RADIO
Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The MLB season has been good to me in the early going, so I'm looking forward to sifting through another crop of games. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's main slate!
With matinee baseball spread throughout the day, Wednesday's main slate is widdled down to just eight games. Today's matchups feature a few obvious plays, making roster construction very interesting. I'll point out the standout plays, but there will be plenty of opportunities to get creative with your builds on this slate.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/26/2023 and the slate locking at 6:35 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!
Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 10% off using code BALLER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Sandy Alcantara, MIA vs. ATL ($9,900 DK, $9,800 FD)
I anticipate today's pricing will rival the lowest we see from Alcantara all season. He draws a tough matchup with the Atlanta Braves, and there's a level of uncertainty surrounding Alcantara's poor start to the campaign. Through four starts, he owns a 5.47 ERA and just a 19.8% strikeout rate.
Further, he was scratched from his scheduled outing this past weekend due to bicep tendinitis, so Alcantara will be making his first start since April 16. All that said, Alcantara is objectively the best pitcher on today's main slate. I'm just hoping all the factors listed above help drive down his tournament ownership.
All signs point to healthy following Alcantara's bullpen session, and the reigning NL Cy Young champ has shown no discernible drop in pitch speed or spin rates that would indicate true regression. Realistically, he had one terrible outing and has been otherwise solid. Alcantara surrendered nine runs to the Phillies two weeks ago and allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his other three starts, including a complete-game shutout against the Twins on April 4.
When Alcantara is right, he induces consistently weak contact mixed with a slightly above-average strikeout rate. He compensates for lacking elite strikeout stuff by pitching deep into games, averaging more than seven innings per start in 2022.
Atlanta's lineup is undoubtedly scary, but the matchup offers more opportunity than you'll notice at first glance. They bring a middling .737 OPS and 77 wRC against right-handed pitching and rank near the top with a 26.1% strikeout rate. Last season, Alcantara accrued a 2.86 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 22 innings pitched against Atlanta, including one complete game. Alcantara is an excellent play today.
Patrick Sandoval, LAA vs. OAK ($6,500 DK, $9,200 FD)
Presumably, Sandoval will be a chalk play today, at least on DraftKings. His severe salary drop, mixed with a favorable matchup, is just too good to pass up. Sandoval is coming off a brutal outing against the Yankees, surrendering five earned runs on four hits and six walks over four innings pitched. Still, his ERA sits at a respectable 3.37 because he hasn't allowed more than one earned run in any of his other three outings. Even in the Yankees game, all five runs came in the first inning, so it's something of an outlier event.
Despite an unsustainable 14.1% walk rate problem, Sandoval's 2023 performance still has some encouraging takeaways. Most notably, he is limiting solid contact at an impressive rate. Sandoval sports a 28.1% hard-hit rate, 86.4 mph average exit velocity, and a 7% barrel rate. That all amounts to a .394 xSLG and only four total extra-base hits allowed this season. Sandoval's strikeout rate has taken a dip from the 23.7% rate he posted in 2022, but an excellent 30.5% whiff rate suggests positive regression is right around the corner.
Oakland has fared better against southpaw pitching and even tagged Jose Suarez for five home runs the other night, but they are still only scoring 3.7 runs per game overall. A Brent Rooker hot streak is not enough to dissuade me from targeting an otherwise lackluster offensive lineup. Sandoval allowed one earned run on two hits over five innings against the Athletics earlier this month.
Also consider: Kodai Senga, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Elder
Want more MLB DFS tools and content? Our MLB Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Optimizer, and access to our Premium Discord Chatrooms, where members can chat with our MLB analysts. Check out this recent big win from RotoBaller's Jon Anderson on DraftKings - join in on the winning!
🍾 BOOM!! A huge congrats to Jon, winning a juicy $50k last night!
Be sure to read his premium MLB #DFS articles 3x a week, all his other excellent analysis, and give a follow @JonPgh - all very much worth it 👌
Win Big With #RotoBaller ➡️ https://t.co/1uotAV6253 https://t.co/ipSgrl5dOr
— RotoBaller (@RotoBaller) May 10, 2022
DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Nolan Gorman – 2B, STL vs. Anthony DeSclafani ($4,400 DK, $3,500 FD)
Gorman is crushing right-handed pitching in 2023, slashing .333/.416/.682 with a phenomenal .382 ISO and six home runs against them. His success includes a 54.9% hard-hit rate, .431 xwOBA, 19.6% barrel rate, and a 92.8 mph average exit velocity. Gorman is currently the most imposing left-handed bat in the Cardinals' lineup. Lefties are slugging .477 against DeSclafani for his career.
