FanDuel MLB DFS Picks: Friday 9/13/24

Our daily fantasy helper is available every day to analyze FanDuel's main slate and give you a starting point when you're building lineups.

Be sure to incorporate our MLB DFS projections -- which are powered by numberFire -- into your research process. numberFire also has the latest starting lineups and weather as well as heat maps to help you find the best matchups.

Let's check out the top options on today's main slate.

Note: All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook. All stats come from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant unless noted otherwise.

MLB DFS Picks

Pitcher Breakdown

Yusei Kikuchi ($10,500) leads the main slate and carries the only salary reaching $10,000. Since being traded to the Houston Astros, Kikuchi has mostly excelled with a 3.07 ERA over seven starts, and he's posted single-game xFIPs of 3.44 or lower in six of the seven outings. He's got at least 6 punchouts in five of the seven starts, with spike outings of 11 and 12 Ks.

Kikuchi's opponent -- the Los Angeles Angels -- carry the sixth-lowest implied total for tonight (3.57) and own the third-highest strikeout percentage (K%) over the last 30 days. Following an elite 64.0 FanDuel points (FDP) in his most recent outing, Kikuchi is worth the salary he carries and boasts the highest projected FanDuel points for the main slate (37.2), per our MLB DFS projections.

There's a decent drop off after Kikuchi, with Bailey Ober ($9,800) holding the next-highest salary. Unlike Kikuchi, Ober may not be worth the lofty salary. He's tied for the fifth-highest projected FDP (32.5) despite coming in at the second-highest salary. Ober's single-game xFIPs have been over his season-long 3.93 xFIP in four of his last five appearances.

Tanner Bibee ($8,500) and Clarke Schmidt ($8,700) are a couple of solid options with good value. Bibee is carrying the third-most projected FDP (34.8) while Schmidt touts the fourth-highest projected total (32.9).

Bibee gets to face the Tampa Bay Rays, who have the seventh-fewest runs scored and are tied for the seventh-highest K% over the last 30 days. The Cleveland Guardians' starter is carrying a 6.5 strikeout prop tonight and has reached six strikeouts in four of his last five. Tampa Bay also holds the second-lowest implied total for the night (3.29).

As for Schmidt, the Boston Red Sox often rely on their slugging with the fifth-highest SLG and eighth-most home runs per contest. Schmidt has the goods to keep Boston's pop under wraps. He is in the top 29% of hard-hit rate allowed, and he's given up only one dinger in four of his last five. Boston is averaging 12.5 Ks per game over the last four, and Schmidt carries a 9.5 K/9 for the season. However, Schmidt is making only his second start since returning from an injury that held him out since late May, so he may not go deep into the game.

Another pitcher looking to get his feet under him following an injury is Jacob deGrom ($9,000). The salary suggests some serious upside. It is deGrom after all, but this is his first start in about a year and a half due to Tommy John surgery. A modest pitch count is likely, and that keeps me away from one of the most dominant pitchers of this generation.

Stacks to Target

• Chicago Cubs (5.62 implied total)
  • If anyone is facing Austin Gomber, stacking is in the cards -- especially at Coors. Gomber carries a 4.60 skill-interactive era (SIERA) and 4.48 xFIP, and his single-game xFIP has been above his season average in three of his last four starts. The Cubs have the second-most runs scored in baseball over the last 30 days. The high salaries of Ian Happ ($3,900) and Seiya Suzuki ($3,800) aren't that bad given the Coors factor.
• Minnesota Twins (4.95)
  • The Twins' sluggers have to be licking their chops for a matchup with the Cincinnati Reds' Julian Aguiar. The rookie carries dreadful marks against left-handed hitters over five starts, including 3.5 home runs per nine innings (HR/9), a 58.8% fly-ball rate, and a 20.0% home run to fly ball ratio (HR/FB). Any lefty slugger in Minnesota's lineup gets the green light tonight, such as Matt Wallner ($3,100), Trevor Larnach ($2,900), and Carlos Santana ($2,800).
• Houston Astros (4.91)
  • Rookie Samuel Aldegheri has a 2.45 ERA over two starts, but don't let that fool you as he holds a 6.15 xFIP. Houston carries a veteran batting order, one that has the eighth-highest batting average against lefties over the last 30 days. Aldegheri could get exposed tonight. As usual, Kyle Tucker ($4,100) and Yordan Alvarez ($4,000) are demanding high salaries. They're both in play despite the same-sided matchup, with Aldegheri carrying a 3.00 WHIP and 13.69 xFIP when facing lefties.

New to FanDuel Sportsbook? You’ll receive $200 in Bonus Bets guaranteed after your first bet of $5+ is placed! See here for full terms and conditions. Learn about today’s other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.

Looking to build some MLB DFS lineups? Check out FanDuel’s daily fantasy baseball lobby to see all the offerings for today’s slates.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.