To type the numbers 9/11 still causes waves of emotions 18 years after our nation endured one of the darkest days in its history.
I can still shut my eyes and remember how the day went for me in the Satellite Operations office of Fox Sports Net and how a long day of gut-wrenching emotions and visuals that still haunt me culminated in my sitting on the floor of my living room crying uncontrollably at 11:30 pm as the National Anthem was played in the backdrop of the names that were confirmed dead.
Obviously, choosing a winning DFS lineup is secondary to the importance of this date. At the same time, the heroism displayed on that warm Tuesday morning in New York City, Washington D.C. and over the skies of Pennsylvania is a strong reminder of how, as Americans, we persist.
Play Ball, and let’s chase the long green.
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9/11 DFS Hitting Picks — Catcher
Mitch Garver, MIN vs. WAS
DK ($5,700), FD ($3,200)
Garver capped his breakout season with his 30th home run of the season in Tuesday’s win over the Nationals. He now has four dingers in his last three games to go along with seven RBI. He’ll enter the day with a 30.5% HR/FB rate and even against Stephen Strasburg, I’d take Garver and his 46.2% hard contact rate. With a 47.7% fly ball rate and a start to September that has seen Garver’s OPS climb above 1.700, he’s a good 9/11 DFS Hitting Picks play behind the plate (although he’ll likely serve as the DH).
9/11 DFS Hitting Picks — First Baseman
Matt Olson, OAK at HOU
DK ($4,500), FD ($3,600)
Like Garver, Olson reached the 30-HR barrier on Tuesday, serving as the ring leader of the A’s 21-7 payback to the Astros. Olson swatted a pair of homers, drove in four runs and scored three times to pace what was a 25-hit assault. He’s been locked in of late, having recorded hits in nine of his last 11 games that includes five homers. As hard as Garver has hit the ball, Olson has been more pronounced with his swing, delivering hard contact at a 51.2% rate. You have to like the fact Olson is getting line drives at a solid rate (24.7%) while also driving the ball consistently (43.2% fly ball rate). Chances are good he’ll be facing a taxed Astros pitching staff, making him an even stronger option.
9/11 DFS Hitting Picks — Second Baseman
Ketel Marte, ARI at NYM
DK ($5,300), FD ($4,100)
One game after having a run of at least 21.20 FanDuel points in four of his previous five games, Marte got back on track with a pair of hits on Tuesday. Even with an 0-for-4 on Monday, Marte is hitting .481 (13-for-27) in his last eight games with three homers and 10 RBI. Although he hasn’t hit the Mets well this season, two of his seven hits resulted in slow trots around the bases. Good things indeed do happen when your Isolated Power improves by 90 points (.177 last season, .267 this year). Marte has nearly doubled his HR/FB%, standing currently at 20.4% after a 10.9% output in 2018. His .340 BABIP is yet another reason why he’s a solid 9/11 DFS Hitting Picks member.
9/11 DFS Hitting Picks — Shortstop
Gleyber Torres, NYY at DET
DK ($9,400), FD ($4,000)
With D.J. LeMahieu getting Tuesday off, Torres filled the leadoff role. He proceeded to show why he costs a grip at DraftKings by leading off with his 36th homer of the season, helping to give him his fourth of double-digit scoring at FanDuel in his last five games. Torres has a “modest” .815 OPS against lefties (the Tigers will start southpaw Matthew Boyd tonight) yet his road OPS hovers near .950. He has an OPS over 1.200 over the past week and should be able to maintain his 42% fly ball rate.
9/11 DFS Hitting Picks — Third Baseman
Hunter Dozier, KC at CWS
DK ($4,900), FD ($3,900)
Dozier has multi-hit games in five of his last seven outings and has hit the White Sox well this season. In 48 at-bats against the Pale Hose, Dozier has a .354 batting average with three homers and nine RBI. The ability to draw walks has been a factor in Dozier’s 2019, as he sports a 10.3% walk rate along with elevating his BABIP from .296 last season to .342 this year. His 44.1% fly ball rate plays well in hitter-friendly Guaranteed Rate Park, even against a red-hot hurler like Reynaldo Lopez, who gets the nod for Chicago tonight.
9/11 DFS Hitting Picks — Outfielder
Austin Meadows, TB at TEX
DK ($5,200), FD ($3,900)
With four homers in his last six games, Meadows is putting the Rays on his young back and carrying them closer to the AL Wild Card with each swing. Tuesday marked the sixth time in the last nine games Meadows have produced at least 20 FanDuel points and is on a September tear that has him hitting .536 with eight of his 15 hits going for extra bases. The line drives Meadows hit in the minors are now becoming homers, evidenced by his 18.7% HR/FB rate. If the Rays peg him in the #2 spot, Meadows is a very strong 9/11 DFS Hitting Picks play, as his OPS is at 1.400 when hitting second.
9/11 DFS Hitting Picks — Outfielder
Ronald Acuna, Jr., ATL at PHI
DK ($5,200), FD ($4,000)
A three-hit effort on Tuesday continued Acuna’s success against Phillies pitching this season, as he is now at .357 with three homers, 10 RBI and 18 runs scored against them. Acuna smokes the ball at a 44.8% hard contact rate, but he’s becoming a complete hitter. He’s reduced his pull rate and is more of an all-fields hitter who is at 24.8% in HR/FB rate despite hitting fly balls 37.7% of the time. Philadelphia pitcher Zach Eflin has been an easy mark for Braves hitters this season, allowing 12 earned runs in 5.2 innings, so count on Acuna to help the Atlanta bats as extended batting practice against Eflin.
9/11 DFS Hitting Picks — Outfielder
Wil Myers, SD vs. CHC
DK ($4,100), FD ($2,800)
Myers is looking to finish the season strong, stretching his hitting streak to 10 games on Tuesday night. Myers has added 21 points to his batting average since August 30 and is a bargain play at FanDuel. Keep that in mind as he has also been a solid hitter against lefties, producing an .898 OPS despite a .233 batting average. The recent run has helped boost his walk rate to 10.2% along with one of the few times this season Myers’ 48.3% hard contact rate is being put to good use.
9/11 DFS Hitting Stacks
9/11 Hitting Stack of the Day: Oakland A’s: The Astros will go with righty Jose Urquidy, so stack the Oakland lefty bats starting with Olson. Seth Brown ($3400 FanDuel) should be in the lineup as well. Jurickson Profar ($3900 DraftKings) is a solid stack option, but also keep righty bats Khris Davis (a cheap $2700 at FD) and Marcus Semien ($4600 DK) as options.
9/11 Hitting Stack Runner-Up: Atlanta Braves: As previously mentioned, the Braves have hammered Eflin. Acuna is a lock, but Dansby Swanson ($2800 FD) is a value play. Brian McCann ($3500 DK)gets a favorable lefty/righty matchup as well. You have to like Josh Donaldson ($5100 DK) and Ozzie Albies ($3300 FD) among the buffet table of options.
9/11 Hitting Stack to Consider: Tampa Bay Rays: Texas starter Ariel Jurado has a 6.93 ERA in his last 10 appearances while hitters have teed off on him at a .320 clip and 1.60 WHIP. Meadows is front and center in a stack, with Avisail Garcia ($4300 DK) is a good 9/11 DFS Hitting Picks sleeper.
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