9/23 DFS Hitting Picks and Stacks: Monday Mayhem

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For the final Monday of the regular season, we have an abbreviated five-game slate ahead of us. While that’s small, it should make for a fun schedule. What’s crazy about this time of the year are all of the wacky managerial decisions. Many pitchers are having pitch counts limited and many teams who are out of it are experimenting and it’s causing chaos for DFS players. With that in mind, we only have two great stacks, so, let’s get to our 9/23 DFS hitting picks and stacks of the day. 

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Baltimore Orioles vs. Clay Buchholz 

While Baltimore may not be the prettiest team of the day, they’re easily my favorite stack. That’s one of the major reasons I like them though, as they should be low-owned. That paired with this matchup is a beautiful recipe. With the O’s squaring off with Clay Buchholz. The Toronto righty has been atrocious this season, pitching to a 7.16 ERA and 1.55 WHIP since his first start. That’s a nightmarish nine-game stretch and Baltimore was a major part of that, dropping seven runs and 10 hits on him in his most recent outing. Getting to use the Orioles is a huge salary saver too and these guys will be sprinkled into all of my lineups.  

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Jhoulys Chacin 

While Chacin is only expected to go a handful of innings, we still love the Rays. Let’s begin with that starter, as Chacin is pitching to a 5.66 ERA and 1.55 WHIP this season. Those dreadful numbers should get Tampa off to a nice start and then the bullpen should continue their big evening. In fact, the Red Sox bullpen is allowing 5.07 runs per game, ranking 20^th in MLB. That gives the Rays great matchup after great matchup and all of these guys are reasonably affordable too.  

9/23 DFS Hitting Stacks of the Day 

9/23 DFS Hitting Catcher  

Wilson Ramos, NYM vs. MIA 

DK ($3,600)   FD ($2,500) 

It was very tough to pick a catcher on this slate but Ramos is always a good option. What makes him intriguing today is the fact that he gets to face a lefty, with Ramos accumulating a .350 AVG, .424 OBP and .958 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor this season. He actually has a .910 OPS against lefties dating all the way back to 2017 and he clearly sees the ball a lot better from that side. This happens to be a struggling lefty too, with Caleb Smith pitching to a 6.38 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over his last eight starts.  

9/23 DFS Hitting First Baseman 

Ji-Man Choi, TB vs. BOS 

DK ($4,400)   FD ($3,100) 

This is probably my favorite per-dollar play on the board. The reason for that is because Choi has been one of the best hitters in the league the last month, providing a .303 AVG, .417 OBP, .621 SLG and 1.038 OPS over his last 22 games. That’s really no surprise when you see his splits, with Choi generating a .373 OBP, .498 SLG and .871 OPS against right-handers since 2017. That’s why the Rays typically bat him leadoff or cleanup in these circumstances, only adding to his value in this superb matchup 

9/23 DFS Hitting Second Baseman 

Starlin Castro, MIA at NYM 

DK ($3,900)   FD ($3,000) 

This is one of the first times I’ve written up a Marlin all season but Castro has quietly had a nice year for them. Collecting 21 homers and 84 RBI for this lineup and nightmare ballpark is a testament to how good Castro has been and he’s simply way underpriced on these DFS sites. The thing that makes him enticing today is that he gets to face a lefty, with Castro providing a .325 AVG, .541 SLG and .895 OPS against them this season. We’re really not concerned about Steven Matz and his 4.54 FIP and 1.33 WHIP either.  

9/23 DFS Hitting Third Baseman 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr, TOR vs. BAL 

DK ($4,000)   FD ($3,200) 

Why is this dude priced so cheaply? He’s been one of the best hitters in the AL since putting on a show in the Home Run Derby and it’s just a matter of time before he’s one of the best hitters in our sport. Since July 19, Guerrero has a .325 AVG, .383 OBP, .515 SLG and .899 OPS. That’s the stud that we were waiting for and we have to love him against Dylan Bundy’s 4.89 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. In 53 at-bats against this putrid pitching staff, Guerrero is hitting .472 en route to a .717 SLG and 1.217 OPS.  

9/23 DFS Hitting Shortstop 

Jonathan Villar, BAL at TOR 

DK ($4,900)   FD ($3,500) 

Villar is easily my favorite play of our Orioles stack. He’s expected to hit leadoff against Buchholz and that alone puts him in play. His recent form is absolutely absurd too, with Villar posting a .327 AVG, .397 OBP, .578 SLG and .976 OPS over his last 53 games played. He also has 21 steals in that span and he’s simply one of the best power-speed guys in the league right now. Getting the platoon advantage against Buchholz is the icing on the cake, with Villar amassing a .357 OBP, .470 SLG and .827 OPS against righties while swiping 29 of his 38 steals this season.  

9/23 DFS Hitting Outfielders 

Juan Soto, WSH vs. PHI 

DK ($5,100)   FD ($4,200) 

We provided a ton of value in the infield write-ups, so let’s give you guys some studs in the outfield. Soto is just that, as he’s one of the league leaders with a .401 OBP and .966 OPS. Those are amazing numbers from a 20-year-old and much of that damage has come recently. Over his last 50 games, Soto has a .415 OBP, .667 SLG and 1.082 OPS. That’s bad news for Zach Eflin, with Soto totaling a .414 OBP .602 SLG and 1.015 OPS against right-handers this season.  

Austin Meadows, TB vs. BOS 

DK ($5,500)   FD ($4,400) 

Meadows has truly broken out as one of the best OF’s in the AL and it appears we have a perennial All-Star for years to come. Any rookie with 32 homers and a .286 AVG is impressive but it’s also backed up by a .563 SLG and .921 OPS. He’s absolutely scorching right now too, accruing a .325 AVG, .394 OBP, .737 SLG and 1.131 OPS over his last 29 games played. Facing Chacin and this crappy bullpen is simply a bonus, with Meadows posting a .383 OBP, .582 SLG and .964 OPS against righties so far this year.  

Marcell Ozuna, STL at ARI 

DK ($4,500)   FD ($3,300) 

I really don’t want to stack against Alex Young with the way he’s pitching but Ozuna is a nice one-off. We’re still talking about a guy with a .282 AVG, .488 SLG and .832 OPS dating back to 2017 and he’s simply one of the best power bats in baseball. He’s always been better against southpaws despite his down numbers this year, posting a .288 AVG, .353 wOBA and .490 SLG against them for his career. Young is certainly a guy who could see some negative regression too, with the lefty’s 4.51 xFIP way off of his 3.27 ERA.