RADIO
We have another “lefty day” on our DraftKings slate. There are 13 southpaws toeing the rubber for the start of their games on Friday. The Cubs are facing a left-handed pitcher, however we won’t be able to exploit that matchup. The MIL/CHC game starts at 2:20pm and will be excluded from the DK featured slate.
Out of the 14 games to choose from on Friday, none of them have an over/under of ten runs, or more. The DET/BAL matchup is the only game above nine total runs (9.5). However, seven teams are favored by at least -150 odds. Corey Kluber, and the Indians, lead the way with -250 odds. Although, Kluber hasn’t seemed like himself this season.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/27/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @CharlieSideHstl.
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DraftKings Starting Pitchers
Jacob deGrom, NYM (@ SD) - $12,400
The deGrominator has punched out double-digit victims in back-to-back starts and his Mets travel to the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park. The Padres lead the league with 273 team strikeouts this season, so deGrom should feast. Over the last three seasons, deGrom has pitched at Petco three times. He’s 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA and tallied 18 whiffs in 21 innings of work.
Luis Severino, NYY (@ LAA) - $10,400
The best “bang for your buck” is Severino. He’s been a model of consistency this season and comes at the low, low price of $10,400 (fifth-most expensive starting pitcher on DK). He’s notched at least six strikeouts in all of his 2018 starts and Severino has allowed more than two earned runs only once in that span. Another positive for Severino is that he’s on the road, specifically in Anaheim. Angel Stadium has the sixth-best Park Factor for pitchers over the past three years.
Aaron Nola, PHI (vs. ATL) - $9,300
If Severino is too expensive for your budget, I’d adjust to Nola. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any outing this year. However, Nola’s strikeout totals are all over the board (3, 4, 6, 2, and 9). We also have the luxury of past performances. Nola has faced Atlanta twice already this season. On the downside, those are the low totals in the strikeout history. On the bright side, He’s only allowed three earned runs, combined, in both starts.
Miles Mikolas, STL (@ PIT) - $7,600
I’m sure Mikolas will be happy to see some new faces in his next start. He’s pitched in four games and faced only two teams in 2018 (Brewers and Reds). Mikolas has tallied at least five strikeouts in three of the four outings this season and has produced back-to-back one-run performances.
DraftKings Infielders
C - Evan Gattis, HOU (vs. OAK) - $3,200
The .205 AVG isn’t a stellar start to Gattis’ season, but buying low is all part of the DFS process. Currently, his $3,200 price tag is safe enough to invest in the home run hitting backstop without worrying about breaking the bank and fearing of an oh-fer performance. In the past two seasons, Gattis has gathered a .198 ISO against left-handed pitchers. He’s notched at least one hit in five of the past six starts and if we get that one hit to leave the yard, the gamble will be well worth it.
1B - Jose Martinez, STL (@ PIT) - $3,600
This is just the first of many St. Louis hitters on the docket for Friday's write-up. The Cardinals do well against left-handed pitchers. Since 2017, the Red Birds are tied for second in team ISO (.195) and tied for fourth in team wOBA (.350) against southpaws. The leader of the pack (actually, a group of Cardinals is called a "college," "conclave," or "radiance") is Martinez. He's produced a .394 ISO against lefties over the past two seasons
2B - Daniel Robertson, TB (@ BOS) - $3,500
Making his first appearance on my radar, Robertson is currently raking to the tune of a .346 AVG with multi-hit performances in three consecutive games. Robertson is 8-for-15 (.533) with three doubles and one home runs (two walks) in the past week. He also has a knack for hitting lefties well. Since 2017, Robertson has produced a .207 ISO against southpaws. This year, he’s 6-for-17 (.353) with four doubles and one home run (seven walks) against left-handed pitching.
3B - Jeimer Candelario, DET (@ BAL) - $4,200
Like Robertson, Candelario is having quite the week. He’s 12-for-30 (.400) with two doubles, one triple, and two home runs (three walks) in the past seven days. Candelario has also compiled at least one extra-base hit in each of the past three starts. His opponent on Friday is not a fan of facing left-handed hitters, either. This season, lefties are batting .474 with a .588 wOBA against Chris Tillman. Out of all the pitchers on Friday’s slate, Tillman leads the way with the highest SIERA since 2017 (5.92).
SS - Paul DeJong, STL (@ PIT) - $4,300
For my second Cardinal batter of the slate, DeJong doesn’t quite have the ISO of Martinez, but it’s still impressive (.302 ISO vs. LHP). In the past week, DeJong is 8-for-23 (.348) with six extra-base hits, including two home runs. He’s also produced multi-hit performances in four of the past five games, all while maintaining a six-game hitting streak. DeJong bats right-handed, which does not bode well for Steven Brault. In his brief career in the bigs, right-handed hitters are batting .286, with a .362 wOBA, against Brault.
DraftKings Outfielders
Aaron Judge, NYY (@ LAA) - $5,400
“Really? Add Judge to my lineup? That’s your advice?” Yes, voice in my head. Sure, Judge will look like a no-brainer almost every day he steps into a batter’s box. However, here’s why he jumps out even more than usual: Andrew Heaney is on the hill. While he’s only started in seven games since 2017, Heaney has allowed 15 home runs in that span. That’s 15 home runs in 31 innings. Almost a home run allowed every other inning. Needless to say, but I will because it hammers home my point, Heaney leads the Friday slate of pitchers with a 4.35 HR/9 ratio.
Tommy Pham, STL (@ PIT) - $4,700
We had a little scare on Wednesday when Pham left the game. He already missed some time with a groin injury earlier in the season. Thankfully, he just received a laceration on his head (weird sentence). Pham is the lynchpin of my Cardinals stack. He returned to action on Thursday and went 4-for-6. This season, Pham has a .467 AVG against lefties. He also has a .252 ISO against southpaws since 2017.
Steve Pearce, TOR (vs. TEX) - $3,500
When a team will most likely have the largest implied run total of the slate, you need to have at least one batter in your lineup, right? Pearce leads Toronto with a .246 ISO against left-handed pitchers, since 2017. While Mike Minor pitched well against the Blue Jays on April 7th (6 IP, 1 ER, and 7 K), it was Pearce who tagged Minor for the lone run. In their brief history, Pearce is 3-for-5 with a home run and a walk against Minor.
