Kodai Senga ($10,800)

• Matchup: Minnesota Twins
• Strengths: Strikeout machine with a 28.9% strikeout rate post-All-Star break.
• Why You Should Consider Him: Senga’s recent form is impressive, with back-to-back outings boasting at least 10 strikeouts and five consecutive quality starts. The Twins, despite their offensive capabilities, present a high strikeout rate (27.3%) against righties, making Senga a compelling choice as your SP1.

Blake Snell ($10,600)

• Matchup: Houston Astros
• Strengths: Building a Cy Young-worthy resume with five quality starts.
• Why You Should Consider Him: Snell faces a tough opponent in the Astros, a team that excels against lefties. However, Snell’s remarkable consistency and dominant numbers (35.2% strikeout rate, 49.3% ground-ball rate, 25.4% hard-hit rate) since June make him a valuable option. The risk is there, but so is the reward.

Kyle Harrison ($8,600)

• Matchup: Colorado Rockies
• Strengths: High strikeout rate (32.8%) and promising underlying stats.
• Why You Should Consider Him: Harrison might be the hidden gem of this slate. His matchup against the struggling Rockies, who perform abysmally against lefties, is mouthwatering. With a low implied team total (3.32) for Colorado, Harrison’s potential for a strong outing is evident.

Yusei Kikuchi ($9,000)

• Matchup: Kansas City Royals
• Strengths: Solid form with a 25.2% strikeout rate.
• Why You Should Consider Him: Kikuchi, despite recent struggles, gets a favorable matchup against the Royals, who struggle against lefties. With a solid strikeout rate and a manageable implied team total (3.59), Kikuchi is a budget-friendly option with upside.

Final Thoughts

In this slate, we don’t have the luxury of established superstar pitchers. Instead, we have affordable options with promising matchups and recent success. Kodai Senga and Blake Snell present compelling cases for your top pitchers, while Kyle Harrison and Yusei Kikuchi offer value and potential upside.

Remember, in DFS, chasing upside can often lead to victory. So, whether you go with the established names or opt for the budget-friendly choices, make your picks wisely, and may your MLB DFS lineups be filled with winners.

Good luck, and may your fantasy baseball journey for Friday, September 8, 2023, be a successful one!