This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We have a single-game Showdown on DraftKings for Sunday. The Dodgers, after being on the verge of elimination twice, have rallied back to push their series versus the Braves to a Game 7. The winner will advance to the World Series and face the Tampa Bay Rays, who just escaped their own seven-game series against the Astros to earn their first World Series appearance since 2008. The Braves will lean on Ian Anderson in today's matchup while the Dodgers will put Tony Gonsolin on the mound. Both pitchers will have tough tasks as the opposing offenses are loaded. Despite that, taking pitchers in a Showdown format is usually a solid strategy when considering the raw points they can provide - especially if the game is low scoring, which is somewhat typical in the playoffs.
Captain Picks
Ian Anderson, ATL vs. LAD ($11,400) Captain ($17,100): Coming in as the most expensive option, Anderson offers the upside you want in the Captain spot since he can continually add fantasy points with outs and strikeouts as opposed to a batter who only gets so many opportunities to produce. This choice can have its disadvantages if the pitcher doesn't have his stuff and gets shelled, but by and large it's an approach that has tournament-winning appeal. On the season, Anderson has been tremendous by averaging five strikeouts per game and scoring double-digit fantasy points in eight of nine starts. He posted a decent outing in Game 2 of this series by striking out five over four innings, but can hopefully be more efficient this time and secure a win to increase his overall ceiling.
Ozzie Albies, ATL vs. LAD ($8,200) Captain ($12,300): If you can't find a way to get Anderson into the Captain spot, saving some salary with Albies isn't a bad alternative. He's a switch hitter who will always have the platoon advantage and faces Gonsolin who he crushed in Game 2 with three hits, including a homer and two RBI. He's also decent at stealing bases and tends to bat in the top half of the batting order. And since the Braves are considered the road team, they could potentially be more valuable as they will be guaranteed 9th inning at-bats.
Utility Plays
Corey Seager, LAD vs. ATL ($9,800): The Dodgers' shortstop has been on fire this series with two 30 fantasy point games - and nearly a third - as he continues to rake by hitting five home runs over his last six while piling up 11 RBI. He was one of the few Dodgers to get to Ian Anderson in Game 2 and had been the club's clear standout throughout the playoffs. Fitting Seager into your lineups may be tricky considering some of the other high upside bats available, but he remains the safest option in the Dodgers' potent batting order.
Freddie Freeman, ATL vs. LAD ($9,400): While he hasn't flashed the same upside as Seager, Freeman is one of the best hitters in baseball and in this series. He was dominant in Game 2 against Tony Gonsolin by going deep on his way to three RBI and helping to get the win. Freeman is one of the few Braves to earn a platoon advantage today and can hopefully use that effectively when you factor in his 42.4 precent hard hit rate and stellar .299 ISO versus right-handed pitchers.
Key Values
Nick Markakis, ATL vs. LAD ($5,400): You'll most likely need a cheap bat or two to fit in some of the higher upside plays. While it hasn't been the best year for Markakis, he still boasts raw power and gets a platoon advantage against Gonsolin. He knocked a triple last night and drove in the Braves', so hopefully he can do something similar tonight while carrying one of the more reasonable salaries.
Edwin Rios, LAD vs. ATL ($4,000): Rios isn't a guarantee to crack the lineup, but could make for one of the best values on the board at minimum price in the Showdown format. He received the start in Games 3 and 4 and swatted a homer in each, so the upside is clearly there but we have to hope he can find his way into the batting order. Rios has also been dealing with a groin issue, so that should be monitored leading up to lock time.
