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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

We snuck the worst Saturday main slate for pitching in at the bell. Loosely defining all three words, there isn't one "quality" hurler in a "friendly" matchup on a "normal" pitch count.

Two of the options above $9,000, Reynaldo Lopez and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, are less than 15 innings back from the injured list and contenders. Lopez is rumored for normal work but in a tough matchup with the Kansas City Royals, and Yamamoto's at Coors. I feel I have to look elsewhere on common sense.

Seth Lugo ($9,700) isn't a horrible start against Lopez's Atlanta Braves, holding a responsible 3.73 expected ERA (xERA) into his final start. Atlanta's last 30 days against righties has merited just a 97 wRC+ -- though they haven't struck out much (21.7% rate) in this time.

The final hurler over $9K is Jose Quintana (4.49 xERA) in a tough road matchup. Pass. Turning to the bargain bin, we'll actually find arguably the best overall pitching case on the slate.

That's Zebby Matthews ($7,100) to me. The Minnesota Twins' top prospect has begun to found his footing with 11 strikeouts over his last 9.1 innings, allowing just a pair of earned runs within them. I'm sort of trusting his talent with the Baltimore Orioles' team wRC+ (102) significant less frightening over the last 30 days.

Alternatives exist depending on what you're willing to overlook. The slate's lowest game total is in Seattle (7.5 runs), but neither Emerson Hancock ($7,200) or Joey Estes have earned the benefit of the doubt from me with xERAs in the 25th percentile or worse.

Albert Suarez ($7,800) is also a consideration as a low-whiff pitcher (19.2% K rate) in a low-whiff matchup with Minnesota, but the Twins' offense has gone into the tank against righties in the past month (.602 team OPS).

Stacks to Target

• Los Angeles Dodgers (6.68 implied team total)
  • It's a good thing we're not spending much salary at pitcher. L.A. is in one of those outstanding spots at Coors, facing off with Antonio Senzatela (7.92 xERA) in a meaningless affair. While this lineup could be down a resting star or two, it's hard to see their path to failure between the low-whiff righty and a reeling Colorado Rockies bullpen (4.13 xFIP in the last 30 days).
• Texas Rangers (4.52)
  • My stacks will come primarily from two environments not greatly impacted by cooling weather. The first is at Coors, and the showdown between the Rangers and Los Angeles Angels in Orange County is the other. Texas draws Griffin Canning (4.74 xERA) in his final start of a dismal 2024. This lineup is starting to heat up against righties without Corey Seager, posting a .700 OPS in the split over the last month.
• Los Angeles Angels (3.98)
  • Will Andrew Heaney finally pay for his sins in the final start? Heaney has lived on the edge with a 44.8% flyball rate and 39.8% hard-hit rate all season and overcome both to post a 3.98 ERA. A few Angels bats -- namely Taylor Ward ($3,000) and Logan O'Hoppe ($2,800) -- have smashed lefties of late.
• Seattle Mariners (3.76)
  • If you've been burned using pitchers against the M's in September, it's because this isn't close to the same offenses against righties that it was. They have the best team OPS against RHP this month (.809). Joey Estes (4.49 xERA) and a struggling Oakland Athletics 'pen (4.20 xFIP in September) don't exactly scare me off that trend.

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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.