the Cubs are again big favorites on this slate which should put some win equity behind the value here and though he had zero strikeouts in his last start, he had back-to-back outings with seven strikeouts prior.
Cal Quantrill, Cleveland Guardians
If you want to save even more money from Assad then Quantrill could be your target here. In his two starts since returning to the Guardians he has allowed just two runs on five hits over 12 innings while striking out eight. He just tossed six shutout with eight strikeouts against the Angels in his most recent start. The Giants are a bottom five team against right-handed pitching this season.
Recommended DFS Hitters
Highest Expected Run Totals
Favorite Hitters to Use for DFS Lineups
Juan Soto, San Diego Padres
He's the cover of the playbook so you knew he would be right here. Lynn is allowing lefties to hit .309 with a .402 wOBA and a .587 slugging percentage. Soto has a .256 ISO with a .930 OPS against right-handed pitching. Feels like a good spot for Soto to do some damage.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs
Could very well be one of the highest rostered players on the slate. PCA made his MLB debut on Monday as a pinch runner but could very well get the start here on Tuesday. He has both power and speed here which is great for DFS. What's also great for DFS is getting to hit against Chris Flexen which is the pitcher taking the mound for the Rockies on Tuesday.
Jose Abreu, Houston Astros
Astros got three-hit on Monday in a spot that everyone expected them to mash. Ken Waldichuk tossed six no-hit innings. With another lefty on the mound Tuesday I look for the Astros to bounce right back and I'll ride with Abreu at first base here once again.
Tune Into Today's MLB DFS Livestream at 5pm ET Breaking Down Today's Slate!
Player Pool
| $ Tier | SP | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Justin Verlander  $10,300 |  Cody Bellinger $4,600 |  Mookie Betts $4,300 |  Corey Seager $4,300 |  Julio RodrÃguez $4,500 | |
| Freddie Freeman $4,200 |  Jose Altuve $4,200 | Yordan Alvarez $4,100 | ||||
| Medium | José Abreu $3,100 |  Nico Hoerner $3,800 |  Royce Lewis $3,700 |  Bo Bichette $3,000 |  Corbin Carroll $3,900 | |
 Alex Bregman $3,600 |  Xander Bogaerts $3,000 | Kyle Tucker $3,700 | ||||
 Christopher Morel $3,500 |  Juan Soto $3,600 | |||||
| Chas McCormick $3,500 | ||||||
| Low |  Nolan Schanuel $2,800 | Edouard Julien $2,800 | Eugenio Suárez $2,900 | Jeremy Peña $2,700 | Teoscar Hernández $3,100 | |
| Ty France $2,800 | Ronny Mauricio $2,500 | Willi Castro $2,700 |  Max Kepler $2,900 | |||
 Mike Moustakas $2,500 | Pete Crow-Armstrong $2,400 | |||||
| James Outman $2,800 | ||||||
| DJ Stewart $2,600 |
Stacks
| Astros | Chas McCormick | Jose Altuve | José Abreu | Kyle Tucker |
 DraftKings | 4500 | 6300 | 3800 | 5900 |
| Fanduel | 3500 | 4200 | 3100 | 3700 |
| Cubs | Pete Crow-Armstrong | Seiya Suzuki | Cody Bellinger | Jeimer Candelario |
| DraftKings | 3000 | 4200 | 6800 | 4900 |
| Fanduel | 2400 | 3500 | 4600 | 3600 |
| Twins | Royce Lewis | Alex Kirilloff | Max Kepler | Edouard Julien |
| DraftKings | 4900 | 2800 | 3900 | 3800 |
| Fanduel | 3700 | 2600 | 2900 | 2800 |
| Dodgers | Mookie Betts | James Outman | Jason Heyward | Freddie Freeman |
| DraftKings | 6500 | 3700 | 3100 | 6200 |
| Fanduel | 4300 | 2800 | 2600 | 4200 |
Player News
Rays optioned RHP Eric Orze to Triple-A Durham.
Orze is demoted to make room for Bryan Baker after the Rays acquired Baker in a trade for the 37th pick. Orze will likely be back at some point this season with Tampa Bay as a middle-inning option.
Giancarlo Stanton is not in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Mariners.
The Yankees will also give Paul Goldschmidt a day of rest for the finale against Seattle and Bryan Woo, and Aaron Judge will be the designated hitter for a mini-rest day. Ben Rice will start at first base for the first time in the series, and Trent Grisham is also in the lineup after missing the previous two games.
Robert Murray of FanSided reports that Atlanta is not interested in trading Chris Sale (ribs) before the trade deadline.
Murray reports that Atlanta is not interested in moving Sale nor any other player that is signed past the 2025 season. The team believes that they are still in a window of contention, and they aren’t interested in closing that window with moves of players like Sale, Ronald Acuna Jr. or Austin Riley. Things can change between now and the deadline, of course, but count on Sale being at the top of the rotation for Atlanta to begin 2026.
Gunnar Henderson swatted a pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth inning to help the Orioles to a 3-1 win over the Mets on Thursday during the first game of a doubleheader.
Henderson came off the bench and delivered in a big way with a two-run shot off a wholly ineffective Ryne Stanek to give Baltimore a 2-1 lead and ultimately a victory. The 24-year-old should be in the lineup for the second game of the doubleheader with a chance to improve a slash .of .272/.340/.446. Those aren’t bad numbers, but they’re disappointing considering where he was drafted in the overwhelming majority of redraft leagues.
Felix Bautista didn’t give up a run while picking up a save Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader against the Mets.
Charlie Morton didn’t factor into the decision during the first game of a doubleheader against the Mets on Thursday despite allowing just one run over six innings.