DraftKings MLB Picks For September 11: Carlos Carrasco Is Worth Every Penny
By Mike Marteny
DraftKings MLB Picks For September 11
We are coming upon a generation who doesn’t remember why we now have Patriots Day. It is a good thing that our country has been able to thwart other large scale attacks like those events 16 years ago. Please take time to thank a veteran, first responder, or someone who was directly affected by that tragedy for their sacrifices. Take the time to do something above and beyond today.
There are eight games tonight, which gives us about half the league in action again. There are a couple of big names in action, but the middle tier is mostly a barren wasteland. What type of lineup should we build? We will give you some options for whatever you choose.
More from DFS
- DraftKings Open Championship picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- Genesis Scottish Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- Rocket Mortgage Classic DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- US Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- RBC Canadian Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
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:
Carlos Carrasco should be worth every penny today. He has absolutely dominated what is left of the Tigers. This current squad is just 37-175(.211) with only one homer, just eight runs, and a solid 48 strikeouts. On top of that, Carrasco has given up just two runs in 23 innings pitched over his last three starts. I can guarantee you that the winning streak wont stop here, and I am willing to bet on it.
Zack Greinke‘s career numbers against the Rockies aren’t that great, but he has been so dominant at home this year that it may not matter. Greinke has a 2.31 ERA at home, and has averaged 23.3 DraftKings points per game in four games against the Rockies this year. Greinke is a solid pivot off of Carrasco, who will likely carry very high ownership.
Kenta Maeda looks to be in a great spot tonight. His rough outing against Arizona in the desert on August 31st is skewing his stats some. Aside from that outing, Maeda only allowed more than one earned run once since the All Star Break. On the other hand, the Giants are hitting .277 against him with seven runs in only 47 at bats. I can make a case for both sides, but his mostly dominant second half is more impressive to me.
Middle Tier:
The Pirates have only scored six runs in their last five games. Brandon Woodruff and his stellar 1.52 ERA host them today. Woodruff could be a spectacular value at $7,100, and will still allow you to field a respectable offense if paired with Carrasco.
Marco Estrada dominated the Red Sox last week, and was clobbered by tonight’s opponent, the Orioles, in the start before that. As for which Estrada shows up, your guess is as good as mine. He has held Baltimore to a .209 average in 273 at bats, but they have a staggering 17 homers and 39 runs.
Bargain Pitchers:
You know, Reynaldo Lopez was solid in his start against the Royals. He only allowed four hits in six innings. The bad news was that two of those were solo homers by Mike Moustakas. Still, if he can avoid Moose, he could be in line for a nice game. Lopez picked up 17.3 DraftKings points in te first meeting, and that was at hitter friendly Guaranteed U.S. Cellular Comiskey Park Field.
For the price, Chris Stratton could really have a great game. However, he likely wont beat Kenta Maeda with this offense supporting him, and his ERA is nearly two runs worse at home, which just happens to be one of the best pitcher’s parks around. The Dodger offense hasn’t been great lately, and takes a park hit, but Stratton has been far from a sure thing.
Top Tier:
Myles Jaye will be summoned from the bullpen to start for the Tigers. That means you should stack Indians. Stack them in this order: Jose Ramirez (seven homers in the last ten games! Are you kidding??), Francisco Lindor, Edwin Encarnacion, Carlos Santana, Francisco Mejia, then any starting outfielder. Any Indian stack should feature the first four for sure.
If Paul Goldschmidt is back out there, He is definitely in play against Kyle Freeland. Freeland’s ERA is higher on the road than at Coors Field. This is a really good hitter’s park as well, but I don’t know if you want to chance Freeland based on that alone. It seems much more prudent to stack right handed bats against him. I’m starting with Goldy if he is in the lineup.
Middle Tier:
How many home runs has Ariel Miranda given up this year? I’m pretty sure that Mark McGwire hit one off of him. Okay, so maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but Joey Gallo, who has been miserable against lefties, hit one off of him. The answer is 35, by the way. Of course, Mike Napoli is always worth a look against lefties, and hey, if Gallo did it once, he may do it again.
I’m all over the Blue Jays again, but not on the guys you may think. The team is only hitting .219 in 224 at bats against Ubaldo Jimenez, but I promise there is value to be found. Kendrys Morales is 7-24(.292) with a walk, two doubles, two homers, three runs scored, and three RBI against Ubaldo. Miguel Montero and Josh Donaldson seem tempting, just be aware that they are a combined 11-62(.177) against Ubaldo, but they have homered four times.
Many DFS players are going to be big on CC Sabathia tonight. While he has averaged 14.2 DraftKings points in three starts against the Rays this year, the numbers aren’t great, particularly the strikeouts. CC has only fanned 11 in 14.2 innings, and the points he has for two wins have inflated that total. Hidden under all of that is the fact that the Rays have hit him well. Evan Longoria is always a must-play when CC is on the mound. Longoria is 32-76(.421) with 15 walks, nine doubles, eight homers, a steal, 16 runs scored, and 17 RBI against Sabathia in his career. What Longoria has done to him is abuse.
Jake Odorizzi has pitched well lately, but there is no way I am trusting him against the Yankees. He was a little below average against them in his first start this year, and has been pounded by them in his career. Matt Holliday is 3-7 with two walks, a double, two homers, and three RBI against Odorizzi. Greg Bird is also 3-7 with the same stat line except for one more RBI. Gary Sanchez has been hot lately, but he is only 1-6 against Odorizzi.
