MLB DFS Playbook October 21: Top Plays for DraftKings and FanDuel
Happy Saturday! Welcome to the MLB DFS Showdown Playbook for October 21! We have just one game again today as the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers travel back to Houston after the Astros took a 3-2 series lead in game 5 off Jose Altuve’s clutch 3-run homer in the 9th inning. Today we get game 5 of the NLCS with the Phillies trying to capture a win in Arizona after losing the first two games to even the series at 2-2. We are back to the game 1 starters with Zach Wheeler taking on Zac Gallen for the final game in Arizona of the series. 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, the new playbook will still be the one-stop shop for building some winning MLB DFS lineups so let’s jump right in!
MLB DFS Playbook October 21
Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers
Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
Zac Gallen is amazing, but he got roughed up in game one giving up 3 homers and 5 earned runs through 5 innings. I am riding with the hot hand in Wheeler who has been excellent this postseason. Through 3 starts he has racked up 26 strikeouts in 19 innings while only giving up 5 earned runs. I am wagering we will get more of the same today in game 5.
Recommended DFS Hitters
With my recommended pitcher being Zach Wheeler, all of my recommended hitters are Phillies as well, but my favorite Diamondback hitters will be in the honorable mention in case you want to roll with them today.
Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies
Kyle Schwarber always has stretches where he is one of the best hitters in baseball and hits a home run almost every day. He is looking to be in that form right now with 4 homers in the last 4 games after another homer and a double in last night’s loss. I am betting we see another long ball from him tonight with the Phillies really needing to grab a win.
Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies
Brandon Marsh has knocked a double in each of the last 3 games and has hits in each of his last 6 games, including a 3-hit game with a homer against Atlanta. The Phillies have plenty of stars that can deliver big for them, but I think we may get a more unlikely hero for them today if they’re going to manage a win in Arizona and I am looking for Marsh to be that guy with him looking decent at the plate right now.
Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
He may be hitless in the last two games but that does also come with 3 walks, a run scored, and a stole base. I don’t think he gets held hitless 3 games in a row. He homered off Gallen in game 1 and I don’t think that keeps someone like Gallen from challenging him right away here in game 5 I think Harper wins the battle again and can get to Gallen and provide some more offense today.
Honorable mention: Ketel Marte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Jr. Gabriel Moreno
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.