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Happy Thursday and happy Opening Day, RotoBallers! After a two-game appetizer between Los Angeles and San Diego last week, we get the full-blown Opening Day experience to kick off the 2024 campaign. With so much offseason movement, there are a lot of unknowns heading into a new season. Try your best not to tilt through the early goings of the year, and remember that the process will eventually win out over results. This is especially true in daily fantasy sports.
Our Opening Day main slate is different on DraftKings and FanDuel. DK limits its contest to the eight games beginning at 4:10 p.m. ET, while FD includes the two matchups starting at 3:05 p.m. ET on Thursday afternoon. Remember this when building your first DFS lineups for the 2024 MLB season.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/28/2024 and the slate locking at 3:05 p.m. or 4:10 p.m. ET. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential. Follow me on X @EuanFPL for more DFS advice.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Tarik Skubal at White Sox ($9,100 DraftKings; $10,100 FanDuel)
The offseason hype train took off for Tarik Skubal, so we should expect him to be heavily rostered in a delightful matchup against Chicago. In 2023, Detroit's left-handed pitcher produced a 2.80 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 32.9 percent strikeout rate across 80 1/3 innings. An Opening Day matchup with the White Sox will not burst Skubal's bubble either. Chicago had the sixth-highest strikeout rate versus Southpaws last season while ranking in the bottom six for OBP, SLG, wOBA, and wRC+.
Tarik Skubal threw 86 pitches in 5 solid frames vs the Phillies starters yesterday, allowing just 3 hits, 2 walks, and a run while striking out 6.
He struck out 19 hitters over 14 innings this Spring with a 2.57 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.
Cont (1/2) pic.twitter.com/CsaCjYgM9G
— "Thunder Dan" Palyo (@ThunderDanDFS) March 23, 2024
Corbin Burnes vs. Angels ($10,200) FanDuel only
FanDuel is including the Angels-Orioles game in its Opening Day contest. As a result, we get to play Corbin Burnes for his Baltimore debut. The former Milwaukee maestro looks to bounce back on the East Coast after a down 2023. Fortunately, a date with Los Angeles should boost his chances. In 2023, the Angels had the fifth-highest strikeout rate to right-handed hurlers while producing bottom-11 numbers in average and on-base percentage with Shohei Ohtani in the lineup. Burnes is a significant high-priced differential for the extended FD slate.
Zach Eflin vs. Blue Jays ($7,300 DK; $8,500 FD)
Of the 16 pitchers on DK and 20 on FD, Zach Eflin is the best bang-for-your-buck arm in DFS based on his 2023 numbers. The 29-year-old enjoyed a breakout season with Tampa Bay and finally fulfilled his potential after years of hype. In 32 starts and 182 2/3 innings, the Rays righty twirled a 3.60 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 189 strikeouts. Eflin had the sixth-most DK PPG (18.5) in 2023 among today's arms but is the 10th-most expensive pitcher. He's a fantastic value for any manager looking to save some salary at SP2 or even SP1.
.@zeflin12 gets the ball for game 1. pic.twitter.com/L24xmDHfE2
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 19, 2024
Also consider: Pablo Lopez at KC, Cole Ragans vs. MIN, Mitch Keller at MIA, Yu Darvish vs. SF
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Joey Gallo - 1B, WAS at Frankie Montas ($3,500 DK; $2,500 FD)
The setup is excellent for Joey Gallo's grand Opening Day. While he may never reach the heights of previous seasons, he can still hit home runs with the best of them. The veteran slugger is slated to bat fifth in a Washington lineup that looks strong compared to the last couple of campaigns. Starting the year in Great American Ballpark only boosts Gallo's appeal for your first DFS lineup of the season, as one long ball could make your day.
Jordan Westburg - SS, BAL vs. Patrick Sandoval ($2,600) - FanDuel only
Jordan Westburg likely comes in with a low roster rate in Thursday's DFS slates because the infielder is projected to bat at or near the bottom of Baltimore's lineup. I'm not a huge Cedric Mullins fan, but a mini-wraparound stack of Jordan Westburg, Adley Rutschmann, and Gunnar Henderson is an excellent way to kick-start your 2024 DFS season. Last year, Baltimore posted top-10 numbers against left-handed pitchers in walk rate, slugging percentage, wOBA, and wRC+. You'll want a piece of this offense against Patrick Sandoval.
Anthony Volpe - SS, NYY at Framber Valdez ($3,800 DK; $2,500 FD)
With DJ LeMahieu (foot) on the Injured List to begin the 2024 season, Anthony Volpe has a real shot to leadoff for New York. Batting ahead of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto can only result in positive outcomes for the sophomore shortstop. In his rookie year, Volpe slashed .209/.283/.383 in 159 games with 21 homers and 24 steals. A move up this retooled Yankees lineup raises the 22-year-old's counting stats number, and DFS appeal significantly.
Anthony Volpe takes one out the opposite way. pic.twitter.com/41ycuQwGk2
— MLB (@MLB) March 20, 2024
Also consider: Mookie Betts, Spencer Torkelson, Jake Cronenworth, Jake Burger, Nolan Gorman
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Kyle Schwarber - OF, PHI vs. Spencer Strider ($3,700) - FanDuel only
Selecting Kyle Schwarber in your FD squad gives the lineup massive leverage over the rest of the field. DFS managers far and wide will find it hard to resist rostering Spencer Strider and his strikeout upside to begin the year. Schwarber has the honor of a unique 2023 stat line. Last season, the Phillies outfielder hit 52 home runs and only 51 singles. He's the ultimate boom-or-bust pick in DFS and a cheaper-than-expected option to be considered in tournament formats.
Kyle Schwarber slugged 1.220 (72 total bases in 59 ABs) on the first pitch of at-bats in the 2023 season, best in MLB. pic.twitter.com/0u4UJNdswe
— Inside Edge (@IE_MLB) March 18, 2024
Byron Buxton - OF, MIN at Cole Ragans ($4,600 DK; $3,400 FD)
When Byron Buton is healthy, Byron Buxton is a DFS option. The former top prospect has teased season-long fantasy baseball managers year after year, but it has been fine for us DFS managers. We get to play him when he's healthy and reap all the benefits of his talent. While there are signs of decline in his profile, it could all change in an offseason for Buxton. He's posted at least a .300 ISO in three of the last four seasons and ranked in the 90th percentile for Hard Hit percentage and 94th percentile for Sprint Speed in 2023.
Will Benson - OF, CIN vs. Josiah Gray ($3,300 DK; $2,700 FD)
In his second season, Will Benson improved in all the categories you want to see where a baseball player should excel. He raised his exit velocity, barrel percentage, xWOBA, and walk rate, among many gains. In 108 games, the Reds outfielder produced a .863 OPS with 11 home runs and 19 steals and averaged 6.7 DK PPG. Unfortunately, his spot in the Cincinnati lineup dampens his DFS upside, but, once again, a bat in Great American Ballpark is always that lottery ticket.
Also consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. (FD only), Aaron Judge, Teoscar Hernandez, Lane Thomas, Parker Meadows
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Cincinnati Reds vs. Josiah Gray
Favorite Plays: Spencer Steer, Jeimer Candelario, Jake Fraley
2. Houston Astros vs. Nestor Cortes
Favorite Plays: Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez, Chas McCormick
3. Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Miles Mikolas
Favorite Plays: Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, James Outman
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