DraftKings Main MLB Picks For September 21

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

The DraftKings main tournament has all 30 teams in action tonight, so we have plenty of options to choose from. There are six pitchers priced at $9,800 or more. Are any of them worth it? We have seven more between $7,000 and 9,000. Can we find our two pitchers from that tier and spend on hitting? Let’s check out 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 5, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Sale has never faced the Phillies, but there is a reason that he is the most expensive pitcher out there. The Phillies are among the worst offenses in the league, and Sale boasts a 3.03 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 215 strikeouts. Will he outscore everyone? Well, he is probably the most likely pitcher to do so.

Robert Stephenson has not fared as well in his return to the majors as he did in April. Stephenson has allowed ten runs in three starts. He has racked up 17 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched, but I still don’t like his matchup against the Cubs.

Ryan Weber has only faced the Mets in relief in his career, but he hasn’t provided any. The Mets are 8-21 with three homers, five RBI and only three strikeouts against him. Look elsewhere for a bargain.

Chad Kuhl had a solid outing against the Brewers last month, but he did give up a two run homer to Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Those were the only runs he gave up in 6.1 innings pitched en route to the win. He is a decent option tonight if you are looking for someone that shouldn’t be widely owned.

Sep 15, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Best Bets:

Masahiro Tanaka ($11,200): The Rays are only hitting .170 against Tanaka in 135 at bats. They have managed five homers, but only have nine runs. The Rays have also struck out 35 times. Those numbers make him worth the lofty price tag, especially if you plan on fading Sale.

Zack Greinke ($8,300): I’m going to feel like a criminal using Greinke this cheap. The Padres are only hitting .227 against him in 163 at bats with just seven runs scored. Those are elite numbers. He only has 32 strikeouts, but if he isn’t giving up runs, he’s getting the win. I wouldn’t be surprised if Greinke is the highest scorer of the night. At any rate, he should be a bargain at this price.

Honorable Mention:

Jerad Eickhoff ($8,100): Rolling him out there with Chris Sale on the mound opposite him really diminishes his chances at picking up a win, but the White Sox struggled against Eickhoff earlier this year. The current roster is just 3-19(.158) off of him with no runs, but they have also only struck out twice. I’m not so sure he is worth this price, but the past stats say he is.

Matt Moore ($7,900): The Dodgers are only hitting .182 against Moore in 88 at bats with 21 strikeouts. The Dodgers have managed seven runs, but even that is below average. Moore dominated the Dodgers back on August 25th, coming one out away from a shutout. Can he do it again?

Sep 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) connects for a one run home run in the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-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!

Is he seriously advocating a stack against Max Scherzer? Yes he is! Hear me out: The Marlins are hitting .260 off of Scherzer with nine home runs in 242 at bats while striking out only 54 times. A few Marlins have hit him pretty well, starting with Martin Prado ($2,700). Prado is 11-26(.423) with two doubles, a homer, and three driven in. Giancarlo Stanton ($3,800) could be a steal. He os 2-7 with a homer and three RBI. Christian Yelich ($3,900) is 4-12 with a double, a homer and two RBI. Dee Gordon ($3,300) is 8-26(.308) with a double, a homer, and two RBI. Justin Bour ($2,500) only has four hits in 18 at bats, but he has a walk, a double, a homer, and two RBI. Jeff Francoeur ($2,300) is only 8-36, but he has two doubles, a triple, a homer, and two RBI off of Scherzer. There is potential here.

Yes, I am promoting a Nationals stack against Tom Koehler as well. Most would. Ben Revere ($3,000) is 11-25(.440) with two RBI off Koehler. Jayson Werth ($3,400) is only 6-24, but he has six walks, two homers, and five RBI. Bryce Harper ($4,600) is expensive, but he is almost a must-play. Harper is 10-29(.345) with five walks, a double, six home runs, and 11 RBI off Koehler. Ryan Zimmerman ($2,600) is 6-23(.261) with a walk, two homers, and three RBI. Anthony Rendon ($3,400) has six hits in 20 at bats with seven walks, but only one RBI. Daniel Murphy ($5,200) is 9-36 with four walks, a homer, and three RBI against Koehler.

Corey Kluber is glad that Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain are on the DL. They have a homer and seven RBI off of him. Eric Hosmer ($3,300) is 13-47(.277) with four walks, six doubles, three homers, and 13 RBI against Kluber. He can still do some damage. Alex Gordon ($2,700) is only 6-35(.171), but he has two walks, a double, two homers, and six RBI against Kluber. Salvador Perez ($2,500) is only 5-31(.161) against Kluber, but he has two walks, two doubles, a homer, and five RBI off of him.

Stacking against John Lackey is probably a good idea. Eugenio Suarez ($2,800) is 8-21(.381) with two walks, a homer, and six RBI. Ramon Cabrera ($2,500) has two hits in six at bats with a double, a homer, and two RBI. Brandon Phillips ($3,500) is 9-36 with two doubles and three RBI. Joey Votto ($5,000) could be the most lucrative option. He is 5-17 with seven walks, two homers, and five RBI against Lackey.

