3 MLB FanDuel Studs to Target on Friday 9/2/22
Just like in other sports, the focal point of your daily fantasy baseball lineups will be your high-salary studs. These guys take up by far the biggest chunk of your cap space, but they also offer the highest ceiling. And in the case of pitchers, the high-salary options typically come with the highest floors, too.
For hitters, we're looking for guys with big numbers, strong matchups, and with players around them that are likely to produce, as well, increasing our chances for runs and RBI. For pitchers, we want big strikeout numbers, while the ability to go deep in a game and pick up a win is also valuable.
With your high-salary picks playing such a big role in your lineup, you need to be right on these guys, so let's take a look at a few top-end options you can count on to anchor your lineup today.
Charlie Morton, SP, Atlanta Braves ($9,800)
There are three arms priced above $10,000 on the main slate on Friday, but I'm staying away from all of them.
I am a big Yu Darvish ($10,100) fan, but facing a hefty Los Angeles Dodgers lineup presents a major challenge. Luis Castillo ($10,800) faces a Cleveland Guardians offense that strikes out the least in all of baseball, and Sandy Alcantara ($10,400) faces a loaded Atlanta Braves attack.
That puts me over to Charlie Morton, who tops our projections on Friday. The Miami Marlins, Morton's opponent, are one of the league's worst offenses this season. They rank fourth-worst in team wOBA (.290), sixth-worst in isolated power (.134, ISO), and sixth-worst strikeout rate (23.7%).
Despite turning 39 in just a few months, Morton has been brilliant in his 2022 campaign. Over 140 1/3 innings pitched, the veteran righty has posted a 28.6% strikeout rate and just a 29.0% hard-hit rate. It's all led to a sharp 3.41 skill-interactive ERA (SIERA)
Morton is just as solid as the other three top aces, but his matchup is so much better.
Tommy Pham, OF, Boston Red Sox ($3,500)
All of the Boston Red Sox bats are in play tonight since Dallas Keuchel of the Texas Rangers takes the bump tonight.
Sadly, the wheels have fallen off, and quickly, for the southpaw. Keuchel has a 5.79 FIP over 51 innings pitched this year, and he's struck out only 13.9% of hitters while doling out free passes at a 10.0% clip.
The batted-ball profile is a bit terrifying, too. Keuchel has allowed a career-worst 1.77 HR/9 and an 8.5% barrel rate.
I recommended Xander Bogaerts yesterday, so let's flip over to Tommy Pham today. Pham has pounded lefties this season, logging a 138 wRC+ and an .862 OPS on the year.
The Sox have a 5.08 implied team total, so it's obvious we want some exposure to this lineup. Pham makes for a great play.
Corey Seager, SS, Texas Rangers ($3,800)
Alright, I'm gonna be kind of boring here, but stick with me. I am staying in the Texas Rangers-Red Sox game tonight expecting some offensive fireworks.
Corey Seager hit his career-best 29th homer on Wednesday, and he could be adding to those gaudy totals tonight against right-hander Nick Pivetta. Pivetta has struggled to contain lefty swingers, allowing 1.34 HR/9 and a .430 slugging percentage to them this season.
Seager's .221 ISO is on pace for the second-best full season mark of his career, and his marks against right-handed pitchers raise your eyebrows. He's poked them for a 126 wRC+, and it's supported by a 40.3% hard-hit rate and 38.9% fly-ball rate.
Seager leads our hitter projections on Friday night at 16.3 FanDuel points, and he should continue his torrid second half (.468 slugging percentage since the break).
Matt Kupferle is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Matt Kupferle also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username MKupferle. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.
