Friday is finally here! We have a full slate of games with as we end September. This is the final weekend of the regular season, so keep an eye on lineups as they are being released, as there could be some changes needed to this lineup. With that, let’s take a look at a lineup for FanDuel.
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Pitcher
Taijuan Walker (SEA): $7,500 vs. OAK
Walker is a solid -191 home favorite right now, and he will face an Oakland team that is ranked 27th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching. Walker has been erratic with his production lately, posting 72 FanDuel points just three starts ago, which is sandwiched between two sub-30 FanDuel point outings. The risk is worth embracing at this price, as the matchup is a good one. The concern with Walker is command, but if he can limit the walks, his strikeout upside is very high.
Other Notables
- Yu Darvish (TEX): $10,900 vs. TB
- Madison Bumgarner (SF): $10,700 vs. LAD
- Rich Hill (LAD): $9,400 @ SF (GPP)
- A.J. Cole (WAS): $5,700 vs. MIA (GPP)
Catcher
Brian McCann (NYY): $2,800 vs. BAL
I would prefer to see McCann hitting clean up, but I don’t think that probability is very high, as he’s hit there just once over the last seven games. Still, I like his upside at home against Yovani Gallardo, who has an xFIP of 5.20. Gallardo has allowed a .357 wOBA to lefties this season, and he’s not fooling anyone at the plate (6.5% SwStr rate), so don’t be afraid to get exposure to this game.
Other Notables
- Gary Sanchez (NYY): $3,800 vs. BAL (GPP)
- Nick Hundley (COL): $3,300 vs. MIL (GPP)
- Victor Martinez (DET): $3,300 @ ATL
First Base
Chris Carter (MIL): $3,900 @ COL
Carter could very well hit one to the moon tonight, as he gets to display his massive power upside in the best hitting environment in all of baseball. The downside is he is just as strong of a candidate to strike out two or three times, but I’m willing to take my chances. Chad Bettis has been a reverse splits pitcher throughout his career, and that has held true this season as well. Target Carter across all formats today.
Other Notables
- Anthony Rizzo (CHC): $4,200 @ CIN
- Freddie Freeman (ATL): $4,100 vs. DET (GPP)
- Paul Goldschmidt (ARI): $3,900 vs. SD
- Chris Davis (BAL): $3,000 @ NYY
Second Base
Robinson Cano (SEA): $3,300 vs. OAK
Cano is finishing his 2016 campaign on a high note, having collected at least one hit in seven out of the last 10 games, including three home runs. He will draw a plus matchup at home against Raul Alcantara, who has an xFIP of 5.28, and a low swinging strike rate of 6.4%. Cano is a strong midrange value at second base tonight.
Other Notables
- DJ LeMahieu (COL): $3,900 vs. MIL (if he plays)
- Jose Altuve (HOU): $3,800 @ LAA (GPP)
- Ben Zobrist (CHC): $3,100 @ CIN (GPP)
Third Base
Nolan Arenado (COL): $4,200 vs. MIL
Arenado will hold the platoon advantage at home, which makes him one of the top overall hitters on the board tonight. The Rockies have an implied run total pushing seven, so you’ll want to try and force some exposure here, with Arenado being the best way to do so.
Other Notables
- Kris Bryant (CHC): $4,000 @ CIN (elite GPP)
- Jake Lamb (ARI): $3,200 vs. SD
- Maikel Franco (PHI): $2,800 vs. NYM (GPP)
Shortstop
Addison Russell (CHC): $2,400 @ CIN
Russell is a great way to get exposure to the Cubs’ lineup without breaking the bank. They will be facing Josh Smith, who is a reliever that simply isn’t very good. This will likely mean some at-bats against the awful Cincinnati bullpen, and thus plenty of chances to produce.
Other Notables
- Carlos Correa (HOU): $3,700 @ LAA (GPP)
- Tim Anderson (CWS): $2,900 vs. MIN
Outfielders
Ryan Braun (MIL): $4,400 @ COL
I noted the contextual factors favoring Milwaukee right-handed hitters earlier (Coors Field, reverse splits pitcher), so be sure to lock Braun into your lineups. Braun hasn’t homered since September 17th against the Cubs, but he has a good chance to change that tonight.
Mike Trout (LAA): $4,300 vs. HOU
Trout should be back in the lineup tonight, after leaving Wednesday’s game due to being hit by a pitch in the shoulder. He and the Angels will face Brad Peacock, who is making his fifth start of the season. Peacock is a mediocre pitcher at best, and his minuscule .167 BABIP (career .277) suggests his 2.67 ERA is largely due to luck. I expect Trout to put forth a strong showing tonight in a good matchup.
Travis Jankowski (SD): $2,200 @ ARI
The Padres will get a nice park shift in their favor tonight, and they will be facing a pitcher who doesn’t strike out many hitters (5.54 K/9), and struggles with control (3.60 BB/9). He has struggled with lefties in a small sample, and Jankowski is a cheap way to exploit this issue. Jankowski has exhibited some wide splits this season, so I expect him to find his way into the lineup tonight.
Other Notables
- Charlie Blackmon (COL): $4,100 vs. MIL
- Yoenis Cespedes (NYM): $4,100 @ WAS (GPP)
- Dexter Fowler (CHC): $4,000 @ CIN (GPP)
- Carlos Gonzalez (COL): $3,900 vs. MIL
- Domingo Santana (MIL): $3,300 @ COL
- Miguel Sano (MIN): $3,000 @ CWS
- Ben Revere (WAS): $2,300 vs. MIA
My Lineup
- SP – Taijuan Walker (SEA): $7,500 vs. OAK
- C – Brian McCann (NYY): $2,800 vs. BAL
- 1B – Chris Carter (MIL): $3,900 @ COL
- 2B – Robinson Cano (SEA): $3,300 vs. OAK
- 3B – Nolan Arenado (COL): $4,200 vs. MIL
- SS – Addison Russell (CHC): $2,400 @ CIN
- OF – Ryan Braun (MIL): $4,400 @ COL
- OF – Mike Trout (LAA): $4,300 vs. HOU
- OF – Travis Jankowski (SD): $2,200 @ ARI
Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.