MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 9/16/15
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
David Price -- Price has been nothing short of spectacular since being acquired by the Blue Jays. In eight starts as a member of the Toronto pitching staff, he has accumulated a 6-1 record with a 2.21 FIP while striking out a whopping 10.6 batters per nine innings. With a matchup against an offensively-challenged Braves team who ranks in the bottom five in all of baseball in both wOBA (.287) and wRC+ (78) on the docket, the Blue Jays ace makes a spectacular play in all formats tonight despite his expensive price tag.
Alternative Options: Danny Salazar, Chris Archer
Cost-Effective Pitcher
Gio Gonzalez -- Gonzalez has quietly put together a very solid season. The Nationals' southpaw has earned a 3.15 FIP, 3.69 xFIP and 3.87 SIERA while striking out 8.29 batters per nine innings through 27 starts. Tonight, Washington faces off against a Phillies squad who ranks just 21st in wOBA (.304) and 20th in wRC+ (90) while striking out at a 21.3% clip against left-handed pitching on the season. Gonzalez is definitely in play at $9,200 on FanDuel and is an absolute steal at just $8,000 on DraftKings.
Alternative Options: A.J. Burnett, Alex Wood
Top Hitters
High-Cost Hitters
Bryce Harper -- As I'm sure you already know, Harper has been one of, if not the best hitter in baseball this season. The National League MVP candidate leads the majors in wOBA (.471), wRC+ (203), ISO (.329) and OPS (1.134) this season and is coming off of a monster performance in which he blasted two homers and drove in all four of Washington's runs. Harper is in a spectacular spot once again tonight as he matches up against Phillies' rookie right-hander Alec Asher and his abysmal 7.96 FIP, 6.70 xFIP and 6.06 SIERA through his first three starts of the season. The Nationals' star is our top overall projected batter on the board tonight.
Joey Votto -- Votto has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the second half of the season. Since the All-Star break, the Reds' slugger has posted an absurd .506 wOBA, .292 ISO and 1.220 OPS and draws a great matchup tonight against Jake Peavy and his 4.79 FIP and 4.83 xFIP against left-handed batters on the year. Considering Votto has torched right-handed pitching to the tune of a .433 wOBA, .247 ISO and 1.022 OPS on the season, the Reds' star is easily one of my favorite plays on tonight's slate.
Alternative Options: Kyle Schwarber, Manny Machado
Cost-Effective Hitters
Justin Ruggiano -- The Dodgers' platoon specialist comes into tonight having destroyed left-handed pitching this season. Ruggiano has amassed a .428 wOBA, .316 ISO and 1.013 OPS against southpaws and gets the pleasure of facing off against Rockies' left-hander Jorge De La Rosa tonight. De La Rosa has not been great against right-handed bats this year, earning a 4.54 FIP and 4.14 xFIP when facing righties while they have knocked him around for a .328 wOBA on the year. Ruggiano is likely to bat leadoff tonight and should have plenty of chances to take advantage of his plus matchup against De La Rosa. He is dollar for dollar one of my favorite players on the board tonight.
Josh Reddick -- Oakland exploded for 17 runs last night against the White Sox, including a home run and four RBI for Reddick who continues to smash right-handed pitching. The Athletics' outfielder has put up a .361 wOBA, .190 ISO and .840 OPS against right-handed pitching this season and gets an opportunity to pad those stats tonight against White Sox righty Erik Johnson. Although we have seen very little from him this season, Johnson has been horrific when facing left-handed batters throughout his career, posting a 7.35 FIP and 6.48 xFIP against lefties while they have crushed him for a .433 wOBA. Given his matchup against Johnson, Reddick is one of the best values on the board at just $2,400 on FanDuel.
Alternative Options: Marcus Semien, John Jaso
