RADIO
Early season baseball slates are quite interesting for a number of reasons, ranging from small sample size to figuring out new park factors. However, another is that through the first few games of the season we see a lot of aces or other elite pitches on the same slate and likewise, as we move towards games four and five of the season we get a lot of fourth and fifth pitchers. Though pitchers have had the upper-hand in most slates to this point, the scales tip tonight to hitters likely putting up some big scores.
Finding the right pitchers to pick on will be key as a result and of course stacking the right combinations of players on those teams will likely be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful night on this slate. As a result, I'll focus a bit more on some of my favorite stacks and potential ways to differentiate lineups in this article.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 4/2/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and most of all - value plays. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me up on Twitter @DanMarcus3.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Mike Clevinger - P, CLE @LAA ($7,700)
Strikeouts are king in DFS and if anyone on this slate has shown they are capable of racking up strikeouts, it’s Clevinger. He struck out 27.1% of the batters he faced last season season as a starter, which places him among the likes of Aaron Nola, Zack Greinke, and Yu Darvish. His price tag doesn’t match theirs yet, so there is potential for some value at this price tag. There are some concerns, notably that he struggled to pitch deep into games due to control issues last season and that the newly configured Angels’ lineup has come out of the gates raking. Still, Clevinger’s upside compares nicely to that of Charlie Morton, the highest priced pitcher on the slate, but comes at a $800 discount.
Hyun-Jin Ryu- P, LAD @ARI ($7,400)
The price discrepancy between Clevinger and Ryu isn’t enough to make me want use him in GPPs but he is a cash game option if you are uncomfortable with Clevinger. After a single series, it’s still unclear how the humidor has changed the hitting environment at Chase Field. However, last season, the Diamondbacks finished 26th in wRC+ against left-handed pitching and that was with a half-season of J.D. Martinez.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Yonder Alonso-1B, CLE @LAA ($2,700)
Alonso has hit fourth in the Indians’ lineup when they are up against righties early in the season, but his price point has yet to reflect that he’s hitting in a prime spot in what projects to be one of the better lineups in the league. Tonight, he matches up against JC Ramirez, who allowed 2.08 HR/9 last season to opposing left-handed batters. If he continues to hit fourth, his price tag will rise so tag advantage and fill first base with a bargain price tag on tonight’s slate.
Asdrubal Cabrera- 2B, NYM vs. PHI ($2,700)
Similarly to Alonso, Cabrera has hit either leadoff or fourth in the Mets’ lineup through three games this season but has a pedestrian price tag. Ben Lively isn’t a matchup that will scare anyone, so if and when the Mets put up runs, Cabrera should be a part of it. Cabrera was significantly better against left-handed pitching last season, but his career splits have been more even, especially in regards to his slugging percentage so the platoon split shouldn’t be a big concern either.
Anthony Rendon- 3B, WAS @ ATL ($3,500)
There’s no discount on Anthony Rendon, but he gets a matchup against young left-hander Sean Newcomb tonight. Not only has Rendon hit lefties well throughout his career, but last season he was able to hit for serious power to the tune of a massive .346 ISO. That makes him a prime target for me at third base, outside of stacks that include the likes of Jose Ramirez, Nolan Arenado, or Alex Bregman.
Francisco Lindor- SS, CLE @LAA ($3,600)
Lindor has yet to get on track this season, but he will be a part of one of my favorite stacs of the night. The Astros will almost certainly be a super chalky stack, but the Indians left-handed batters should get attention as well thanks to the aforementioned struggles of J.C. Ramirez against them. With the ability to pay down at pitcher on the main slate, it won’t be hard to get Lindor, Jose Ramirez, and Alonso into lineups, accounting for the top of the Indians’ order, which has a great chance to go off tonight.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Curtis Granderson- OF, TOR vs. CWS ($2,700)
Reynaldo Lopez had an up and down debut season, but his struggles against left-handed hitters was clear. As a result, an under the radar stack could be the middle of the Jays order with Granderson, Justin Smoak, and Yangervis Solarte. If I had to pick one, it would be Granderson thanks to his power upside and low price-point. He’s viewed as washed up across the fantasy community, but he hit for a .255 ISO against right-handed pitching last season showing he’s clearly still got pop in his bat.
Jake Marisnick- OF, HOU vs. BAL ($2,600)
A shocking fact from last season was that Jake Marisnick led all Astros hitters with at least 150 PA in ISO against right-handed pitchers. That should take everyone by surprise, but should more importantly be used as an edge in building lineups to start the season. He has batted seventh, eighth, and ninth to start the season, which is not usually ideal. However, the Astros will be a chalky stack tonight and he could be a way to differentiate your stack a bit by rostering from the bottom of the lineup and then pairing him with George Springer and other top of the order batters. It won't correlate in the first inning, but if Marisnick is on base for the top of the lineup, this could be a value stacking option.
