Major League Baseball

DraftKings Main MLB Picks For September 3

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Sep 12, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the DraftKings sign board during the match with FC Dallas playing against New York City FC at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

DraftKings Main MLB Picks For September 3

We have nine games for the DraftKings main tournament tonight. Only two pitchers priced at $9,000 or more take the mound tonight. Should we go cheap on hitting, or spend on the elite pitchers? Let’s take a look at the past stats to try and point us in the right direction.

NOTE: these picks are based solely on statistics. Some players have never faced their opponents, or have very little experience against them. I am not saying that none of those are good picks. The highest scorer of the day could be someone with no experience against his opponent. This is based on statistical analysis only. If you have a gut feeling, then by all means, follow that. This is not an exact science. The best lineups usually have a mix of proven stats and hot players. Check out this post from Matt McGarvey for great tips about whether to use a hot player in DFS or not.

For you first time players, if you would like $20 worth of free entry tickets, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn that $20 into more!

Aug 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Rich Hill has never started a game against the Padres. This is a great matchup if he can take the mound. He was scratched from his Wednesday start because of that blister once again. The fact that the blister is still an issue is disturbing because it could flare at any moment, causing him to leave the game. If you spend nearly $12K on a pitcher and he exits the game early, you’re sunk. However, if Hill goes seven innings against the Padres, double digit strikeouts are imminent.

Trevor Bauer has never faced the Marlins. His ERA is over a run higher (4.28 to a 3.13 road mark) at home, but the Marlins are missing power without Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Bour. There is some upside here, but Bauer still had a 4.04 ERA in August.

Robert Gsellman struggled against the Phillies after a solid debut against the Cardinals. He isn’t nearly consistent enough to trust against the Nationals.

John Gant has never faced the Phillies, but that 4.59 ERA is hard to ignore. Gant enjoyed some moderate success as a starter this year, but not nearly enough to make me want to roll the dice with him.

Braden Shipley has never faced the Rockies, but you don’t want to use a rookie with a 4.75 ERA in Coors Field anyway.

Aug 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (39) throws to first base during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Best Bets:

Jose Fernandez ($12,000): Many of the current Cleveland team has never faced Jose Fernandez. His only start against them was back in 2013, his rookie season. He blanked them for eight innings. The current team is only 5-26(.192) against him with a homer, three RBI (two are by the suspended Marlon Byrd), and an incredible 12 strikeouts. No one can match Fernandez’s strikeout potential, which makes him tough to fade. This is a small sample size though.

Tanner Roark ($9,100): Roark has dominated the Mets. They are hitting only .219 against him in 146 at bats with two homers, only six runs, and 35 strikeouts. This numbers are frighteningly similar to Gausman’s against the Yankees. These two are the most sure shots for tonight. Fernandez is facing a solid offense on the road that gets to use a DH.

Kevin Gausman ($8,500): Kevin Gausman dominated the Yankees last weekend. The current Yankees are now hitting just .210 against Gausman in 162 at bats with two homers, only six runs, and 36 strikeouts. The strikeouts wont turn your head, but the fact that he has only allowed six runs is as good as you will ever see in this column. He racked up 33.6 DraftKings points in his last start against New York on Sunday. Expect him to flirt with 30 again.

Honorable Mention:

Michael Fulmer ($9,600): The Royals are only hitting .220 against Fulmer in 50 at bats with a homer, three runs, and eight strikeouts. The strikeout potential is low and Fulmer has struggled lately, but the past stats still paint this as a favorable matchup.

Ivan Nova ($8,900): The Brewers are only 5-30(.167) against Nova with two solo homer and seven strikeouts. This looks like another strong outing for him. Nova racked up 21.1 DraftKings points against Milwaukee on Sunday.

Dark Horses:

Hector Santiago ($4,300): If you can believe it, Ricky Nolasco has actually pitched better since the trade than Santiago has. As a member of the Angels, Santiago dominated the White Sox back on July 15th. The White Sox are now just 21-110(.191) with two homers, just six runs, and an impressive 36 strikeouts against Santiago. He had his best start as a Twin his last time out. He could be a fantastic bargain tonight.

Aug 24, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) reaches base on an error against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Don’t forget to check out the DFS Lineup Optimizer over at FantasyPros. You can also pick your favorite players or favorite stack, and it will optimize the lineup around that! It really is an invaluable tool for you DFS players!

