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DraftKings Main MLB Picks For September 7

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

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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 7

We have 11 games during the main tournament tonight with three pitchers topping out over $10,000 on DraftKings. Should we try to pay for two of them? Maybe none of them? Let’s check the past stats for some insight.

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!

Sep 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jameson Taillon has never faced the Cardinals. He has had a nice rookie season, posting a 3.25 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 14 starts. He also has a sparkling 2.70 ERA in eight home starts. Taillon could be a very good under the radar pick.

Jarred Cosart faced the Red Sox once while with the Rays, but that was before Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley took over in the outfield. David Ortiz was a perfect three for three, all singles, off of Cosart though.

Brock Stewart has a 7.94 ERA in four major league starts this year. You are paying the winners if you let Stewart anywhere near your roster.

Albert Suarez gave up three runs on five hits and a walk in his start at Coors Field on May 27th. Those are solid numbers considering the circumstances, but they don’t inspire enough confidence to use him in DraftKings.

Ariel Miranda has given up 13 runs in his last four starts. Using him against Texas seems like an unnecessary risk.

Bryan Mitchell will make his first start of the season against the Blue Jays tonight. The 5.31 career ERA should tell you all you need to know if you were considering him.

Sep 2, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy (41) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Best Bets:

David Price ($13,100): Price has never faced the Padres, but he has faced eight of their current players. They are a combined 8-45(.178) against him with only one run and 19 strikeouts. Price is by far the best option of the night. He has five consecutive quality starts. Price will have no problems making it six.

Danny Duffy ($9,900): The Twins are hitting a respectable .245 against Danny Duffy, but they only have one home run and just seven runs in 143 at bats. Duffy only has 25 strikeouts, but he has proven that he can strike out every other team. It’s only a matter of time before the Twins get up to speed in that respect. It will be tough to fade Price, but if you do, Duffy is the next best thing.

A.J. Griffin ($8,600): Griffin has absolutely dominated the Mariners. They are a pathetic 14-87(.161) with three homers, but only four runs and an impressive 22 strikeouts. That makes him a really good option for the price.

Honorable Mention:

Jeremy Hellickson ($8,700): Hellickson has plenty of experience against the Marlins from his days with the Rays in interleague play. The Fish are only hitting .203 off of him in 187 at bats with four homers and ten RBI. Two of those homers are by Justin Bour and Giancarlo Stanton. Bour is on the DL, and Stanton is relegated to pinch hit duty, so he likely wont face Hellickson anyway. They have only struck out 33 times, but Hellickson isn’t known as a strikeout pitcher anyway. He could be a sneaky pick for solid points.

Robbie Ray ($8,300): Ray’s inconsistency can make him tough to use, but he has good stats against the Dodgers. Dem Bums are only 18-78(.231) with a homer and five RBI to go with 18 strikeouts. The 11 walks will eat up some of the points, but he has a great shot for a win against Brock Stewart.

Marcus Stroman (7,400): The Yankees are only 13-83(.157) against Stroman with 16 strikeouts. They have three homers and seven RBI, but the strikeouts make Stroman a very tempting option with a high floor. The price also seems to be right to fit into our lineups.

Dark Horse:

Kyle Gibson ($4,200): Gibson has struggled against nearly everyone so far in his career, but not the Royals. Their .263 average in 186 at bats against Gibson is good, but they have only one homer and 17 runs. Gibson only has 30 strikeouts, but he has never been, nor will he ever be, a strikeout pitcher. If you are looking for a sneaky play that will rack up some outs, Gibson could be an interesting option.

Sep 1, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) hits a two-run home run as San Diego Padres catcher Hector Sanchez (44) is shown on the play in the third inning of their game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-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!

Some of you may be wondering why I didn’t recommend Stephen Strasburg against the Braves. Sounds like a good matchup, right? Well, the stats say no. The Braves are hitting .287 in 122 at bats off of Strasburg. Nick Markakis ($3,500) is 5-18(.278) with a walk and two RBI. Ender Inciarte ($4,600) is 2-9 with two walks, a homer, and two driven in. Adonis Garcia ($3,800) is 6-12 off of Strasburg, but all of the hits are singles and he has no counting stats. Freddie Freeman has punished Strasburg. Freeman ($4,800) is 14-34(.412) with six walks, three doubles, four homers, and 13 RBI off of Strasburg.

