RADIO
We finally get a Friday with all 30 teams in one slate (KC/DET is a double-header). Do not mess this up for us, weather!
Now that most teams have played at least 15 games (c’mon, Minnesota), I’ll start to use 2017 and 2018 stats when addressing a player’s ISO.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/20/18. 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
Noah Syndergaard, NYM (@ ATL) - $11,400
With Max Scherzer dueling with Clayton Kershaw on Friday night, I’ll make Syndergaard my top starting pitcher on the slate. His 1.94 SIERA in 2018 is the best from Friday’s SP player pool. In Thor’s last two outings, he’s combined for 16 strikeouts and one earned run in 11.1 innings of action. The matchup with Atlanta isn’t ideal (sixth in runs scored this season), but the ballpark isn’t terrible to pitchers and Syndergaard has a hot hand right now.
Sean Newcomb, ATL (vs. NYM) - $7,700
I know I made Syndergaard my top pitcher for Friday, but I like the starting pitcher who’s opposing the Mets, too. Newcomb at $7,700 is quite the steal. He’s struck out at least six batters in each performance this season and Newcomb has allowed only two earned runs, combined, in his last two starts. Also, the Mets are horrendous against lefties. This season, they own the lowest team ISO (.085) and the lowest team wOBA (.269) against southpaws.
Andrew Heaney, LAA (vs. SF) - $6,000
If Newcomb is considered a steal, then Heaney’s price would be a felony. First, Angel Stadium has the sixth-best Park Factor for pitchers over the past three seasons. Second, while they aren’t as bad against lefties as the Mets, San Francisco has the third-worst team wOBA (.275) when facing southpaws this season. Finally, the Giants have scored the fewest runs in baseball this year (50 runs in 17 games). Add those facts together and you have a lock for your SP2 in DraftKings.
DraftKings Infielders
C - Chris Iannetta, COL (vs. CHC) - $3,500
If DraftKings would offer the opportunity to buy the Colorado catch at $3,500 for every game at Coors Field, I think I’d take that option. Both the Cubs and Rockies are projected to score five runs apiece. Iannetta is a cheap way to take advantage of a player in a hitter-friendly atmosphere. His .241 ISO against righties doesn’t hurt, either.
1B - Jose Martinez, STL (vs. CIN) - $3,700
It’s the perfect storm for Martinez on Friday night. He’s facing a lefty (St.Louis-best .415 ISO vs. southpaws), the Cardinals are strong favorites (-180), and Vegas has provided an over/under of 8.5 total runs. Plus, Brandon Finnegan has allowed right-handed hitters to bat a combined .325 wOBA against him. In Finnegan’s only other start this season, the Cardinals scored five earned runs against him.
2B - Ian Kinsler, LAA (vs. SF) - $4,300
Pitchers are not rushing to face the Angels lineup. Los Angeles has scored the second-most runs in baseball this season (104 runs in 18 games). Plus, they have four players who crush left-handed pitching. Kinsler is one of them. His .246 ISO is third-best on the team (even better than Mike Trout’s .226 ISO). Since rejoining the team on April 12th, Kinsler is 6-15 (.400) with one home run.
3B - Nolan Arenado, COL (vs. CHC) - $5,100
He’s baaack. After serving a five-game suspension, Arenado returns to the Rockies lineup in a matchup with the Cubs that is pegged, by Vegas, as the highest over/under of the slate (10.5 total runs). Perfect timing. If you selected Newcomb and Heaney as your SP1/SP2, you’ll have about $4,500 to spend per player. So, Arenado’s price tag is easier to swallow. His .221 ISO against righties is third-best on the team.
SS - Didi Gregorius, NYY (vs. TOR) - $5,200
Yes, he’s the most expensive shortstop in the slate, but Gregorius is worth every cent. This season, he’s crushing right-handers (.353 AVG). When the game is at Yankee Stadium, he’s producing a .500 AVG (8-for-16) against right-handed pitchers. Half of those hits are home runs. That equates to a staggering .938 ISO and .779 wOBA against righties at home. Also, in 38 at-bats against Marco Estrada, Gregorius has nine hits. While that’s only a .237 AVG, six of those hits are for extra-bases and three of those are home runs. Basically, if Gregorius puts the ball in play on Friday, there’s a 50/50 shot it’s a homer.
DraftKings Outfielders
Aaron Judge, NYY (vs. TOR) - $5,300
If you put all my suggestions, with Newcomb and Heaney as your starting pitchers, into DraftKings, you’ll have around $4,900 to spend, per player, on your three outfielders. Eight outfielders have a price tag higher than $4,900 and I’m zeroing in on one of them for my roster. In the last ten games, Judge has at least one hit in nine of them (multiple hits in four games). In half of those games, he’s notched an extra-base hit (three homers). Although Judge’s term in the MLB has been short, he’s faced Estrada 17 times. During that span, Judge is 7-for-17 (.412) with four extra-base hits (two home runs) against Estrada.
Tommy Pham, STL (vs. CIN) - $4,800
Clearly, this hinges on whether or not Pham is healthy enough to start on Friday. If he’s able to start, you should add him to your lineup. Pham is batting .474 (9-for-19) in the past week, with six walks. He’s also swiped three bags in that stretch of time. Pham has a .257 ISO against southpaws, too.
Khris Davis, OAK (vs. BOS) - $4,500
Finally, we’re mentioning the scorching hot A’s in the DFS write-up. Not only has Oakland won four straight games, but they’ve scored at least eight runs in four of the past five matchups. One important cog to their lineup is Davis. He’s recorded at least one hit in eight consecutive games, with seven extra-base hits during that time (four home runs). Davis also leads the Athletics with a .236 ISO against left-handed pitchers.
