Everybody plays tonight so we have plenty of options to choose from. As with every other late September game, however, 80% of the pitchers will be on pitch counts, as most teams either have the playoffs wrapped up or are out of contention. This makes a nice challenge for us, but let me show you how I approached things.

No expected rain delays

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Pitcher

Justin Verlander (HOU) : $10,800 vs LAA

Houston has the division wrapped up, but Verlander is helping Houston save the bullpen by pitching deep into trades and completely dominating since he was sent over. He’s got 58, 61, 46, 52, 43 and 58 fantasy points in his last 6 games so start him with confidence and don’t try to get cute.

Catcher

Willson Contreras (CHC) : $3,400 @ MIL

Before the Contreras injury, he has solidified himself as a top 2 offensive catcher in baseball. He hasn’t been hitting a bunch of homers since he came back, but still clearly has the power to go nuts on a mediocre arm like Brandon Woodruff in a big-time hitter’s stadium like the one he is in tonight.

First Base

Miguel Cabrera (DET): $2,600 vs MIN

Say what you want about Miggy’s season, but he is not done being a stud. He has been the single unluckiest hitter in baseball this year according to batted ball stats. Miggy is still crushing baseballs and should have no issues making his price worth the investment tonight against the lowly Kyle Gibson.

Second Base

Jonathan Schoop (BAL): $2,900 vs TBR

Despite being one of the best offensive players in baseball, let alone at one of the toughest positions to find offense, Schoop is again priced under 3K. Alex Cobb has been decent, but this isn’t a terrible matchup or split, so you have to play him at this total bargain.

Third Base

Rafael Devers (BOS): $3,300 @ CIN

Everyone seems to be quick to forget just how dominant he was because Devers hasn’t gone deep in a while. He is coming off two consecutive multi-hit games though and draws Sal Romano this evening so he is about as safe as they come and has a huge upside as always.

Shortstop

Paul DeJong (STL): $3,300 @ PIT

This isn’t the best split, nor is it an easy ballpark to go deep in, but DeJong has 24 homers in less than 400 at-bats and has 2 homers in his last 3 games. Batting clean-up for a lineup like St. Louis makes his price point laughably low.

Outfielders

Jesse Winker (CIN): $3,000 vs BOS
Byron Buxton (MIN): $2,900 @ DET
Melky Cabrera (KCR): $2,800 @ CHW

Winker and Buxton, as always when I play them, are all about the splits. Winker goes against Rick Porcello, who isn’t the easiest pitcher on the slate by any means, but is a righty and Winker has a .971 OPS against righties this year. Until his price is about $800 higher, I’ll write him into my lineups in ink against a mediocre righty. Buxton, meanwhile, has been significantly better against lefties this year than righties and has just been going nuts on pitchers in the second half to a clip of .303/.353/.579. He gets Daniel Norris, who may be the worst pitcher on the slate. Then, we’ve got Melky who is batting 3rd in a high-implied lineup against the struggling rookie, Reynaldo Lopez. He is coming off 34.9 points over his past two nights and is batting .291 against righties on the season with some pop.

Other Top Options (in order)

1. Brian Dozier (2B – MIN): $3,900 @ DET
2. J.D. Martinez (OF – ARI): $4,600 vs MIA
3. Aaron Judge (OF – NYY): $4,600 @ TOR
4. Paul Goldschmidt (1B – ARI): $4,200 vs MIA
5. Carlos Correa (SS – HOU): $3,400 vs LAA
6. Kris Bryant (3B – CHC): $4,100 @ MIL
7. Justin Smoak (1B – TOR): $3,000 vs NYY
8. Chris Iannetta (C – ARI): $2,400 vs MIA
9. Andrew Benintendi (OF – BOS): $4,200 @ CIN
10. Salvador Perez (C – KCR): $3,200 @ CHW
11. Josh Bell (1B – PIT): $2,300 vs STL
12. George Springer (OF – HOU): $3,500 vs LAA
13. Travis Shaw (3B – MIL): $3,400 vs CHC
14. Tommy Pham (OF – STL): $3,800 @ PIT
15. Dexter Fowler (OF – STL): $3,900 @ PIT
16. Jay Bruce (OF – CLE): $3,400 @ SEA
17. Kolten Wong (2B – STL): $3,200 @ PIT
18. Alex Bregman (3B – HOU): $3,400 vs LAA
19. Kyle Schwarber (OF – CHC): $3,300 @ MIL
20. Jason Kipnis (2B – CLE): $2,900 @ SEA
21. Xander Bogaerts (SS – BOS): $3,300 @ CIN
22. Andrew McCutchen (OF – PIT): $3,300 vs STL
23. Yasmani Grandal (C – LAD): $2,600 vs SFG
24. Didi Gregorius (SS – NYY): $3,700 @ TOR

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