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DraftKings Lineup Picks & Sleepers (4/8/17): MLB DFS Advice

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

Holiday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS

 

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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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kris Murray

Will Play Against the Clippers
Robert Williams III

Available on Friday Night
Austin Reaves

Facing Multiweek Absence With Calf Issue
Anthony Edwards

Listed as Questionable Against Brooklyn
Keegan Murray

Out at Least One Week With Calf Strain
Jock Landale

to Miss Bucks Game With Calf Issue
Jordan Poole

Cleared to Play Friday vs. Suns
Joel Embiid

Set to Suit Up Against Bulls
George Kittle

Questionable to Face the Bears in Week 17
Cedric Coward

Active On Friday Against Milwaukee
Ja Morant

Available On Friday Night Against Milwaukee
Maxx Crosby

Done for the Season
VJ Edgecombe

Available on Friday
Dominick Barlow

Will Suit Up Against Chicago
Collin Murray-Boyles

Good to Go Versus Washington
Scottie Barnes

Upgraded to Available Against Washington
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Cleared to Play on Friday
Jordan Goodwin

Available For Friday Night Against New Orleans
Pelle Larsson

Back on Friday Night
Gary Trent Jr.

Ruled Out For Friday Night Against Memphis
Bam Adebayo

Will Miss Friday's Game Versus Atlanta
Justin Champagnie

Downgraded To Questionable For Friday Night
Scottie Barnes

Now Downgraded To Questionable For Friday
Calvin Austin III

Ruled Out with Hamstring Injury for Week 17
Harold Fannin Jr.

Expected to Play on Sunday
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion for Saturday's Contest
George Kittle

"Likely a Game-Time Decision" on Sunday Night
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice on Friday
Josh Allen

Trending Toward Playing Vs. Philly
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox

RANKINGS

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