RADIO
Happy Sunday! We’ve got an 11-game featured slate on DraftKings today, one that excludes the west coast games. That still leaves us with Coors Field, Corey Kluber, and a lot of terrible, horrible starting pitchers.
It will be tough to fit the Klubot and the Coors Field bats in our lineup today, but there is plenty of value to be had in the middle and lower price range that will help us navigate through the Sunday slate. With so many bad pitchers on the mound today we won’t have to load up on Coors Field hitters to get some offense.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/22/18. 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 @ElliottBaasBB.
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DraftKings Starting Pitchers
Corey Kluber, CLE (@ BAL) - $12,800
There are a few good pitchers on the slate today, but none of them compare to Corey Kluber. Through his first four starts Kluber has a 30.3% strikeout rate, 1.52 ERA, 2.40 FIP, and .155 average against. Kluber also goes deep into games, having gone no less than 6.2 innings in every start thus far. When one pitcher stands above the rest it’s usually worth getting him in your lineup at all costs, at least in cash games. As a bonus this is a good matchup for Kluber. No team has struck out at a higher rate than the opposing Baltimore Orioles, who strike out 27.8% of the time collectively. The Orioles also have a .278 wOBA and 72 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers.
Luis Castillo, CIN (@ STL) - $7,200
Luis Castillo is better than his 6.75 ERA through four starts. His 3.62 xFIP and 3.76 SIERA suggest that. He also has a 51.3% strand rate, which is exceptionally unlucky even in a small sample size. Castillo also got a raw deal his last start out against the Brewers. He left with two earned runs over 6.2 innings, but reliver Cody Reed allowed two inherited runners to score, inflating Castillo’s final line. On the young season Castillo has actually increased his already impressive whiff rate. He currently has a 15.2% swinging strike rate on the season, suggesting he could improve on his 21.9% strikeout rate. Castillo is a great high upside SP2 to pair with Kluber.
DraftKings Infielders
C – Wilson Ramos, TB (vs. MIN) - $2,900
Phil Hughes is making his 2018 debut on Sunday, and we can’t let him go untouched. Last season Hughes had a 5.87 ERA, 5,41 FIP, and 2.01 HR/9. Hughes was once lauded for his control, but over the past few years his refusal to walk batters has gotten him punished in the strike zone. Hughes has allowed 52 homers in 268 innings since 2015, or 1.75 HR/9. Ramos is probably the best Ray to take advantage of Hughes. Ramos has a .188 ISO over the last two seasons and gives a power hitter at a generally weak position for a good price.
1B – Miguel Cabrera, DET (vs. KC) - $3,900
A rainout postponed Eric Skoglund’s start and ruined our Angels stack last week, and it’s time for revenge. When he finally made his start Skoglund got hammered for five runs on eight hits against the Blue Jays, which somehow lowered his career ERA from 9.53 to 9.43. Skoglund’s best attribute as a prospect was command, yet he has a 4.88 BB/9 over his career. He doesn’t have the stuff or the dominance to overcome such poor control. Miggy has bounced back nicely to begin the season, with an .830 OPS and 123 wRC+ on the young season. Even in a down year Miggy demolished left-handed pitchers. In 2017 he had a 149 wRC+ and .928 OPS against southpaws.
2B – Scooter Gennett, CIN (@ STL) - $3,100
For his career Gennett has been an above average hitter against righties, with a 109 wRC+ all time against them. During last year’s breakout he clobbered right-handers with a 133 wRC+, .261 ISO, and 23 of his 27 homers against them. He’ll face Cardinals righty Miles Mikolas, who has coughed up four homers in his first three starts this season. Gennett hasn’t homered yet this season, but he’s in a good position to catch one Sunday.
3B Jeimer Candelario, DET (vs. KC) - $3,400
We definitely want a little more exposure to Skoglund, and Candelario offers that at an affordable price. He has exploded over the last nine days, going 12-for-26 with three home runs during that span. Candelario is on fire and Skoglund is lighter fluid.
SS – Jean Segura, SEA (@ TEX) - $3,500
DraftKings pricing algorithm seems to hate Jean Segura. He is consistently under $4,000 despite back to back seasons with a wRC+ over 110, a batting average over .300, and more than 20 steals. Segura is off to a nice start this season, with a .303 average and three steals through 79 plate appearances. What really makes Segura a good play, despite the price, is his matchup against Martin Perez. Perez has been among the most hittable pitchers in the league thus far. He has a 13.14 ERA, 8.17 FIP, 1.00 K/BB, and 2.92 HR/9. He has the highest ERA and third highest FIP among pitchers with at least 10 innings this season. He may be achieving new lows, but Perez has never been good. Over 688.1 career innings Perez has a 4.59 ERA and 4.35 FIP.
DraftKings Outfielders
OF – Nelson Cruz, SEA (@ TEX) - $4,400
Remember all those reasons to play Jean Segura? The same apply to Nelson Cruz. He is Seattle’s best power hitter, and one of the elite power hitters in the game. Cruz is good against everybody, but he absolutely destroys left-handed pitchers. For his career he has .258 ISO and .392 wOBA against lefties. Globe Life Park was also the second most hitter friendly ballpark last season per ESPN park factors, so we are free to fade Coors with situations like the one in Arlington on Sunday.
OF – Mitch Haniger, SEA (@ TEX) - $3,700
Haniger has exploded out of the gate for five home runs and a .274 ISO in his first 73 plate appearances. Haniger had a .209 ISO and .360 wOBA last season in his first year as a big league regular. Like Segura, Haniger is underpriced given the matchup and in a great position on Sunday.
OF – Giancarlo Stanton, NYY (vs. TOR) - $4,900
Opposing starter Jaime Garcia may have a 3.86 ERA, but it comes with a 5.53 FIP and 2.20 HR/9. His 25.4% strikeout rate seems fluky given his 7.5% swinging strike rate. Despite a slump, Stanton still has a .233 ISO and four home runs in 83 plate appearances. Stanton is as big a home run threat as any player in baseball and is facing a pitcher that hasn’t been able to keep the ball in the yard consistently. Garcia has a 1.25 HR/9 over the last three seasons.
