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DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (4/21/18): MLB DFS Lineups

The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on April 21, 2018. Troy Klauder's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.

We've got another day full of action ready for us on DraftKings, with an early slate starting at 1pm eastern and the featured slate kicking off at 7pm.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/21/18. 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 @TroyKlauder.

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DraftKings Starting Pitchers

Aaron Nola, PHI (vs. PIT) - $10,600

Aaron Nola has been rolling along this season, posting a 2.22 ERA through his first two starts of the season. Nola comes at a very modest price for the type of talent he has, which makes him my favorite pitcher on the early slate. While Nola hasn't been racking up many strikeouts this season, he had a 26.6% K-rate in 27 starts last year, so there's probably some positive regression on the way. The Phillies lineup has been on fire lately and should provide Nola with a win against Pirates starter Steven Brault.

Zack Godley, ARI (vs. SD) - $8,800

Godley was horrific in his last start against the Dodgers, but you shouldn't judge a pitcher based off of one bad start. Even with his blow-up start, Godley still has just a 3.00 ERA on the season, supported by a 3.24 FIP. He's a great buy-low candidate on Saturday, as many owners will probably be scared off by his last start, and he comes at a pretty cheap price. The Padres are one of the worst lineups in baseball, and Godley has huge strikeout potential against them, as the Pads strike out 27.9% of the time against righties. That's the third-highest mark in all of baseball, so I would be comfortable playing Godley in any type of contest.

 

DraftKings Infielders

C - Yadier Molina, STL (vs. CIN) - $3,500

Molina has been one of the best catchers in the league at the plate this season, with a 123 wRC+ and five homers so far. His opposition, Reds starter Homer Bailey, has a 3.42 ERA this season - but that's not fooling anybody. Bailey has a 4.74 SIERA this year, which gives a more accurate representation of the way he's pitched this season. After all, he had a 6.43 ERA last season! The Cardinals are a great lineup to stack on Saturday, but you can also use Molina as a standalone at catcher.

1B - Yuli Gurriel, HOU (@ CWS) - $4,200

Gurriel is back from the DL and batting fifth in the loaded Astros lineup, a spot where he can rack up runs and RBIs. The Astros are an expensive lineup to stack, but I would try to at least get a few of them aganist Lucas Giolito. Giolito has struggled mightily this season to the tune of a 5.50 ERA with 12 walks and just eight strikeouts. Gurriel is particularly valuable in cash games, where his high floor makes him more attractive.

2B - Jonathan Villar, MIL (vs. MIA) - $3,500

Villar is actually having himself a fantasy relevant season once again, batting .288 with four steals. His home ballpark, Miller Park, is one of the best offensive environments in all of baseball, and he's facing an awful pitcher in Jose Urena on Saturday. Urena has a 5.57 ERA through his first four starts, and Villar is coming in at a great price against him.

3B - Mike Moustakas, KC (@ DET) - $4,000

Moose has been on fire this season, so it's actually pretty crazy that his price has only gone up to $4,000. In his last 15 games, Moustakas is batting .380 with a 1.092 OPS and four homers. Yowza! Facing Mike Fiers is one of the best possible matchups you can ask for when you play Moustakas, as Fiers has a 1.54 HR/9 this year after posting a 1.88 mark in 2017. Prepare for Moose to go deep.

SS - Ketel Marte, ARI (vs. SD) - $3,500

There are lots of garbage pitchers taking the mound on Saturday, many of which I have already highlighted. We've got another one to target in Padres starter Clayton Richard, who has just a 16.5% K-rate with a 10.3% walk-rate. Unsurprisingly, he's rocking a 5.73 ERA as well. I think Marte's high-contact style of play will play well against Richard's lack of strikeout ability. If nothing else, Marte's got a solid power/speed combo and comes in at a cheap price.

 

DraftKings Outfielders

Jay Bryce, NYM (@ ATL) - $3,900

Braves starter Julio Teheran always struggles when he pitches at home, and SunTrust Park in Atlanta is a fantastic park for left-handed power. This combination gives Jay Bruce a fantastic opportunity to bust out of his slump on Saturday. Teheran's already got a 6.43 ERA at home this season after posting a 5.86 in Atlanta last season, and don't forget that Bruce knocked 36 dingers last season. He's a great value at this price.

