3 MLB FanDuel Studs to Target on Thursday 9/9/21
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 well, too, 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.
Huascar Ynoa, P, Atlanta Braves ($8,800)
With only four games on the main slate tonight, Huascar Ynoa and Jose Berrios are really the only top-flight options.
Let's start by examining Berrios. He faces the New York Yankees inside of Yankee Stadium, and while the Bronx Bombers have struggled recently at the plate -- posting a .317 wOBA and 26.0% strikeout rate over the last 30 days -- they boast a 4.35 implied total. That's not a huge number, but it's not tiny, either.
On the other hand, Huascar Ynoa of the Atlanta Braves has an easier matchup. While the Washington Nationals have been producing well, their lineup doesn't look good on paper, and they have a measly 3.90 implied total, the second-lowest.
Ynoa also boasts a 26.9% strikeout rate, giving him the strikeout upside we like to target. Bet on him to have a big night.
Ozzie Albies, 2B, Atlanta Braves ($4,200)
The Atlanta Braves are going to be the chalk stack. Their 5.60 implied total is slightly more than one run above anyone else's. That puts Ozzie Albies in a money spot.
Sparkling at the dish, the second baseman has been far better from the left side of the plate -- which is where he will be against Erick Fedde. Albies boasts a scintillating .950 OPS from the left side, including a .275 ISO and 46.2% fly-ball rate.
Fedde hasn't been terrible this season, but he's also been rocked three times by Atlanta already in 2021. Albies is our number-two bat.
JT Realmuto, C, Philadelphia Phillies ($3,400)
Facing sinker-baller Antonio Senzatela, the Philadelphia Phillies and J.T. Realmuto make for a solid option.
Interestingly, Senzatela has had far more success this season against lefties, not righties. He's allowed a microscopic 0.46 homers per nine to opposite-handed bats this year. However, same-sided righties sport a far better mark of 0.90 jacks per nine. Righties also have a 38.1% hard-hit rate against him.
And Realmuto? He essentially sports equal splits against lefties and righties, and he could have a good day in this matchup. The Phils' 4.53 implied total is the second-best of the night.
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.