Wilmer Flores – 1B, SF vs. Steven Matz ($3,300 DK, $2,800 FD)
This matchup is a perfect intersection of lefty/righty splits. For his career, Steven Matz has surrendered a .449 slugging percentage to right-handed hitters, including a .569 slugging percentage and four home runs this season. On the flip side, Flores carries a career-long preference for left-handed pitching. He has already smacked two home runs and two doubles against southpaws this season alongside a .606 slugging percentage and .242 ISO.
Dominic Smith – 1B, WSH vs. Kodai Senga ($2,300 DK, $2,400 FD)
If you're needing a last-man-in play near the minimum price, then Smith might be your guy. Kodai Senga has struggled greatly against left-handed hitters during his first month in the MLB. They're slugging .543 against him with a .418 wOBA and three home runs. Unfortunately, Washington lacks any great left-handed hitting to take advantage of this apparent matchup flaw. Still, there's Dominic Smith. He is dirt cheap, low-owned, and carries a decent .418 slugging percentage versus right-handed pitchers for his career.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Shohei Ohtani – OF/1B, LAA vs. Luis Medina ($6,400 DK, $3,700 FD)
Ohtani is somewhat immune to splits, but for what it's worth, he carries a career .550 slugging percentage and .278 ISO against right-handed pitchers. He's launched five home runs so far in 2023 and is a top pick to go yard any day. Today, he takes on Luis Medina, who will make his MLB debut. Medina is an unpolished pitching prospect with control issues and mediocre minor league numbers. Look for Ohtani to take advantage of this mismatch.
Patrick Wisdom – 3B/OF, CHC vs. Michael Wacha ($4,400 DK, $4,300 FD)
Wisdom is crushing the ball this season, sporting a 59.2% hard-hit rate, 94.2 mph average exit velocity, .552 xSLG, and 22% barrel rate. That includes nine home runs in 20 games. His torrid pace will regress, but Wisdom's capabilities are on full display during the hot streak. Today, he will square off against Michael Wacha, who is getting pounded this season to the tune of a .571 xSLG, 13% barrel rate, and 6.88 xERA. In particular, Wacha has a longstanding struggle with right-handed hitters, who carry a .460 slugging percentage against him for his career.
Esteury Ruiz – OF, OAK vs. Patrick Sandoval ($2,800 DK, $2,800 FD)
Taking a different approach with this suggestion as Ruiz is one of the league's best base stealers. He led the minors with 85 stolen bases in 2022 and has five swipes thus far this season. While Patrick Sandoval is difficult to make hard contact against, his 14.1% walk rate is an Achilles heel. Should Ruiz find himself on base, either by way of a walk or hitting (.391 batting average against left-handed pitchers), look for him to rack up fantasy points using his legs.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Los Angeles Angels vs. Luis Medina
Luis Medina makes his MLB debut on Wednesday against the Angels. The No. 19 prospect in Oakland's system brings an uninspiring minor-league track record, including a 4.83 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 96 appearances dating back to 2016. Medina's biggest problem is his control, and it's a real issue. He sports an atrocious career rate of 6.3 walks per nine innings for his minor league career and 7.71 thus far in 2023.
The Angels should take advantage of Medina's inability to locate pitches. In the likely event that his outing is short, Oakland's bullpen sports an MLB-worst 7.03 ERA. The Angels' lineup is loaded with great bats, and they average a strong five runs per game for the season. Rostering names like Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout will come with a premium expense, but it's as good a spot as any to eat the cost.
Favorite Plays: Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Hunter Renfroe, Taylor Ward, Anthony Rendon
Chicago Cubs vs. Michael Wacha
I highlighted Michael Wacha's pitching struggles above -- .571 xSLG, 13% barrel rate, and .688 xERA. He's surrendered at least four earned runs in three of his four starts this season and 10 or more hits in each of his last two outings. Wacha's outlook is not good against one of the league's hottest offenses.
Building off the Patrick Wisdom pick, the Cubs' lineup as a whole is well-positioned to go off here. Wacha has a lifetime struggle with right-handed hitters, and the Cubs are full of strong righty bats. They are scoring 5.8 runs per game overall in 2023, including an impressive .792 OPS against right-handed pitching.
Favorite Plays: Patrick Wisdom, Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ
Also Consider: Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
