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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on April 28, 2023. Brenton Kemp's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have an 11-game MLB DFS slate on tap this Friday evening but be careful, there is some weather that could throw some plans into a blender. Let's see if we can navigate mother nature and ensure we are getting the best picks possible into our lineups!
Remember, this 11-game slate locks at 7:05 PM ET on Friday, April 28 so be sure to get your lineups set and locked before that deadline! Remember, feel free to give me a follow and hit me up on Twitter @BKemp17 with any comments, questions, or banter when it comes to these free MLB DFS picks!
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. Let's get after it and come out on top tonight!
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Jacob deGrom - SP, TEX vs. New York Yankees ($11,500 DK, $11,400 FD)
This one is a bit trickier as it looks -- at least this morning -- that there could actually be some weather in the Arlington area Friday night but as we keep an eye on that we can also pay up for the services of right-hander Jacob deGrom.
After getting rocked on Opening Day deGrom has settled right in. I mean, he owns a 3.04 ERA on the season but also an eye-popping 1.44 FIP and 42.2% K%. He's walked just one batter over his last three starts spanning 17 innings pitched while yielding just four earned runs over his last four starts and 23 innings of work.
This is also a watered-down Yankees lineup that will not feature Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton Friday night. That's a win already as deGrom should certainly be your top starter on this slate.
Framber Valdez - SP, HOU vs. Philadelphia Phillies ($10,000 DK, $10,500 FD)
Despite a hefty number of games on tap, this slate is light on pitching so perhaps it's best to go the safe route and grab Astros left-hander Framber Valdez.
I know, "safe" is a scary word in this environment but Valdez at home has been as good as it gets. The lefty owns a 1.50 ERA at home on the young season but also owns a rock-solid 3.25 ERA at home for his big-league career. More importantly, his 26.2% K% at home throughout his career is far superior to his 20.2% mark on the road.
The Phillies are right around league average in terms of strikeout rate this season but slip into the bottom half when it comes to strikeout rate off southpaws with a targetable 23.5% K%. Valdez should be your rock again on Friday evening.
Dustin May - SP, LAD vs. St. Louis Cardinals ($7,900 DK, $9,100 FD)
Dustin May is a nice SP2 option on DraftKings even if he might not be the best bet for your FanDuel lineup given the two names listed above. Nonetheless, he takes on a Cardinals offense that has been much better against left-handed pitching this season.
The right-hander is a little bit frustrating from a fantasy perspective considering how nasty his stuff is yet he doesn't generate a ton of strikeouts. In fact, he's only struck out 16.7% of the hitters he's faced this season which actually could be good news considering his 22.7% career mark. At the very least, he should have some positive strikeout regression on the horizon.
He also happens to own a 3.07 ERA on the season alongside a 3.73 FIP. His 4.89 xFIP and 5.06 SIERA aren't as generous but only once in five starts has May surrendered more than two earned runs. The cost is preferable on DraftKings as an SP2 here.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Emmanuel Rivera - 3B, ARI vs. Kyle Freeland ($2,600 DK, $2,400 FD)
Emmanuel Rivera should be a popular target tonight but man is the price right in this matchup at Coors Field against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland.
Freeland is just no good at home. Coors Field is a tough place to make a living as a pitcher but Freeland posted an even 6.00 ERA at home last season and owns a 5.28 mark this season in 15 1/3 innings at home. He's also been buckled for a .300 average and .884 OPS at home against right-handed hitters such as Rivera.
Rivera destroyed Triple-A pitching before getting called up and going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in the big leagues so far. He homered twice with six doubles and a triple at Triple-A following his promotion.
He is a fantastic investment at a tiny cost Friday night in Colorado.
Tyler Stephenson - 1B/C, CIN vs. Kyle Muller ($4,200 DK, $3,000 FD)
Tyler Stephenson gets first-base eligibility at DraftKings but makes for a nice play at both sites as he takes on A's lefty Kyle Muller.
Muller did fine in surrendering just three earned runs spanning 10 1/3 innings across his first two starts but was shelled for six earned runs in each of his next two outings before allowing four to cross the plate in five innings against the Rangers his last time out. He's surrendered an .883 OPS to right-handed hitters this season while facing 101 of them to this point.
Stephenson has lacked power this season but it should come. He is a .301 career hitter with an .805 OPS off left-handed pitching and given Muller's big-time struggles of late, he should be able to barrel up some baseballs in this one.
Ozzie Albies - 2B, ATL vs. David Peterson ($4,300 DK, $3,400 FD)
Ozzie Ablies is a very nice option at the keystone Friday as he takes on Mets lefty David Peterson.
Peterson owns a 7.36 ERA on the season and has tossed up seven homers in just 25 2/3 innings, good for an ugly 2.45 HR/9. At the same time, Albies has homered seven times on the young season and has traditionally been much better against lefties in his career.
The switch-hitter already owns a 1.075 OPS off lefties this season but his .925 OPS and .237 isolated power off southpaws for his career greatly outweighs his .744 OPS and .188 ISO off righties. Toss in the stolen-base upside and the surging Albies is a nice bet on Friday.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Joey Wiemer - OF, MIL vs. Tyler Anderson ($2,100 DK, $2,500 FD)
Please take advantage of the folks over at DraftKings tonight when it comes to Brewers outfielder Joey Wiemer.
Wiemer is fresh off a double and a homer on Wednesday against the Tigers while Tyler Anderson owns a putrid 7.20 ERA and 2.25 HR/9 in the early going. After breaking out with a 2.57 ERA with the Dodgers last season, Anderson was a scary bet this season given his 4.24 career ERA in 151 big-league appearances. His 4.04 SIERA from last season spelled big regression moving forward.
Wiemer is a monster of a bargain on Friday.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. - OF, ARI vs. Kyle Freeland ($4,200 DK, $3,200 FD)
The pricing on these D-backs bats is just too good to miss in cash games tonight.
I touched on Freeland's struggles above, and even if Gurriel is off to a slow start this season I am still all over him tonight. It's been a tough start overall but Gurriel is 3-for-7 with a double and a stolen base over his last two contests and usually fares well against left-handed pitching.
He's hitting .303 off lefties so far this season but owns an .802 OPS against them for his career despite actually sporting some real even splits for his big-league tenure. Nonetheless, the price is right in the upper third of the D-backs lineup tonight.
Henry Ramos - OF - CIN vs. Kyle Muller ($2,000 DK, $2,500 FD)
Once again, we're getting a handout from the lovely folks at DraftKings when it comes to Reds switch-hitter Henry Ramos.
Ramos hit two homers with three steals in 11 games at Triple-A this season while hitting .314 with an .886 OPS across 51 trips to the plate. He's also 4-for-11 with a triple in 12 trips to the plate in the big leagues.
Obviously, Muller is struggling. If we're paying up for the deGrom/Valdez pairing tonight we need to find some value and that's precisely why I have included some attractive options in that department.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Kyle Freeland
It's awfully tough to fade the D-backs tonight, especially in cash games. Their prices are way too attractive against a pitcher who struggles in this environment.
In addition to Rivera and Gurriel, Ketel Marte, Christian Walker, and Evan Longoria make sense here. In other words, let's see how the D-backs lineup shakes out and grab anyone and everyone near the top of that lineup.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Kyle Muller
Obviously, I'm on the Reds as well. Stephenson and Ramos are great options to get started but Jonathan Indians and Spencer Steer make complete sense in this matchup. I guess the theme tonight is to attack struggling left-handed pitchers with right-handed bats even if the O. Co Coliseum in Oakland isn't quite the launching pad Coors Field is in Colorado.
Good luck tonight, everyone!
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