Main DraftKings MLB Picks September 2: Is Peacock A Better Play Than Scherzer?
By Mike Marteny
DraftKings Main MLB Picks For September 2
There are 11 games, including the second game of two doubleheaders, in our main DraftKings tournament. The game in limbo is Indians-Tigers, which is unfortunate since it takes Corey Kluber out of play in the main tournament. We still have a few aces to choose from and a solid middle tier. Let’s see what we can build!
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The money line last night rebounded to 121.2 DraftKings points. The winning lineup was a two way tie at 201.35. They had Jimmy Nelson‘s big game to go with a Rangers/Angels hybrid stack carry them to victory.
We will provide you with several options to build your lineup here. Want to spend all your money on pitchers and play bargain bats? We will highlight who is worth the money. Want to punt arms and pay up for the big boppers? We can help you with that as well, and everything in between!
For you first time players, if you would like a bonus of 25% of your first deposit, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn those DraftKings dollars into more!
Next: DraftKings Pitcher Plays
Top Tier:
If you’re paying up for a pitcher, especially in cash games, it needs to be Max Scherzer. Scherzer has held the Brewers to a .208 average in 72 at bats, but he has allowed five homers. The 24 strikeouts will wipe out those homers pretty quickly.
Brad Peacock is the only upper tier pitcher that I would consider fading Scherzer for. The Mets are a lukewarm mess right now. Peacock has 137 strikeouts in only 104 innings pitched. His already impressive strikeout potential gets ramped up a notch against a young and impatient Mets squad. And a win is very likely against Seth Lugo.
The strikeout potential is there for Yu Darvish, but the Padres have hit .265 off of him in 49 at bats with three homers and seven runs. Darvish should be able to offset the homers with strikeouts, but will it be enough for him to live up to his price? Peacock seems to be the safer pick and is $2,400 less.
I don’t trust Chris Archer, especially in Guaranteed Rate Field. All over advice pages you are going to find people telling you to ride Archer against the White Sox. I wont be one of them. The Sox are hitting .300 with five homers and eight runs in only 60 at bats. Archer will get his strikeouts, but he wont get value for his price. His ERA is 4.03 on the road, and this hitter’s park wont help his cause any.
Aaron Nola will be another popular choice, but there is a reason that he is under five digits tonight, and it has nothing to do with a road start in Miami. It has more to do with the Marlins hitting .254 with three homers and 13 runs in just 71 at bats. It’s going to be tough to get solid value out of Nola with past stats like that.
Middle Tier:
Carlos Rodon actually has a better ERA at home this year. He racks up strikeouts anyway, so an outing with the Rays provides strikeout potential that is usually only reserved for the elite tier. Rodon struggled in his last start, but he had five straight starts before that in which he allowed two or fewer runs. Rodon could dominate tonight, but there is some risk involved.
Jon Gray is very tempting here considering that he has a 3.00 ERA in five home starts this year. However, Arizona is a very good offense. His streak of three straight quality starts may be in jeopardy, but I could see Gray keeping it going. He is a solid option if you need a cheaper second pitcher.
Bargain Pitchers:
Considering what Jimmy Nelson was able to do to the Nationals last night, I would be willing to roll Brandon Woodruff out there. Woodruff has a 1.62 ERA in his first three major league starts, but the regression monster seems to follow rookies more closely than any other class of player.
Jhoulys Chacin has dominated at home this year, but has awful past stats against the Dodgers. Luckily, Chacin faced the Dodgers at Petco Park twice earlier this year. He gave up just one run in 10.1 innigs pitched. Chacin has an amazing 1.85 home ERA in 14 starts with a 1.02 WHIP. I will keep riding him out at home until he ceases to be worth it.
Top Tier:
Rhys Hoskins hit a two run homer off of Dan Straily in his first game against him. Maikel Franco is 4-9 with a walk, a run scored, and a RBI against Straily. If Cameron Rupp is in there, he’s worth a look at that price. He has a solo homer in two at bats against Straily.
Mark Reynolds only has two hits in ten tries against Patrick Corbin, but they are both home runs. Jonathan Lucroy is 6-10 with two walks, a double, and a RBI off of Corbin. If you are wonding about Nolan Arenado, he does have a homer against Corbin, but he is only 6-32 off of him.
Jon Gray is money at Coors, but Jake Lamb is 4-9 with two boules, three runs scored, and a RBI against him. Lamb may be worth a look, but it’s tough with the Coors inflation attached to his price.
