This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
On Thursday, MLB is pulling a Hulk Hogan and being a Real American. That is to say, the two playoff games taking place are from the two American League series. It's the Astros versus the White Sox and the Rays versus the Red Sox. Here are my recommendations for your DFS lineup.
PITCHING
Shane McClanahan, TAM vs. BOS ($8,800): In his rookie campaign, McClanahan posted a 3.30 FIP and struck out 10.29 batters per nine innings. There are no easy matchups here. However, Boston is on the road after having just played the Wild Card game in New York. Tampa, meanwhile, is at home and rested. You can save a little money on McClanahan but still get a good pitcher in maybe the best matchup of the day.
TOP TARGET
Tim Anderson, CWS at HOU ($3,600): Anderson hit .309 this season, his third season in a row batting over .300. He also hit 17 home runs and stole 18 bases. Lance McCullers doesn't allow home runs, which is why I wanted a guy who can hit for average. Additionally, McCullers did have a 3.51 home ERA compared to a 2.70 road ERA.
VALUE BAT
Michael Brantley, HOU vs. CWS ($2,500): Anderson posted his third season in a row hitting at least .300, but Brantley had his fourth. He also posted a .924 OPS versus righties in 2021, and since 2019 his OPS versus right-handed pitcher is .926. Lance Lynn had an excellent year, but that's to be expected from a pitcher in Game 1 of the playoffs. At this salary, Brantley still has a lot of upside.
STACK TO CONSIDER
Rays vs. Eduardo Rodriguez: Randy Arozarena ($3,600), Wander Franco ($3,400), Yandy Diaz ($2,800)
The Red Sox used Chris Sale in the season finale to get to the playoffs and then used Nathan Eovaldi in their win over the Yankees. That leaves Rodriguez to start this game. Rodriguez had a 4.74 ERA this year, and his career ERA is 4.16. The lefty also let righties hit .282 against him this season. As such, I grabbed three Rays who bat righty at least some of the time.
Arozarena was the breakout star of the 2020 postseason. Can he do it again in 2021? He did have a .913 OPS at home and a .921 OPS versus lefties this year. Franco was basically everything we expected in his debut campaign, especially against lefties. The switch-hitting youngster had a 1.020 OPS against southpaws. Diaz typically gets in the lineup when a left-hander is pitching. He put up a .353 OBP, and his career OBP is .359.
