DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (4/2/23): Today's Top MLB DFS Lineups

April 2, 2023

The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on April 2nd, 2023. John Brubaker's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.

Happy Sunday RotoBallers! I'm excited to cover my first DFS slate of the baseball season. The last MLB season was good to me, so I'm looking to build off that momentum and hit the ground running in 2023. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's slate!

We are light on ace pitching today compared to the previous three days. We've entered SP3 and SP4 territory so that no pitcher will feel like a lock. I'll point out the standout plays, but with a ten-game slate and so much uncertainty on the mound, there will be plenty of opportunity to get creative with your picks today.

This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/2/2023 and the slate locking at 1:10 pm ET. The lineup picks 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 here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. Now that we got all that out of the way, it's onto the picks!

DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Joe Ryan, MIN at KC ($8,600 DK, $10,000 FD)

Based on the matchup and upside, Ryan will be one of the slate's strongest plays. In 2022, he featured a substantial 25% strikeout rate and 3.55 ERA. During spring training, Ryan also debuted a new slider and splitter, which has reportedly impressed and bolsters his strikeout upside. What makes Ryan most enticing is that he squares off with the Royals. Kansas City has yet to score a run through their first two games of 2023, and their offense never projected well, to begin with. Ryan looks to be a good floor and ceiling play.

Jeffrey Springs, TB vs. DET ($7,800 DK, $9,500 FD)

Springs will be very popular, but I'm willing to eat the chalk because of the lack of reliable options here. Last year, he posted a 2.46 ERA, 3.04 FIP, 147 ERA+, and 26.2% strikeout rate. Springs is also fresh off a dominant preseason, where he allowed no runs and struck out 24 batters across 14 innings. Further, the matchup couldn't be much better against a weak Detroit Tigers offense. The only downside for Springs is that he never pitched past the sixth inning in any outing last season, which limits his ceiling.

Also consider: Chris Bassitt, Luis Garcia

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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Pete Alonso – 1B, NYM vs. Trevor Rogers ($5,300 DK, $3,800 FD)

Rogers is coming off a brutal 2022 season, featuring a 4.84 xERA, 4.11 xFIP, .425 xSLG, and .338 xwOBA. In particular, he could not handle right-handed hitters, who hit 14 home runs and slugged .520 against Rogers. He's hoping to rebound in 2023, but the 5.00 ERA he posted in spring training won't help his case. On the flip side, Pete Alonso has historically handled left-handed pitchers, owning a career .531 slugging percentage and .295 ISO – including one last home run off Rogers.

Joey Meneses – 1B, WSH vs. Jared Shuster ($4,700 DK, $3,200 FD)

Meneses annihilated left-handed pitching last season to the tune of a .676 slugging percentage and .310 ISO. Shuster is an unproven lefty making his MLB debut, who also surrendered 1.4 home runs per nine innings over his two-year minor league career. Meneses is in a good spot here and additionally qualifies as an outfielder on DraftKings.

Spencer Steer – 3B, CIN vs. Vince Velasquez ($3,100 DK, $2,600 FD)

Steer's MLB service time has been brief, but he showed off some serious pop in the minors. He hit 23 home runs with a .515 slugging percentage in 106 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year. Steer will take on Vince Velasquez, who has struggled mightily against right-handed hitting throughout his career. Velasquez also ranked in the bottom percentile in baseball last year with his atrocious 91.6 MPH average exit velocity and 13% barrel rate.

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Ronald Acuna Jr. – OF, ATL vs. MacKenzie Gore ($6,200 DK, $4,100 FD)

Gore's 2022 campaign ranked near the bottom of the league in many metrics, including his .438 xSLG, .349 xwOBA, 9.7% barrel rate, .259 xBA, and 90.8 MPH average exit velocity. We discuss how much the numbers hated Gore's performance, but the point is made. He gets hit hard, and his lackluster spring does little to dissuade that reputation. Several Braves will look good in this matchup, and Acuna should be the first to target. Gore struggles mightily against right-handed hitting, and Acuna's career 15% barrel rate will stack up well against anyone.

Adam Duvall – OF, BOS vs. Cole Irvin ($3,500 DK, $2,700 FD)

Duvall might have entered the regular season on a heater. Through two games, he has five hits in nine at-bats, including two home runs, a double, and six runs batted in. Duvall also draws a favorable matchup with Cole Irvin, who got hit hard last season -- .451 xSLG, .258 xBA, 89.4 MPH average exit velocity, and 9.6% barrel rate. Duvall also slugged .562 with a .329 ISO against left-handed pitching in 2022.

Joey Wiemer – OF, MIL vs. Jameson Taillon ($2,100 DK, $2,000 FD)

If you're looking for a minimum-priced player with stud upside, consider Wiemer. He made his MLB debut on Saturday, smacking a double in his first career at-bat. Wiemer features a rare combination of 60-grade power and 60-grade speed. He produced 21 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 127 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season. Wiemer will square off with Jameson Taillon, who surrendered 21 stolen bases, 26 home runs, and .432 xSLG in 2022.

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

Atlanta Braves vs. MacKenzie Gore

This feels like it's been a trend all weekend, but the Braves look great for stacking again. Mackenzie Gore was once a top pitching prospect but struggled greatly in his first MLB exposure last year. Gore posted a 4.50 ERA across 70 innings pitched, though the advanced stats (5.21 xERA) suggest the results should have been much worse. Look for the robust Braves lineup to hit him hard and capitalize on the weak pitching matchup. Atlanta has been very popular, so expect chalk here again.

Favorite Plays: Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies

New York Mets vs. Trevor Rogers

The Mets are another core play today. Trevor Rogers is coming off an awful season, and the Mets are particularly well-equipped to take down left-handed pitching. Given Rogers' very dramatic lefty/righty splits -- .296 slugging vs. lefties; .520 slugging vs. righties -- focusing on the Mets' right-handed bats will be the most advantageous strategy. They are expensive, but that may help keep ownership down for GPPs.

Favorite Plays: Pete Alonso, Starling Marte, Francisco Lindor, Tommy Pham

Also Consider: Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox

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