Wednesday’s MLB action features all 30 teams playing as the postseason draws near. On days when every MLB team is set to play, it’s important to have a specific plan in mind when planning your daily fantasy baseball lineup.
New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka and Chicago Cubs starter Jon Lester are the only ace-caliber pitchers set to take the mound Wednesday. The best course of action is to take a gamble on undervalued pitching options to make room for high-caliber offensive players.
Here are some of the top DraftKings picks for Wednesday, September 30.
Drew Smyly, SP, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Miami Marlins ($9,900)
Smyly has arguably been the most consistent pitcher for the Rays recently. The former Arkansas standout has recorded an unblemished 4-0 record with a 2.70 ERA over his past seven outings.
What has recently caught the attention of many fantasy owners has been his ability to consistently strike batters out. He has averaged more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched this season.
Smyly faces a favorable matchup against the struggling Marlins, who rank 29th in MLB with just 594 runs scored this season. On a day when there aren’t many true pitching aces to choose from, Smyly is an excellent option for Wednesday.
Marcus Stroman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles ($7,800)
Stroman was originally scheduled to pitch on Monday, but his start got moved back due to a postponement. Now, the former Duke standout is ready to perform at a high level with an additional day of rest against a struggling Orioles team.
Stroman has dominated through three starts this season for the Blue Jays. The 24-year-old has a 3-0 record with an impressive 1.89 ERA so far this season. While he isn’t a particularly sharp pitcher when it comes to recording strikeouts, he’s able to get out of jams early and often, as he has left 86 percent of runners on base.
The Orioles have struggled offensively in 2015 and rank 25th in MLB with a .248 team batting average. Stroman should be even more dangerous with an additional day of rest, which doesn’t bode well for Baltimore.
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers ($5,100)
Choo has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball during the second half of this season. He has a .421 batting average over his past 15 games and has helped lead the Rangers to the top of the American League West division.
What’s been particularly impressive about Choo has been his power at the plate. He has a .759 slugging percentage over his past seven games with three home runs. Choo will face Tigers starter Matt Boyd, who has struggled this season with a 6.91 ERA.
Choo has a great opportunity to keep his hot streak at the plate going against a struggling pitcher. As the regular season draws to a close, fantasy owners should take advantage of his reasonably low value given his recent performances.
Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds ($4,900)
It seems Bryant is finally finding his identity at the plate after a transition period for the 23-year-old this season. He has recorded a .339 batting average over his past 30 games played with a .386 on-base percentage.
What’s been impressive about Bryant has been his ability to drive in runs for the Cubs. He has racked up 99 RBI this season despite missing the first few weeks. Bryant and the Cubs will face Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani, who has allowed nine earned runs combined over his last two starts.
Bryant is living up to his potential as an upper-tier fantasy third baseman and should continue his hot hitting against the Reds on Wednesday.
Lorenzo Cain, OF, Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox ($4,700)
The Royals have struggled in recent weeks, but Cain has flourished despite their mishaps. He has a .333 batting average over his past seven games played and faces a favorable matchup against the White Sox.
Cain has been a balanced hitter all season long with a .835 OPS. He has a .455 batting average against White Sox starter Jose Quintana this season, which gives him a great advantage heading into Wednesday’s game.
Cain is one of the few Royals to trust right now as the team goes through a season-ending slump. Kansas City is still poised for a deep run in the postseason, and he will be a great fantasy option for the final games of the regular season.
All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via FanGraphs.com and MLB.com unless otherwise noted.
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