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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/14/21. Euan Leith's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Wednesday, Rotoballers! The only way it could be happier would be if DraftKings included the San Diego-Pittsburgh game on the slate. Alas, we will not be able to have Joe Musgrove in our lineups as he attempts to join Johnny Vander Meer as the only pitcher in baseball history to throw back-to-back no-hitters.
Regardless, we have seven fantastic games to pick and choose from today. I like Lance McCullers and Dustin May as stud arms to pay up for, but I'm not there with Zach Plesac. I understand that Shane Bieber threw a complete game shutout last night against the same White Sox team, but Plesac is not on the same level as Bieber. I do like Charlie Morton as a cheaper arm to pair with LMJ or May, but he may be as low as I am willing to go with tonight's slate, at least in cash games.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/14/2021. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also check out today's FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. It’s also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, contact me on Twitter.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Dustin May - P, LAD vs. COL ($9,400)
It was between May and Lance McCullers for me as the stud-priced pitcher to recommend tonight. Ultimately, May is $500 cheaper and isn't facing a Tigers team that just put up 14 runs in the first two games of their series against the Astros. Instead, May will be taking on a Colorado Rockies unit that is performing quite miserably on the road. Through four road games, starting pitchers facing the Rockies away from Coors Field are pitching 6.2 innings to a 1.35 ERA, 0.937 WHIP, and 10.1 K/9. May was great in his first start at Oakland to kick off his 2021 campaign with eight strikeouts over six-shutout innings to rack up 31.1 DraftKings fantasy points.
Charlie Morton - P, ATL vs. MIA ($7,600)
Morton is the SP2 arm I will be pairing with one of the higher-priced starters for tonight's slate. The right-handed veteran faces the Marlins at home, and will look to replicate his results from the second start of the season. Last time out against the Phillies, Morton threw six innings of one-run ball with four hits and one walk allowed while striking out seven. The one concern with Morton is his pitch count. He has only thrown 79.5 pitches per start to begin the year. If he gets in trouble early, he may get taken out before he can make up for it with some strikeouts.
Other Options: Lance McCullers Jr. vs. DET ($9,900), Zach Plesac at CWS ($9,700)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Wilson Ramos - C, DET at HOU ($3,300)
When you can find a hot bat at the catcher position, don't be afraid to ride the wave. That's exactly what I'm doing with Wilson Ramos who LEADS THE LEAGUE with six home runs this season. Ramos' launch angle has risen to 15.9 percent this year, which is more than double his 2020 results. The backstop is also mashing the ball to begin the 2021 campaign as he ranks in the top one percent of the league with a 101.2 average exit velocity. That's a 12 mph increase of his 2020 exit velocity. Yes, it's a small sample size, but these are some notable changes in Ramos' game. Luckily, we can catch him at $3,300 for today's contest against the Astros and take advantage of slotting a guy into our catcher slot who's averaging 15.4 fantasy points per game over his last five contests.
Yuli Gurriel - 1B, HOU vs. DET ($4,100)
I'm going to keep trusting Yuli Gurriel in my lineup until the results stop coming. The Cuban is on a four-game hit streak and rewarding his DFS managers with steady production each night. Over those four games, Gurriel is 7-for-11 (.636 BA) with two doubles and three walks. Houston has been limited to four runs in the first two games of this series versus Detroit. I don't think the Stros have another quiet night at the plate versus Michael Fulmer, and Gurriel will be one of the reasons why.
Chris Taylor - 2B/OF, LAD vs. COL ($4,300)
Mookie Betts (back) returned to the Dodgers lineup last night, but Taylor remained in the outfield because Cody Bellinger (calf) is still on the Injury List. Betts resumed leadoff duties, but Taylor only moved down to third in the lineup. He came through for DFS players in that spot with two hits, a run, a home run, and an RBI for 17 fantasy points. On Wednesday, the price point remains low enough that rostering Taylor is a great value wherever he slots into the Dodgers lineup. The utility bat will get to attack Jon Gray on the mound tonight. Gray owns a career 6.84 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP in Dodger Stadium, so there should be a few runs to be scored by the men in white and blue tonight.
Maikel Franco - 3B, BAL vs. SEA ($4,100)
Franco seems to be settling into the friendly confines of Camden Yards. The former-Philly player scored 34 fantasy points in the final two games against the Red Sox over the weekend and knocked in a bases-clearing double against the Mariners last night. He's averaging 16.3 FPPG over those three contests and gets to see the wild Justin Dunn tonight. Dunn allowed eight batters to reach base via the walk in his first start of the season. If that lack of control continues into today's start, there will be plenty of Orioles on the bags for Franco to knock in.
Corey Seager - SS, LAD vs. COL ($5,500)
With a 380-foot shot in the first inning on Tuesday, Corey Seager finally opened his 2021 home run account. Despite taking almost two weeks to hit his first long ball of the campaign, the 26-year holds a 1.030 OPS through 10 games. DFS players can thank a combination of his .366 batting average and five doubles to keep his OPS churning, but last night was his best game of the season. As previously mentioned with Chris Taylor, Wednesday's Rockies starter, Jon Gray, struggles at Dodger Stadium. Seager will be in a great spot to get his second home run in as many nights if those struggles continue.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Kyle Tucker - OF, HOU vs. DET ($4,300)
Michael Fulmer takes the mound for the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, and that should bring good results for Kyle Tucker. The left-handed outfielder is mashing right-handed pitching this season with a .300/.364/.850 slash line. Three of his four home runs have come against righties this season. Fulmer relies heavily on his three main pitches (4-seam, sinker, slider), and it will be right in Tucker's wheelhouse tonight. The 24-year has a .591 slugging percentage versus fastballs and a .769 slugging percentage versus breaking balls. Somehow, both numbers are below his expected stats on baseball savant, and we could see a big day at the plate for Tucker.
Marcell Ozuna - OF, ATL vs. MIA ($4,200)
Getting Ozuna at this salary is far too tempting to pass up. At one point, he was going for $5,400 and now we can capitalize on his $4,200 cost on Wednesday. The floodgates seemed to open up on Tuesday for Ozuna, and I'm banking on that carrying over to tonight's game against the Miami Marlins with Nick Neidert on the mound. Ozuna went 3-for-4 last night with two runs, a walk, a home run, and three RBI to produce a whopping 28 fantasy points. It won't take long for DraftKings to shoot his price back up, so I'll take the discount on the 2020 Silver Slugger while it's available.
Taylor Trammell - OF, SEA at BAL ($3,200)
Trammell has become a staple of my recommendations because of his on-base skills and his discounted price. He's moved down the Mariners order as a result of a poor batting average, but the 23-year old is still producing fantasy points. Seattle's No. 6 prospect heading into the season, Trammell has reached base in every game. He knocked two balls over the wall at Target Field over the weekend, and Camden Yards is as good a spot as any to hit number three for the season. The left-handed bat will see Matt Harvey on the mound today.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Houston Astros vs. Detroit Tigers (Michael Fulmer, RHP)
- Atlanta Braves vs. Miami Marlins (Nick Neidert, RHP)
- Sneaky (Game) Stack: Seattle Mariners at Baltimore Orioles (Justin Dunn, RHP vs. Matt Harvey, RHP)
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