This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The World Series has moved from Boston to Los Angeles, where the weather will be warmer. Will that get the Dodgers a much-needed win? More importantly, what kind of daily fantasy lineup will you put together? The contests are under showdown rules, which means you choose six players. You must have at least one player from each team, and you can't have more than four hitters from one team. With that in mind, here's the lineup I'd put together.
J.D. Martinez, BOS at LAD ($10,200):Walker Buehler has had the better season of the two pitchers in action Friday, but you don't argue with a bat like Martinez's. He had a 1.031 OPS with 43 homers in 150 games, and he's carried that over into the playoffs. In the postseason he's slashed .333/.429/.538 with 13 RBI. Though Boston will have to work to get him into the lineup without the DH, you do everything you can to make sure Martinez is in your lineup as a team.
Manny Machado, LAD vs. BOS ($10,000): Machado is another bat that needs no introduction. He slashed .297/.367/.538 with 37 homers, and he's hit at least 33 home runs in each of his last four seasons. Rick Porcello may have won a Cy Young a couple years ago, but he had a 4.28 ERA this year. Even if he gets pulled early, Machado should get at least a couple at bats against him. Plus, Machado hits both lefties and righties well.
Max Muncy, LAD vs. BOS ($9,100): Since Porcello is a righty, Muncy will get finally get the chance to start he frankly should have gotten in Games 1 and 2. In his breakout year, he had an 1.001 OPS against right-handed pitchers, and an 1.002 OPS at home. Though Porcello faced forty fewer lefties than righties this year, he allowed three more homers to left-handed batters (like the southpaw Muncy).
Justin Turner, LAD vs. BOS ($8,300): Heading into this season, Turner averaged a .888 OPS over his previous three seasons. This year, though he was limited by injury, he had a .924 OPS. He's also one of a handful of Dodgers hitters who was a better hitter at home than on the road, as he had a .947 OPS at Chavez Ravine. Meanwhile, Rick Porcello has a career FIP of 4.01.
Yasiel Puig, LAD vs. BOS ($8,000): Given that Walker Buehler had a 1.93 ERA at home, I think it makes sense why I'm primarily focused on Dodgers' hitters. Puig has been the best hitter for Los Angeles this postseason, as he has a slash line of .306/.405/.472. The Cuban is another hitter who is much better against righties than lefties, so this matchup with Porcello will play into his hands.
Craig Kimbrel, BOS at LAD ($3,300): Yes, Kimbrel has struggled at times, but he's also quite likely to get a chance to pitch. Beyond that, there's a good chance he'll pick up a save, which would earn you five points. Relief pitcher strikeouts are worth more too, and at this price Boston's closer could end up being a great value, presuming he does end up with a save. It's worth rolling the dice on.
