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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on April 21st, 2022. Brian Entrekin's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Welcome back to another edition of the FREE DraftKings and FanDuel MLB DFS picks. Today we have a 7-game slate on DK and a 6-game slate on FD as DK has added the AZ/WAS game at 4:05 pmEST. When looking at pitching, it's simple for me. Just pay up for Cease and pair with one of three other options listed below. You can try and get cute if you want, but take the elite pitching options and take some chances with your bats.
It's a getaway day for all teams, leading to exciting lineups. There are some primary teams to target, such as the Yankees and Dbacks, but more targets will be based on lineups on this slate. The interesting game is TOR/BOS in a game between Kevin Gausman and Tanner Houck with the highest projected game total on the slate. It should be another fun game with a ton of value opening up when lineups are released, meaning paying for studs should not be a problem.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for Fanduel and DraftKings on 4/21/2022. The lineup will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, find me on Twitter and ask away!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Dylan Cease - P, CWS at CLE ($10,100 DK, $10,300 FD)
Cease has been as advertised to start the season. Throwing at least five innings in each of his two starts, allowing one run in each start and striking out eight in each start. He has allowed zero barrels to start the season with a 35% hard-hit rate. He is limiting any good quality of contact while making hitters look foolish, thanks to a 15.3% SwStr and 31.2% CSW. It only gets better for Cease as he faces the woeful Guardians today. Look for Cease to continue his excellent start to the season with another dominating performance.
Paul Blackburn - P, OAK vs. BAL ($8,600 DK, $7,600 FD)
Blackburn has put together a great start to the 2022 season. He has thrown at least five innings in each start, allowing only two runs versus the Jays and striking out ten over both starts. Blackburn's velocity increase this season has been a significant factor in his success, and he will look to continue that in an outstanding matchup versus the Orioles. An Orioles team is striking out 26% of the time versus RHP this season with a horrible .196 batting average against and .088 ISO. Nevertheless, Blackburn should be popular, and I am willing to give him another shot today at a friendly price tag.
Other options: Joe Ryan at KC ($9,300 DK, $8,200 FD), Jordan Montgomery at DET ($6,900 DK, $7,800 FD)
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Anthony Rizzo - 1B, NYY at Michael Pineda ($4,300 DK, $3,500 FD)
On Wednesday, Rizzo went 2-4 with a double and a home run. Rizzo's fourth home run was excellent, but he is only hitting .231. The average may struggle, but his .359 ISO and .412 OBP, thanks to a 15.7% walk rate, help rack up the fantasy points. Rizzo and the Yankees will face Pineda today, making his first start of the season. Last season, Pineda allowed LHH to hit .290 with 1.6 HR/9. Rizzo and the Yankees are the top stack today, so stack accordingly.
Jeff McNeil - 2B, NYM vs. Anthony DeSclafani ($3,800 DK, $3,300 FD)
After a down year, McNeil appears to be finding his footing again. He has hit safely in seven of 11 games to start the season with a .293 batting average. The power is still not back for McNeil, as he has one home run to go with a .098 ISO, but he is walking 10.6% of the time, which helps him set the table for the big bats. Over the last five games, McNeil has hit leadoff four times and third once. He brings a lovely cash game floor into play and a piece of a sneaky Mets stack.
Maikel Franco- 3B, WAS vs. Zach Davies ($2,800 DK, $N/A FD)
For most of the spring, it did not appear Franco would even have an everyday role with the Nationals. However, after an injury to Carter Kieboom, Franco is back and playing well. On Wednesday, he was 1-4, giving him a five-game hitting streak. He is hitting .280 with a home run and nine RBI. Today, Franco and the Nats face Davies, who has been bad to start the season. He has allowed seven runs over 9.1 innings with two home runs. So, when stacking the Nats, do not just look at the lefties and remember Franco as an excellent value piece hitting in the middle of the order.
Tim Anderson- SS, CWS at Zach Plesac ($5,900 DK, $3,900 FD)
Today's slate's shortstop position is less than ideal, so it is all about paying up for Anderson. He has been on fire to start the season, hitting safely in six of eight games for a .375 batting average. He is only striking out 12.1% of the time, leading to more balls in play. He will face Plesac today, who has been decent but still pitching to a lot of contact as he only has a 15.9% strikeout rate. He also allows a 13.9% barrel rate and 50% hard-hit rate, meaning a blowup should be coming soon. Pay up for Anderson today and potentially stack up some White Sox for some contrarian action.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Brandon Nimmo- OF, NYM vs. Anthony DeSclafani ($3,900 DK, $3,600 FD)
I mentioned the Mets as an intriguing stack today, and Nimmo also fits that mix. On Wednesday, he went 2-5, which raises his batting average to .323. Nimmo is still walking a ton like he always does, 15.8% of the time, but has also flexed some muscle with four extra-base hits, two of which were home runs. He will face Tony Disco tonight, who has allowed LHH to hit .417 in a small 2022 sample, but over his career, has allowed over 1 HR/9 versus LHH. So do not forget Nimmo tonight.
Aaron Hicks - OF, NYY at Michael Pineda ($3,400 DK, $2,700)
Hicks has gotten off to a solid start to the season, hitting .303 with a home run and a stolen base. He is also walking 16.7% of the time while only striking out 14.3%. Over the last four games, his fantasy value has only gone up as he is leading off for the Yankees. That is quite the discounted price tag for the Yankees leadoff hitter in a juicy matchup versus Pineda. Hicks is a great cash game value and a lock-in all Yankees' stacks.
Joc Pederson- OF, SF at Carlos Carrasco ($3,100 DK, $3,400 FD)
JOC JAMS!!!! Joc has been scorching hot to start the season as one of the Giants RHP mashers. He is hitting .310 to go with three home runs, a .310 ISO, and .976 OPS. He has scored double-digit fantasy points in five of his last six games and comes into a juicy matchup today at quite a discount. He will face Carrasco, who has been solid enough to start the season, but that has not stopped Joc as he took Cylor deep on Tuesday. Joc makes for a great tournament play today.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers (Michael Pineda, RHP)
The Yankees are my top stack today. They will probably be popular, but I do not care. They get to face Pineda, so let's stack them up. You can target Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, but do not forget about the likes of Joey Gallo to be a bit different. Whatever you do, make sure to have Hicks and Rizzo in your builds.
Washington Nationals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (Zach Davies, RHP)
Davies has been bad to start the season and pitches to a ton of contact. Juan Soto is a lock, so pair him up with Franco and more. Josh Bell may be out with injury, but there is always Nelson Cruz. Some sneakier plays like Keibert Ruiz and Yadiel Hernandez could make for a contrarian build.
New York Mets vs. San Francisco Giants (Anthony DeSclafani, RHP)
Most will not look to target DeSclafani, which means more contrarian fun for us. McNeil and Nimmo are critical pieces for me, and I will look to pair them with Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.
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