Bradley Zimmer, CLE (@ BAL) - $3,300

Indians centerfielder Bradley Zimmer is coming in at near punt-level prices on Saturday, and it's not exactly clear why. He's batting .385 in the last 15 days with a 1.005 OPS! Zimmer has a great matchup in Oriole Park, an outstanding hitter's park, and opposing pitcher Chris Tillman might actually be the worst of the worst pitchers on today's slate. Tillman has a hilarious 11.91 ERA with only three strikeouts and 10 walks in three starts. I recommend an Indians stack, and Zimmer is an essential part of that stack.

Mitch Haniger, SEA (@ TEX) - $4,000

Don't be a goofball and avoid Mariners hitters against Bartolo Colon on Saturday. He had a fantastic start against the Astros his last time out, but he's going to have to show us much more than just that in order to take him seriously. For now, he's still a pitcher we want to target, and Haniger is a great mid-range play to consider against him. Haniger has a 131 wRC+ this season and hasn't gotten a ton of buzz despite his success.

MLB DFS News and Injury Alerts

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brock Purdy

Ruled Out Again in Week 9
Trey Hendrickson

Logan Wilson Inactive for Week 9
Dalton Schultz

Officially Active for Week 9 Against Broncos
Isiah Pacheco

Expected to Return After the Chiefs' Bye Week
Austin Cindric

is A Driver to Avoid for Phoenix DFS Lineups
Joe Flacco

Will Play in Week 9 Against Bears
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Named World Series MVP
Alex Bowman

Could Alex Bowman be A Sneaky Tournament Play for Phoenix?
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Committed to Mike McDaniel for the Foreseeable Future
Noah Gragson

Should DFS Players Roster Noah Gragson At Phoenix?
Erik Jones

Is Erik Jones Worth Rostering for DFS at Phoenix?
Breece Hall

Unlikely to be Traded
Connor McDavid

Records Three Assists in Saturday's Win
Michael McDowell

an Easy Recommendation for DFS at Phoenix
Vladimir Tarasenko

Ends Dry Spell With Three-Point Effort
Nick Suzuki

Collects Two More Apples
Timothy Liljegren

Sustains Upper-Body Injury
Nick Cousins

Injured on Saturday
Sam LaPorta

Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta Approaching Contract Extension Territory
Christopher Tanev

Leaves on Stretcher Saturday
Jauan Jennings

Several Teams Interested in Trading for Jauan Jennings
Calvin Ridley

Emerging as a Potential Trade Target
Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Don't Intend to Trade Trey Hendrickson
Kevon Looney

Questionable Versus OKC
Chase Briscoe

Probably Won't Win the Title
Joey Logano

Could Play Spoiler in Championship Battle at Phoenix
Tyler Reddick

Seeking to End Winless Drought, but Probably Won't Have the Speed
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Looks to Protect Top-10 Points Finish at Phoenix
Brad Keselowski

Hasn't Been Fast at Phoenix With RFK Racing
Daniel Suarez

With Nothing at Stake, Expect Little From Daniel Suarez
Kyle Busch

Qualifies Well, but Will Probably Finish Worse Than he Starts
Chris Buescher

Ryan Preece has a Shot to Overtake Chris Buescher as RFK Racing's Lead Driver
Austin Dillon

Looks to Avoid Finishing Last in NASCAR Playoffs
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Might be a Worthy DFS Option
Cooper Kupp