Doug Fister is fortunate to dodge Michael Brantley (injury) and Marlon Byrd (suspension) this time around. They are a combined 18-48 with three homers and eight RBI against him. There are still others available for stacking. Rajai Davis ($4,800) is 12-33(.364), but he only has two doubles and a RBI. Mike Napoli ($4,300), Carlos Santana ($4,400), and Lonnie Chisenhall ($3,800) have all homered off of Fister, but they are a combined 10-61 despite the three homers and six RBI. They are all big risks. Jason Kipnis ($5,100) is not a risk. Kipnis is 12-25(.480) with a walk, two doubles, and two RBI against Fister.

Jorge De La Rosa pitches better at Coors Field, but when you boast a 4.88 ERA, better is a relative term. Lefties Brandon Belt ($4,800), Brandon Crawford ($4,100), and Denard Span ($4,000) are a combined 14-53 with five RBI, but no home runs against De La Rosa. Angel Pagan ($4,100) is 11-42(.262) with four walks, four doubles, and two RBI. Hunter Pence ($4,700) is 8-26(.308) with five walks, two doubles, two homers, and seven driven in against De La Rosa. Buster Posey ($5,100) is 11-39(.282) with five walks, four doubles, two homers, and nine RBI. There are good options here if you can afford them.

If you can’t afford Coors Field, try stacking Cubs against Matt Garza. Anthony Rizzo ($5,300) is 6-18 with a homer and three RBI against Garza. Miguel Montero ($3,300) is 9-23(.391) with three walks, a double, a homer, and three RBI off of Garza. Kris Bryant ($5,000) only has one hit in ten at bats, but it is a solo homer. Chris Coghlan ($2,700) is 6-20 with a walk, four doubles, and a triple against Garza, but he has no counting stats. Dexter Fowler ($4,900) has three hits in 12 at bats, but he also has six walks. Ben Zobrist ($4,400) is 3-7 with two walks and a solo homer against Garza.

The Pirates have hit Mike Leake hard. David Freese ($2,700) in particular has abused Leake, going 13-25(.520) with a walk, three doubles, a homer, and six RBI against him. Jung Ho Kang ($4,300) had a triumphant return, homering twice last night. He also has three hits in seven at bats, including a solo shot, off of Leake. Jordy Mercer ($2,900) could help you save some money. He is 8-25(.320) with two walks, two doubles, and two RBI. Andrew McCutchen ($4,000) is 19-74(.257) with five walks, a double, two homers, and six RBI against Leake. Josh Harrison ($3,600) and Starling Marte ($5,400) both own uninspiring .250 averages against Leake, but they both have a homer and two RBI off of him.

If you are looking to go cheap, Alex Gordon ($4,100) is 9-22(.409) with five walks, two doubles, a homer, and four RBI against Kyle Gibson. Alcides Escobar ($4,600) is 10-27(.370) with a double and a RBI. Eric Hosmer ($4,700) is 7-26(.269) with three walks, two doubles, and five RBI against Gibson. Raul Mondesi ($2,800) picked up a RBI double in his two at bats against Gibson on August 12.

Aug 31, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) at bat against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Rendon ($3,400) has one hit in three at bats against Mike Foltynewicz. The hit is a two run homer. Daniel Murphy ($4,600) is 3-4 with two doubles. Ben Revere ($2,900) is 3-5 with two doubles and a triple, but no counting stats against Foltynewicz.

Marwin Gonzalez ($2,600) is 3-5 with a homer and two RBI against Carlos Carrasco.

Brett Gardner ($4,000) is only 3-17(.176) against Marcus Stroman, but he has a walk, a double, two homers, and five RBI. Mark Teixeira ($3,200) is only 2-9, but one of the hits is a solo homer.

Troy Tulowitzki ($4,300) is 1-2 with a solo homer against Bryan Mitchell.

Brian Dozier ($5,600) is 8-29(.276) with two walks, four doubles, a triple, and two RBI against Danny Duffy. Trevor Plouffe has the only homer against Duffy, but he left last night’s game with an oblique strain.

Marcell Ozuna ($2,800) is 4-14(.286) with two walks, two doubles, a homer, and three RBI against Jeremy Hellickson. Chris Johnson ($2,300) has four hits in seven at bats with a double and a solo homer.

Robinson Cano ($4,800) is the only Mariner with any success against A.J. Griffin. Cano is 4-10 with two walks, a double, and a solo homer. Both Nelson Cruz ($4,300) and Adam Lind ($2,600) have homered against Griffin, but they are a combined 4-24 against Griffin.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis ($3,500) has a homer and three RBI in only two at bats against Mike Montgomery

The struggling Odubel Herrera ($3,800) is 4-6 with a homer and two RBI against Andrew Cashner. He is worth using tonight! Cody Asche ($2,900) is 2-8 with a walk and a solo homer off of Cashner.

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

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