Yes, Travis Shaw and Eric Thames are struggling right now, but you can’t ignore that kind of power against a struggling righty in a home park that caters to left handed power. Enjoy the discount and roll the dice.
Mark Reynolds is only 7-33(.212) against Zack Greinke, but he does have two walks, four homers, and five RBI off of him. His price is low enough to take a chance with if you don’t think Greinke’s home numbers hold up.
I like using underpriced talent such as Jose Abreu against average pitchers. Jason Hammel is the epitome of average.
Bargain Shoppers:
Welington Castillo isn’t exactly a bargain at catcher, but for what he could produce, he may be. Castillo is 9-35(.257) with a walk, a double, four homers, five runs scored, and eight RBI against Marco Estrada. Chris Davis and Manny Machado have a combined four homers against Estrada, but they are just 8-54(.148) overall.
We all know that Cole Hamels has struggled against righties. Even Danny Valencia is 6-20 with a homer, four runs scored, and three RBI off of him. Kyle Seager and Mike Zunino have taken him deep as well.
As wild as I am about Carlos Carrasco, Miguel Cabrera‘s price is way too low. He is 12-46(.261) with three walks, a double, a homer, five runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Carrasco, and he costs just $2,900. That is a lot of upside in a punt play.
Top Tier:
You don’t have to be a righty to have success against Cole Hamels, but you better be a pretty talented lefty. Robinson Cano fits that bill. He is 9-35(.257) with three homers, five runs scored, and four RBI against Hamels.
I said it last page, but it bears repeating: Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor are elite plays.
Middle Tier:
Elvis Andrus is way too cheap against Ariel Miranda. Elvis is 2-5 with a double, a homer, and two RBI of of him already.
Joe Panik is 3-7 with two walks, a solo homer, and two runs scored in his career against Kenta Maeda. He is one of the few Giants that I would even think about tonight.
Brandon Drury has been much better at home this season. He also carries a nice platoon advantage against Kyle Freeland. Drury is a nice priced option tonight.
Trevor Story is 8-21(.381) with a walk, a double, four homers, five runs scored, and nine RBI in his career against Greinke. The bad news is that all four of those homers were in April of last year.
Bargain Shoppers:
Neil Walker is way too cheap against Steven Brault. There is no way he should be in this tier tonight.
If Ryan Flaherty is in the lineup for Baltimore, he is worth a look in ours. Flaherty is 3-11 with two walks, two homers, and five RBI in his career against Marco Estrada.
Next: Top Outfield Plays
Top Tier:
I am facing Aaron Judge in my points league playoff matchup this week. I really wish I weren’t with the Rays on tap. Judge is 2-4 with a walk, two runs scored, and a solo homer off of Jake Odorizzi already.
J.D. Martinez and A.J. Pollock go from being good options against Jon Gray to elite options against Kyle Freeland. If you are spending money on hitters, Martinez is a must, and Pollock fits nicely in a stack. Did I mention that Martinez has 21 homers as a Diamondback already?
More from FanSided
- MLB Rumors: Justin Verlander has a clear suitor, but it comes with a catch
- MLB Rumors: Braves trade grade, Cardinals trade bait, Red Sox selling
- USMNT news: Turner to Forest, Trusty to Sheffield, Reynolds to Westerlo
- Inside the Clubhouse: What I’m hearing as the MLB Trade Deadline nears
- Yankees: Luis Severino has blunt assessment of another miserable outing
Middle Tier:
Nelson Cruz is 6-21(.286) with two walks, a double, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI against Cole Hamels. Mitch Haniger is quietly hot again, and he walked and hit a three run homer in his only game against Hamels.
Adam Jones is 8-28(.286) with three walks, two doubles, two homers, four runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Marco Estrada. Seth Smith‘s numbers are nothing impressive, but they aren’t horrible either and the price tag is tempting.
Kevin Keirmaier has managed to hit fellow lefty CC Sabathia well in his career. Kiermaier is 4-10 with two solo homers off of him.
The Brewers don’t have much of a history against Steven Brault, but what they do is good. Domingo Santana is 2-3 with a walk, a double, a homer, and two RBI off of him. Keon Broxton is 3-4 against Brault. All of the hits are doubles and he has walked twice, stolen a base, and drove in a run.
The White Sox haven’t been particularly good against right handed pitching, but my same philosophy about good hitter with a low price against an average pitcher holds true with Avisail Garcia as well.
Carlos Gonzalez has had a mostly miserable year, but he is 14-39(.359) with three walks, a double, a triple, five homers, a steal, six runs scored, and seven RBI in his career against Zack Greinke. CarGo is hitting an impressive .458 with two homers and eight RBI in the last ten games. He may have finally turned 2017 around!
Bargain Shoppers:
Teoscar Hernandez had a coming out party yesterday afternoon. He has a single, a walk, a run scored, and a RBI in his one game against Ubaldo Jimenez, and he comes really cheap. Better yet, Michael Saunders is 9-21(.429) with two walks, a double, four homers, a steal, six runs scored, and nine RBI against Jimenez. Saunders could be the steal of the day if he starts. Stay away from Jose Bautista. He is a pathetic 3-41(.073) against Ubaldo in his career.
It is worth noting that Andrew McCutchen is available for a measly $2,900. Brandon Woodruff has been great, but not this great. You may never get Cutch this cheap again.
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!