Middle Tier:
The Blue Jays have pounded Wade Miley. I’m sure you’re as shocked as I am. Justin Smoak is 5-14(.357) with two homers and three RBI against Miley. Kendrys Morales is 9-21(.429) with a walk and three runs scored. Josh Donaldson is only 3-15, but he has three walks, two homers, and three RBI.
The White Sox are cheap against Chris Archer. Perhaps they shouldn’t be. The Pale Hose are hitting .300 off of Archer in 60 at bats with five homers and eight RBI. Jose Abreu is 5-18(.278) with a homer, two runs scored, and three RBI.
Evan Longoria is 2-3 with a double, a solo homer, and two runs scored against Carlos Rodon. Longoria provides a solid option at a low price today.
Any time a right handed pitcher takes the mound, Joey Gallo is in play. When said pitcher has allowed 32 homers on the season and Gallo is priced under the elite tier, Joey Gallo is a steal!
The Twins are starting Kyle Gibson. You know what that means. Stack time! And the Royals are cheap! Mike Moustakas is 9-26(.346) with four walks, two doubles, a solo homer, and four runs scored against Gibson. Eric Hosmer is 9-35(.257) with five walks, three doubles, four runs scored, and six RBI. Salvador Perez has clubbed two homers against Gibson, but he is just 5-30 lifetime. I would much rather see Drew Butera, and not just because he is $900 cheaper. Butera is 6-8 with a homers, three runs scored, and two RBI against Gibson.
Bargain Shoppers:
I wouldn’t spend too big on Pirates since the offense is in a funk right now, but John Jaso is cheap and in a good spot against rookie Tyler Mahle. Jaso drove in two runs off of Mahle in his first major league start. He is a nice punt option once again since he is OF eligible too.
What a steal Kyle Seager could be here. He is 2-5 with a homer two runs scored, and three RBI against Jharel Cotton. Yonder Alonso is only $200 more, and could be a great pick against his former team.
Yovani Gallardo has been bad no matter what mound he has pitched form this season. That makes Oakland, who doesn’t have an offensive player priced over $4,200, a very cheap stack option. You can stack A’s and pay up for elite pitching in the same lineup. Matt Olson is one of the few that has the platoon advantage, but don’t ignore the power of Matt Chapman against a guy that has allowed more homers (22), than starts made (21).
The Royals are throwing a left handed rookie out there. Fire up Chris Gimenez! He could have a busy night!
You wont see Travis Shaw in this tier very often, but he is against Scherzer. I’m not sure why. Shaw has faced Scherzer three times. He has come away with two walks and a solo homer.
Too bad I can only play five Astros. I want to cram as many in against Seth Lugo as possible. Corner infield is a great place to save with Tyler White and AJ Reed possibly getting at bats with Yuli Gurriel out right now.
Top Tier:
The Royals are throwing young lefty Onelki Garcia out there tonight over Ian Kennedy. That could end up being better for Dozier. He loves lefties. You will have to pay up to get him, but Dozier and switch hitters Eduardo Escobar and Jorge Polanco could have big nights tonight against Garcia.
Elvis Andrus is 3-10 with a walk, a steal, a homer, three runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Ricky Nolasco. Rougned Odor comes cheaper, and he is 4-10 with a homer, two runs scored, and three RBI.
DJ LeMahieu is 12-33(.364) with two walks, two triples, two homers, six runs scored, and five RBI against Patrick Borbin. If you are looking for a nice bargain at short, it could be Trevor Story. Story is 2-6 wtih four walks, a homer, three runs scored, and two RBI off Corbin.
Jose Altuve against Seth Lugo. That’s the only explanation you need.
Middle Tier:
The entire Reds middle infield is in play no matter who starts against Jameson Taillon. Jose Peraza is 8-11(.727) with a walk, two doubles, two steals, and four RBI. Scooter Gennett is 7-18(.389) with three doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI off of Taillon. Zack Cozart is 4-9 with two runs scored.
I like both Robinson Cano and Jean Segura in this tier against Jharel Cotton. Cano is 5-9 with two homers, four runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Cotton. Segura is only 1-2, but he has a walk and a run scored.
Dee Gordon is 3-8 with a walk, a double, and a steal against Aaron Nola. I wouldn’t put the Marlins down for a lot of runs tonight, but they could score more than you think.