The Orioles have 12 homers and 46 RBI against CC Sabathia. Prepare to stack! J.J. Hardy ($2,500) is 12-39(.308) with a walk, five doubles, a homer, and eight RBI against CC. Adam Jones ($3,500) has punished Sabathia. Jones is 19-67(.284) with four walks, four doubles, a triple, four homers, and 14 RBI against him. Manny Machado ($5,000) is 13-40(.325) with two walks, four doubles, a homer, and seven RBI. Steve Pearce ($4,000) has six hits in 21 at bats(.286) with a walk, a double, and a solo homer. Nolan Reimold ($2,500) is 14-41(.341) with five walks, two doubles, a triple, two homers, and five RBI off of Sabathia. Mark Trumbo ($4,300) and Matt Wieters ($3,100) have both homered against Sabathia and driven in two, but they are a combined 12-67(.179) against him.

The Dodgers have 11 RBI in only 52 at bats against Luis Perdomo without the benefit of a home run. Adrian Gonzalez ($4,600) is 3-6 with three walks, a double, and two RBI. Howie Kendrick ($2,900) has a lot of crooked numbers. He is 4-6 with three doubles and two RBI. Yasiel Puig ($3,500) is back in the majors, and he is 5-7 with a walk, a triple, and three RBI off of Perdomo. Justin Turner ($4,200) is 2-4 with a double and a RBI. Chase Utley ($4,200) has three hits in eight at bats with two RBI.

Even though Yordano Ventura has pitched well lately, it may be worth stacking Tigers against him. Miguel Cabrera ($4,900) is 5-19(.263) with a walk, a double, and three RBI. Ian Kinsler ($4,200) is 8-25(.320) with two walks, a double, and four RBI against Ventura. J.D. Martinez ($4,700) is 7-16(.438) with five walks and two doubles, but no counting stats. Victor Martinez ($3,900) is only 7-25(.280), but he has two walks, three homers, and six RBI against Ventura.

Robinson Cano ($3,900) is 5-9 with two doubles and three RBI against Tyler Skaggs. Kyle Seager ($4,100) also doesn’t care that Skaggs is left handed. Seager is 5-10 with a walk and a solo homer off of him. Franklin Gutierrez ($3,100) is 3-5 with a double, a homer, and two RBI. Rookie Guillermo Heredia ($2,400) is 1-2 with a solo homer and two walks off Skaggs. Another lefty, Leonys Martin ($2,900), is 2-4 with a RBI off Skaggs.

Aug 23, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) trots around the bases for his home run against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Billy Butler ($2,800) is 19-55(.345) with a walk, five doubles, a homer, and a whopping 10 of the 14 RBI the team has against Rick Porcello.

Jackie Bradley, Jr ($4,600) is 1-2 with a homer and two RBI against Zach Neal.

Jean Segura ($5,300) is 5-15 with a walk, a double, and a solo homer against Tyler Chatwood. Jake Lamb ($5,100) only has one hit in eight at bats against Chatwood, but the hit is a three run homer.

Salvador Perez ($3,900) only has one hit against Michael Fulmer in seven at bats, but it is a solo home run.

Despite the lefty on lefty matchup, Adam Eaton ($4,400 is 4-9 with two doubles against Hector Santiago.

Gordon Beckham ($2,700) is 2-8 with a double and four RBI against Vince Velasquez.

You have to play Mike Trout ($5,400) tonight. He has one of the better batter vs. pitcher lines that you will ever see against Taijuan Walker. Trout is 8-10 with a triple, two homers, and five RBI off of Walker.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis ($3,500) has one hit in four at bats against Ivan Nova. It is a solo home run. Jonathan Villar ($4,000) is 2-5 with a double and a solo homer off of Nova.

Brett Gardner ($3,900) is 7-22(.318) with two doubles, a homer, and two RBI against Kevin Gausman.

Curtis Granderson ($3,800) is 6-20 with a walk, four doubles, and two RBI against Tanner Roark.

Joe Mauer ($4,300) is 15-46(.326) with two walks, two doubles, a triple, a homer, and ten RBI against James Shields. Brian Dozier ($5,100) is 9-24(.375) with three walks, five doubles, two homers, and eight driven in against Shields.

Brandon Guyer ($2,500) is 1-4 with a solo homer against Jose Fernandez.

Matt Joyce ($4,100) is 1-2 with a walk, a homer, and three RBI against Jimmy Nelson. Josh Harrison ($3,600) has five hits in 15 at bats with two walks and three RBI off Nelson. Andrew McCutchen ($4,200) is 5-13(.385) with four walks, two doubles, and two RBI against Nelson.

Be sure to check out the FanDuel picks from out experts in that area! Brian Tulloch provides the picks, and alternative plays if you don’t want to follow the herd. Don’t play FanDuel before checking it out!

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball

More from Fantasy CPR

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball