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What a beautiful slate we have today. Full 15 games for the All-Day, and a fat 10 game Main slate on Draftkings for the first Saturday of the 2017 MLB season. We have a plethora of big name pitchers, including the best in the business, and the power-hitting Madison Bumgarner. The weather looks promising across the board today, so set your lineups with your mind at ease.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/8/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings.
You can read our FanDuel and Yahoo DFS lineup picks as well. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @RowdyRotoJB
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DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings
Boston Red Sox versus Jordan Zimmerman (DET)
Zimmerman owned a 7.00 ERA at Home in 2016, and allowed a steady 15 ER in 14 IP this spring. He was slightly worse against RHB, meaning Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez, and Xander Bogaerts instantly grab my attention. Hanley has great BvP numbers against Zim for his career, and Betts has taken him deep once in two AB. Of course I would also be happy with either of the young stud lefties in the outfield as well. There won't be many strikeouts for Zimmerman today, and this is not a lineup you want consistently putting the bat on the ball.
Cincinnati Reds versus Michael Wacha (STL)
Wacha was also awful at Home in 2016, owning a 6.18 ERA at Busch Stadium. For the three starts against the Reds last year, he posted a 6.75 ERA. He struggles against RHB which means Adam Duvall, Zack Cozart, and Eugenio Suarez are all in play tonight. Oh, and Joey Votto is obviously a given. I think this game is overshadowed by other- flashier matchups, making this a sneaky GPP stack.
Also Consider: Seattle Mariners vs Ricky Nolasco
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings
Clayton Kershaw- P, LAD ($10,000)
Man, and I thought Kershaw was cheap on FanDuel... You mean to tell me that there are three better options today in DFS than one of the greatest pitchers of all time just because he's pitching in Coors Field? Negatory. His last trip to Denver resulted in seven innings of three-hit shutout baseball with six strikeouts. He is a guarantee for a QS, and is a safe bet for a W with Jon Gray on the bump for the bad guys. I'll take him over Bumgarner, Chris Archer, and Yu Darvish today, AND take the change.
Kyle Hendricks- P, CHC ($9,000)
Hendricks is a popular regression candidate for 2017, but he still has an extremely high floor and has owned the Brew Crew for his career (2.11 ERA in 10 GS). Hendricks should be almost certain for a W against Tommy Milone today, and makes for a great cash game pairing with Kershaw if you can make the salary work offensively. Hint: if you use the players suggested below, it will work.
Kevin Gausman- P, BAL ($7,500)
With all the big name pitchers on the mound today, I think Gausman will make for a nice GPP play considering ownership percentage. He is the lowest priced pitcher I feel has the potential to throw an absolute gem today. He wasn't great in his first outing versus the Blue Jays, but he did not give up a single extra base hit. I see him settling down today, and keeping the Yankees bats in check. He was fantastic at Camden Yards in 2016, and in six starts against New York, owned a 1.10 ERA.
DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings
Catcher (C)
Buster Posey, SFG ($3,800)
Anytime Posey isn't at the top of the salary list for catchers, I'm plugging him in. Especially after getting the day off last night. He is hitting .474 with a HR in 19 PA against Jhoulys Chacin for his career, and Chacin is coming off a horrid start in which he allowed nine ER in 3.1 IP against the Dodgers on opening day.
Also Consider: Sandy Leon, BOS ($2,800)
First Base (1B)
Freddie Freeman, ATL ($4,400)
Chad Kuhl owned a 7.03 ERA at home in 2016, and allowed an .854 OPS to left handed batters. Freeman hasn't started 2017 as hot as he ended last year, but he is still an elite hitter- especially against RHP. This price tag is too sweet to pass up. Look for the Bravo to get things started tonight and put one in the stands.
Also Consider: Brandon Belt, SFG ($3,700)
Second Base (2B)
Robinson Cano, SEA ($4,000)
Cano is 6-12 with two bombs lifetime against Ricky Nolasco, and owns a career .891 OPS against RHP. I am not going to let a slow start in the first week of the season make me pass on this dip in Cano's price tag, and neither should you.
Also Consider: Addison Russell, CHC ($3,900)
Shortstop (SS)
Brandon Crawford, SFG ($3,400)
Crawford has four XBH and only two strikeouts in 29 career PA against Jhoulys Chacin. Refer to Buster Posey's write-up about how Chacin's first start went in 2017. Crawford has enjoyed a nice start to the season, and hits for much more power against RHP away from AT&T Park. Look for him to find his first bomb tonight.
Also Consider: Francisco Lindor, CLE ($4,300)
Third Base (3B)
Kyle Seager, SEA ($3,700)
This might be my favorite value of the night on DK. He doesn't own the powerful BvP numbers against Nolasco like Cano and Nelson Cruz, but this is still a guy who hit a .930 OPS against RHP in 2016. When facing RHP on the road, he hit a big-boy .265 ISO. When you can get this kind of safety and still afford to roster two stud pitchers, you'll be seeing green at the end of the contest.
Also Consider: Nick Castellanos, DET ($3,800)
DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings
Bryce Harper, WSH ($4,900)
Of all the elite outfielders today, Harper is the guy I want in all my lineups. He is 7-11 with 2 HR for his career against Aaron Nola, and has already hit two dingers for the season. Mike Trout and George Springer are also great options as always, and own solid BvP stats against their respective pitchers today. But I like Washington's offense to produce the most run scoring opportunities today, mainly from this man.
Odubel Herrera, PHI ($3,900)
Jeremy Guthrie is taking the mound for the Nationals today, after failing to sniff big league action in 2016. He's struggled against left handed batters for his career, and in 2015 allowed 20 HR and a .574 SLG to southpaws. Enter Odubel Herrera, who owned an .849 OPS against RHP at home last year, and you got yourself a mid-range priced recipe for a dinger.
Andrew Benintendi, BOS ($3,700)
A piece for that Boston Red Sox stack mentioned above, Benintendi has really impressed so far in 2017. His BA isn't anything to write home about, but his plate discipline is advanced far beyond his age. Plus the Rookie is already showing off his versatility with a HR and a SB already. Benitendi should get some real good looks today at the top of that Sox lineup.
Also Consider: Leonys Martin, SEA ($3,000)
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