jason mezrahi 
We’ve reached the decisive Game 5 for both NLDS matchups on 10/9 DFS — here are my picks for the two-game slate and the featured Showdown.
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10/9 DFS Two-Game Slate (DK& FD)
The games: St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves (5:02 p.m.), Washington Nationals atLos Angeles Dodgers (8:37 p.m.)
10/9 DFS SP Strategy and Picks
I’m focused on the home favorite for SP1 here – since home-fieldadvantage in the MLB playoffs is a real and palpable thing. The DK pricing is,thankfully, soft enough for us to find plenty of big bats. For SP2, I’ll have alittle of both Jack Flaherty (consistent value at his price) and MikeFoltynewicz, who was excellent in his start on Oct. 4. Startingpitching has been really great in the postseason thus far, so youreally can’t go wrong with any combo.
SP1: Walker Buehler (DK $9,000, FD $10,300)
Buehler has the highest upside of any pitcher on the slate, evenif his leash is a little shorter than Strasburg’s. For the $400 discount, he’smy SP1 – and I’m fine with him being chalky.
SP2: Jack Flaherty (DK $7,400, FD $9,600)
Flahery has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since the All-star break (his .189 wOBA in the second half is almost beyond belief) and he went 117 pitches in his last start, which tells me the Cards are going to let him win or lose this thing.
10/9 DFS Hitters
10/9DFS C: Yadier Molina, STL (DK $3,900, FD $2,800)
Molina was thehero on Monday for the Cards, and while he’s back on the road for decuisiveGame 5, this veteran has had success against Folty in a limited sample (7-for-18,.432 wOBA with a HR) Pivot: Brian McCann (DK $3,200)
10/9DFS 1B: Paul Goldschmidt, STL (DK $4,900, FD $3,800)
He came through for us on Monday so I’m going back to the well inGame 5. Goldy is one of the best fantasy assets in baseball over the past fiveyears and he’s a complete offensive player who can rack up the XBH. The pricehas come up a bit but he’s worth the extra expense. Pivot: Freddie Freeman
10/9DFS 2B: Max Muncy, LAD (DK $4,500, 3B on FD $3,800)
Muncy is having an electric postseason with a couple homers andthree games scoring over 20 DK points. He’s eligible at 1B if you’re stacking Dodgersand want to use Gavin Lux at second base for the discount. Pivot: Gavin Lux
10/9DFS 3B: Justin Turner, LAD (DK $4,200, FD $3300)
I’m not a hugebeliever in BvP, but a small sample analysis within the small sample frameworkof the playoffs makes some sense. The track record against Strasburg and RHPsin general is a good one, and Turner((142 wRC+ and .294 ISO this season) has homered in his last twogames this postseason. Pivot: Anthony Rendon/Tommy Edman
10/9DFS SS: Corey Seager, LAD (DK $3,900, FD $2,900)
There’s plenty of risk starting Seageragainst Strasburg, but he’s an exciting young player who came alive in Septemberwith a .304/.337/.646 slash line, seven homersand 23 RBI during the final month, and he has a clear affinity for playoffbaseball. He’s been getting hits but hasn’t posted the big lien yet. Today couldbe the day he breaks through with some XBH. Pivot: Paul DeJong
10/9DFS OF: Juan Soto, WAS (DK $4,500, FD $3,700)
I won’t have to much exposure to the Nationals in this game, butone player who’s worth the risk is Soto – who had a monster Game 3 and appearsready for the big stage of a Game 5. If the Nats pull this out, he’s going tohave a lot to do with it. Pivot: Clay Bellinger
10/9DFS OF: Marcell Ozuna, STL (DK $4,900, FD $3,900)
There isn’t a hotter hitter in the NL postseason than Ozuna, whohas multi-hit games in all of the NLDS tilts thus far and is coming off atwo-homer game in Game 4. He’ll be extremely chalky on this two-game slate becausehis game logs will attract plenty of attention from the masses – but you shouldhave some exposure to this slugger who hit 31 homers in 2019 and now has a.275/.341/.650 slash line against the Braves in 2019 if you count thepostseason. Pivot: Ronald Acuna
10/9DFS OF: Matt Joyce, ATL (DK $3,200, FD $2,300)
We need to find some value somewhere, so Joyce fits the bill if he’sin the starting lineup. If he’s not, you’ll have a difficult decision to make –since it could be difficult to find a viable DK OF under $3,500. Pivot: DexterFowler (DK $3,900)
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10/9DFS Featured Single-Game (8:37 ESTon FD)
Hitters only – so we can focus on the Dodgers bats we like andplay one or two Nats hitters with upside. We’ll slap the modestly priced JustinTurner in the MVP spot, since many will be drawn to the higher priced bats at 2x.
SampleFD lineup:
MVP (2x) – J. Turner ($7,000) – If he homers, he’ll pay off
All-Star (1.5x) – T. Turner ($8,500) – His ability to steal basesat will could be huge today.
UTIL – M. Muncy ($8,000)
UTIL – C. Seager ($6,500)
UTIL – G. Lux ($5,000)
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10/9DFS Featured Showdown (8:37 p.m.on DK)
It may be beneficial to play one or two Dodgers and/or Nats batswe like, somehow fit in Buehler and pick an off-the-wall bench player on eitherteam to come through with a big hit late in the game.
Sample DK Showdown Lineup:
Captain (1.5x) – J. Turner ($12,000)
UTIL – W. Buehler ($11,000)
UTIL – G. Lux ($4,200)
UTIL – M. Muncy ($9,000)
UTIL – J. Soto ($8,800)
UTIL – B. Dozier ($5,000)