Stacking against Jered Weaver should be a gimme. Elvis Andrus ($4,000) is 24-83(.289) with four walks, five doubles, a triple, two homers, and five RBI against Weaver. Adrian Beltre ($4,600) is 22-90(.244) with two walks, six doubles, three homers, and eight RBI. Carlos Beltran ($4,100) has three hits in eight at bats with a walk and two solo homers. Jonathan Lucroy ($5,000) has two hits in five at bats with a walk, a double, and two RBI. Nomar Mazara ($4,200) has three hits in six at bats with a solo homer. Mitch Moreland ($3,100) is 12-42(.286) with a walk, a double, and two solo homers against Weaver.

A Braves stack is worth considering against Bartolo Colon. Freddie Freeman ($4,800) is 14-30(.467) with two walks, five doubles, a homer, and three RBI against Colon. Matt Kemp ($4,600) is 5-14(.357) with a homer and four RBI. Nick Markakis ($4,300) is 13-54(.241) with two walks, six doubles, and a solo homer. Yes, one RBI is all Markakis has in 54 at bats! Jace Peterson ($3,500) has five hits in 20 at bats with a double, a triple, and three RBI.

Ubaldo Jimenez dodges his nemesis, Pablo Sandoval, but there are still enough Red Sox players that have hit him well to warrant a stack. Mookie Betts ($5,600) is 6-17(.353) with two walks, a double and a RBI against Ubaldo. Xander Bogaerts ($4,400) is 7-18(.389) with three walks, a double, and five RBI. David Ortiz ($5,600) is just 3-23(.130), but he has walked seven times, homered twice, and driven in seven. Dustin Pedroia ($4,100) is 11-29(.379) with four walks, two doubles, and four RBI. Aaron Hill ($2,900) has one hit in three at bats against Ubaldo. It is a two run homer.

September 18, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) hits an RBI single in the fifth inning against Toronto Blue Jays at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Albert Pujols ($4,700) is 9-31(.290) with two walks, three doubles, four homers, and six RBI against Derek Holland. Yunel Escobar ($4,000) is 6-25(.240) with a walk, a double, a homer, and two RBI. Mike Trout ($5,400) is 13-41(.317) with five walks, three doubles, a triple, two homers, and nine RBI off of Holland.

Matt Joyce ($3,900) has one hit and a walk in two at bats against Jimmy Nelson. The hit is a three run homer.

Kevin Kiermaier ($4,000) is 4-8 with a triple and a solo homer off of Masahiro Tanaka. Brad Miller ($3,400) is only 4-21(.190) off of Tanaka, but he has a triple, two homers, and four RBI.

Howie Kendrick ($) is 6-18 with a walk, a double, and two RBI against Matt Moore. Joc Pederson ($) is 1-4 with three walks and a solo homer.

Joe Mauer ($4,100) is 2-4 with a double and three RBI against Buck Farmer. Brian Dozier ($5,200) has three walks and two singles while recording just one out.

Asdrubal Cabrera ($4,200) has a solo homer in his only at bat against Ryan Weber. Michael Conforto ($3,500) is 1-3 with a walk, a homer, and two RBI against Weber.

Chris Davis ($4,400) is 9-27 with eight walks, a double, two homers, and four RBI against Clay Buchholz. J.J. Hardy ($3,500) is 8-24 with a walk, three homers, and five RBI. Adam Jones ($4,900) is 10-35(.286) with two walks, two homers, and 11 RBi against Buchholz. Mark Trumbo ($4,600) is 3-11 with two walks, a homer, and five RBI.

Ian Kinsler ($4,800) is 2-4 with a double, a homer, and three RBI against Jose Berrios. James McCann ($3,100) is perfect with a single, a double, a homer, and three RBI against Berrios.

Austin Hedges ($2,500) is 2-3 with a solo homer against Zack Greinke. Ryan Schimpf ($4,000) is also 2-3 with two doubles, but he has no counting stats.

Rajai Davis ($4,500) is 7-15(.467) with a homer and three RBI against Ian Kennedy. Francisco Lindor ($4,100) is 4-10 with two doubles and a walk. Tyler Naquin ($3,700) has three hits in six at bats with two walks, a double, two homers, and five RBI. Mike Napoli ($4,300) only has two hits in 11 at bats against Kennedy. Both of them are homers.

Jake Lamb ($4,400) is 2-7 with a walk, a triple, a homer, and two RBI against Luis Perdomo.

Brian McCann ($3,500) is 4-10 with two walks and two solo homers against Alex Cobb. Mark Teixeira ($3,000) is 4-13 with two walks, a homer, and two RBI. Brett Gardner ($4,100) only has four hits in 18 at bats, but he has four walks, a homer, and two RBI. Jacoby Ellsbury ($3,700) is only 5-25 against Cobb, but he also has a homer and two RBI.

Joe Panik ($3,400) is 2-3 with two walks and a solo homer against Kenta Maeda.

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 and for Week 3 in the NFL!