MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Tuesday 9/8/15
If you've never played daily fantasy baseball before, it's time to start. Unlike traditional leagues, you're able to select the players you want on that specific day only, giving you a different squad to root for each and every day.
And if you'd like, you can use our optimal lineups here at numberFire.com to crush the competition.
As for today's lineups -- those can be found here. The information below is to help you understand why particular players are being picked, because we don't want you going into the things completely blind. We want to help you. Keep in mind, however, that things often change up until the games start, so make sure you're refreshing the optimal lineups as close to the start of games as possible.
Top Pitchers
High-Cost Pitcher
Clayton Kershaw -- Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball. Period. He ranks first among all starters in FIP (2.03), xFIP (2.06), SIERA (2.20) and strikeout percentage (33.7%) while striking out the second most batters per nine innings (11.64) behind only Chris Sale. Tonight, the reigning National League MVP draws an excellent matchup against an Angels squad who has struggled against left-handed pitching all season long, ranking 28th in wOBA (.288) and 24th in wRC+ (86) against southpaws on the year. The Dodgers' ace is our top overall projected pitcher on the board tonight.
Alternative Options: Carlos Carrasco
Cost-Effective Pitcher
Colin Rea -- Despite a massive 5.47 ERA through the first five starts of his career, the advanced metrics are actually relatively bullish on the young Padres' starter. Rea has earned a 3.51 FIP, 3.52 xFIP and 3.79 SIERA while striking out 8.03 batters per nine innings so far this season and gets a dream matchup with the Rockies in the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park tonight. Colorado has struggled to hit the ball away from Coors all season long, ranking just 28th in wOBA (.289), 29th in wRC+ (79) and striking out at a whopping 24% which is good for the second highest percentage in all of baseball. Rea is primed for a bounce-back performance tonight and could be an absolute steal at just $5,000 on FanDuel and $5,500 on DraftKings.
Alternative Options: Taijuan Walker
Top Hitters
High-Cost Hitters
Edwin Encarnacion -- The Blue Jays are facing off against a lefty in Red Sox' rookie Henry Owens tonight which means every single one of their right-handed bats are in play. Owens has been less-than-stellar in his first six starts of his career, positng a 5.07 FIP, 4.85 xFIP and 4.47 SIERA and runs into a buzzsaw tonight against a Toronto lineup who rank first in wOBA (.360), wRC+ (128) and ISO (.191) against southpaws this season. With all that said, the Toronto bat our algorithm likes most tonight is Encarnacion. The Jays' slugger has owned left-handed pitching this season, boasting a .372 wOBA, .195 ISO and .859 OPS against lefties on the year and is the batter that our algorithm gives the highest chance to go yard on the entire slate. Encarnacion is our top overall projected batter on the board tonight.
Ryan Braun -- Braun has owned left-handed pitching this season, amassing a .426 wOBA, .269 ISO and 1.009 OPS against southpaws on the year. Tonight, the Brewers' star gets the pleasure of facing off against Marlins' rookie lefty Adam Conley who has not been impressive through his first 10 appearances, owning a 4.50 FIP, 4.32 xFIP and 4.24 SIERA on the season. Braun should have little trouble taking advantage of a plus matchup against a rookie and makes a strong play at any price. Do not hesitate to plug Braun into your lineup in all formats tonight.
Alternative Options: Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista
Cost-Effective Hitters
Ryan Raburn -- Raburn is one of the best platoon specialists in the league. Although he struggles mightily against right-handed pitching, the Indians' outfielder has destroyed left-handed pitching this season, earning a .419 wOBA, .276 ISO and 1.000 OPS against lefties on the year. With a matchup against White Sox' rookie southpaw Carlos Rodon -- who has allowed righties to hit for a .367 wOBA on the season -- on the docket, Raburn immediately becomes one of the best value plays on the board tonight at just $2,600 on FanDuel and $2,500 on DraftKings.
Brandon Guyer -- Much like the other three batters I focussed on today, Guyer has faired very well against left-handed pitching this season and gets a strong matchup against a struggling southpaw tonight. The Rays get a matchup against Tigers' rookie left-hander Matt Boyd and his 6.94 FIP, 5.35 xFIP and 4.93 SIERA tonight. Boyd has also allowed a ridiculous .422 wOBA to right-handed batters, which bodes extremely well for Guyer and his Tampa Bay teammates. Meanwhile, Guyer has put up an impressive .365 wOBA, .161 ISO and .824 OPS against lefties this season. He makes a strong value play on all platforms tonight.
Alternative Options: A.J. Pierzynski, Scott Van Slyke