Marcus Semien is 5-19(.263) with a walk, a double, two runs scored, and a RBI off of Yovani Gallardo. Chad Pinder is another cheap option with ample enough power to cash in here.
Bargain Shoppers:
If for some reason Ryan Flaherty finds himself in the lineup, he is worth a shot against Marcus Stroman. Flaherty is 3-11 with a double, a homer, two runs scored, and four RBI against Stroman. Maybe he can give his teammates some pointers.
Yolmer Sanchez is 4-13(.308) with two homers and three RBI in his career against Chris Archer. He is one of best cheap options on the board. So is teammate Tyler Saladino. Saladino is 2-3 with a solo homer against Archer.
For some reason, Erick Aybar has solved the riddle of Yu Darvish. Aybar is 10-29(.345) with three walks, two doubles, two solo homers, six runs scored, and two steals against Darvish. Aybar is a really good punt play if he starts.
If you are throwing darts at homers, Neil Walker has three of them with six RBI against Max Scherzer. Of course, He is just 4-22 lifetime off of him though.
Next: Top Outfield Plays
Top Tier:
If Byron Buxton is back, I definitely want him in there against Onelki Garcia. Max Kepler can’t hit lefties, and Eddie Rosario is much better against righties so I wouldn’t pay their prices. If Buxton is out again Zack Granite is a solid punt play because of his speed.
It has been a good season for Aaron Nola, but the Marlins have scored 13 runs off of him in just 71 at bats. It should come as no surprise that Stanton is right in the middle of it. He is 3-6 with a double, a homer, and two RBI against Nola. Marcell Ozuna is 4-13(.308) with a homer and three RBI. Christian Yelich is 3-10 with a walk, a double, two runs scored, and two RBI off of Nola.
A.J. Griffin has allowed 17 homers in 13 starts. Mike Trout is 6-22(.273) with four walks, three homers, and four RBI against Griffin. If you don’t use Trout tonight, you may just be giving away money. Kole Calhoun makes a nice cheaper play with Trout. Calhoun is 4-12 with a walk, a double, two runs scored, and a RBI.
If the Rockies are crushing someone, there is a great chance that Charlie Blackmon is involved in some capacity. Blackmon is 9-24(.375) with two doubles, a triple, a homer, six runs scored, and three RBI off of Corbin despite the lefty-lefty matchup.
George Springer and Josh Reddick. See also: Altuve, Jose.
Nelson Cruz has cooled off even though his price hasn’t. I still don’t mind paying that for him today. Cruz is 6-8 with a walk, three doubles, two homers, and four RBI against Jharel Cotton.
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Middle Tier:
The Reds outfield has done the bulk of the damage against Jameson Taillon. To no one’s surprise, Billy Hamilton is right in the middle of it. Hamilton is 5-14 with a walk, a triple, two homes, a steal, three runs scored, and six RBI off of Taillon. Adam Duvall is 6-16(.375) with a walk, two doubles, two homers, three runs scored, and four RBI. Jesse Winker has only faced Taillon twice. His hit is a solo homer.
Avisail Garcia is 4-11(.364) with a walk, a double, a solo homer, and two runs scored against Chris Archer. He is a solid option batting cleanup for a reasonable price.
Khris Davis is only 2-8 in his career against Yovani Gallarrdo, but both of those hits are home runs. Matt Joyce is a solid option as well knowing how well he hits righties.
Carlos Gomez is 5-14 with a steal, two homers, four runs scored, and five RBI in his career against Ricky Nolasco. Nomar Mazara is only 2-9 off of Nolasco, but he has a walk, a homer, three runs scored, and three RBI.
David Peralta is 3-6 with a triple so far against Jon Gray. I like him leading off in Coors Field if you don’t believe in Gray’s peculiar home splits.
Bargain Shoppers:
Jose Bautista is still dirt cheap. He shouldn’t be against Wade Miley. Bautista is only 4-18 against Miley, but he has three walks, two homers, and five RBI.
Keon Broxton has only faced Max Scherzer once. He hit a solo homer off of him.
Nick Williams at $2,900 is far too cheap against Dan Straily. Williams is only 1-4 against Straily, but he has two walks, two runs scored, a triple, and a RBI.
Next: FanDuel MLB Picks and Pivots
Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our PGA picks. We also have plenty of NFL stuff to get you ready for football!