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.
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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
Shelby Miller slammed the door on the White Sox on Tuesday evening, protecting a three-run advantage to earn his ninth save of the season.
The 34-year-old right-hander didn’t mess around in this one, getting Lenyn Sosa, Luis Robert Jr. and Edgar Quero each on fly balls to center field, needing just 12 pitches (eight strikes) to get the job done. Miller has now successfully converted nine of his first 13 save chances on the season while registering a 1.97 ERA and 0.53 WHIP across 32 innings of work.
Ryne Nelson pitched well in a no-decision against the White Sox on Tuesday night, piling up seven strikeouts over five innings of one-run baseball.
Nelson allowed just one hit on the evening while walking three batters. That lone hit also produced the White Sox’ only run as Luis Robert Jr. got him for a solo shot in the second inning. Aside from that though, Nelson was in complete control. He generated 12 swings and misses on 87 pitches on the night — 11 of them on his fastball — while posting a CSW of 24 percent. He’ll look to get back in the win column as he lugs a 3.71 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 52/21 K/BB ratio (60 2/3 innings) into Monday’s divisional showdown against the Giants.
Luis Robert Jr. swatted his eighth home run of the season on Tuesday, accounting for all of the White Sox’ offense in a losing effort against the Diamondbacks.
The 27-year-old outfielder tattooed a 1-0 slider from right-hander Ryne Nelson for a 357-foot (101.7 mph EV) solo shot in the second inning that evened the score at one run apiece. That would be his only hit in four at-bats on the night. He continues to be mired in an abysmal season at the dish, slashing a cringe-inducing .185/.270/.313 with eight homers, 32 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
Mike Vasil pitched well in a losing effort against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night, giving up two runs (one earned) on only three hits over his 5 1/3 innings of work.
The 25-year-old right-hander struck out one batter on the evening and did not issue a base on balls. Vasil took over after Jordan Leasure gave up a run in the first inning and he kept the Diamondbacks off the board until the seventh where he allowed a one-out single and a man to reach on an error before turning the ball over to the bullpen — and ultimately both runners came around to score. Vasil got just three swings and misses on 67 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 25 percent. He now sports a 2.82 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 39/27 K/BB ratio over 54 1/3 innings on the season. He’s likely to take the ball in a bulk role once again when the White Sox battle the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Oneil Cruz made an early exit from Tuesday’s game against the Brewers.
It’s possible Cruz is fine, but it’s worth noting his early exit just in case it winds up being injury-related. He was 0-for-4 with a strikeout before being replaced by Alexander Canario to open the eighth inning with the Pirates trailing by four runs at the time.
George Springer went 3-for-5 with eighth career grand slam in the Jays’ 10-6 takedown of the Guardians on Tuesday.
Springer crushed a Hunter Gaddis pitch 421 feet to center in the eighth. His other two hits were both soft singles, but the homer left his bat at 109.6 mph. Springer has spent most of his career leading off, so eight slams is pretty good. He has 11 homers this year and 272 in his career.