Not Expected to Play Vs. Washington
Alvin Kamara

Saints Expect Alvin Kamara to Play Vs. Rams
Travis Hunter

Optimism Surrounding Travis Hunter's Knee Injury
Jakob Poeltl

to Remain Sidelined Sunday
Jakobi Meyers

Raiders "Set a High Price" on Jakobi Meyers
Walker Kessler

Out on Sunday
Mitchell Robinson

Listed as Questionable for Sunday
Trey Benson

Moving Closer Toward a Return
Dillon Brooks

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Sunday
Jalen Green

Unavailable Against Spurs
Norman Powell

Questionable to Suit Up Against Lakers
Jaylen Waddle

Miami "Highly Unlikely" to Trade Jaylen Waddle
Jeremy Sochan

Remains Absent Sunday
De'Aaron Fox

Still Out Sunday
Daniel Gafford

Makes Season Debut With Minutes Restriction
D'Angelo Russell

Cleared to Play Saturday
Deandre Ayton

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Paul George

Unavailable Sunday
Joel Embiid

to Sit Out Sunday's Action
Sam Merrill

May Skip Another Contest Sunday
Jarrett Allen

Questionable for Sunday
Darius Garland

to Remain Out Sunday
Donovan Mitchell

Could Miss Another Game Sunday
Chet Holmgren

Not Ready to Return Sunday
Trae Young

to Be Re-Evaluated in Four Weeks
Payton Pritchard

Ready to Face Rockets
Tua Tagovailoa

Benching "Not off the Table"
Connor Brown

Won't Play on Saturday
Dylan Strome

Ready to Return Saturday
Sean Couturier

Out on Saturday
Ilya Mikheyev

Set to Return Saturday
Warren Foegele

Kings Place Warren Foegele on Injured Reserve
TOR

Chris Tanev Cleared for Action
William Nylander

Remains Out Saturday
Shohei Ohtani

to Start Game 7 of World Series
Kyler Murray

Making Progress, but Won't Start on Monday Night
Tony Pollard

Titans Fielding Trade Calls on Tony Pollard
Chris Olave

Saints Expected to Retain Chris Olave Through Trade Deadline
Alejandro Kirk

X-Rays Come Back Negative on Alejandro Kirk's Hand
Alejandro Kirk

Goes for X-Rays After Being Hit on the Hand
Mackenzie Blackwood

Set for Season Debut Saturday
Ryan Reaves

Remains Under Evaluation
Trevor Moore

Expected to Return Saturday
Zach Benson

Placed on Injured Reserve
Pierre-Luc Dubois

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Friday
Jacob Markstrom

Devils Sign Jacob Markstrom to Two-Year Extension
Connor Brown

Considered Questionable for Saturday
Gleyber Torres

Undergoes Sports-Hernia Surgery
Dylan Strome

Remains Out Friday
Bo Bichette

Not Expecting to Need Offseason Knee Surgery
George Springer

Back in Leadoff Spot for Game 6 of World Series
David Onama

Set For UFC Vegas 110 Main Event
Steve Garcia

Returns At UFC Vegas 110
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Set For Co-Main Event
Ante Delija

In Search For His Second UFC Win
Themba Gorimbo

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 110
Jeremiah Wells

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Yadier del Valle

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Arizona State Quarterback Sam Leavitt Out for the Season
Isaac Dulgarian

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Daniel Frunza

Looks For His First UFC Win
Charles Radtke

Looks To Bounce Back
Allan Nascimento

Set To Open Up UFC Vegas 110 Main Card
Cody Durden

In Dire Need Of Victory
George Springer

"Strong Possibility" That George Springer Returns in Game 6 of World Series
Bryce Miller

Not Expected to Need Elbow Surgery
Washington Nationals

Nationals Finalizing a Deal to Hire Blake Butera as Next Manager
CFB

Arch Manning Listed as Questionable for Vanderbilt Matchup
CFB

Arion Carter Listed as Questionable Ahead of Oklahoma Matchup
Minnesota Twins

Twins Name Derek Shelton as Their New Manager
CFB

Jordyn Tyson Questionable for Iowa State Matchup with Hamstring Injury
George Springer

Not in the Lineup for Game 4 of World Series
George Springer

Pulled Early in Game 3 With Side Injury
Baltimore Orioles

Orioles Finalizing Deal to Hire Craig Albernaz as the Next Manager
William Byron

Dominates at Martinsville and Advances to the Championship Round
Kyle Larson

Advances to the Championship Round After Top-Five Finish
Ryan Blaney

Falls Short of the Victory and Title Contention at Martinsville
Chase Elliott

Eliminated From 2025 Title Contention Despite Strong Martinsville Run
CFB

Behren Morton Will Start Against Kansas State
CFB

Lane Kiffin Says Money Won't Impact his Decision-Making
CFB

Arch Manning in Concussion Protocol, Misses Practice Monday

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP