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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on April 22nd, 2023. John Brubaker's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Saturday RotoBallers, and happy baseball season! This is John Brubaker dropping some of my favorite plays for today's slate! I'm so excited that MLB DFS back, and here's a chance to start the season off on the right foot! We have a pretty different slate tonight relative to last week, with the first difference it being, well a night slate. We have a nice main slate, with seven games on tap.
We don't have any slate differences today, which is always a good thing. That way I don't have to make selections that may be on one slate and not the other. I have big ideas for this slate, so let's get right to it. I want to note, my writeups will get a bit more detailed as the season goes on, as I'm still making adjustments to my projection model this early on in the season.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/22/2023 and the slate locking at 7:05 pm 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. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. Now that we got all of that out of the way, it's onto the picks!
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Andrew Heaney, LAA vs KC ($8,800 DK, $8,900 FD)
I'll start off tonight's slate with Andrew Heaney (1-1, 4.97 ERA). Heaney's numbers are a bit deceptive here, considering he allowed seven earned runs in his first start of the campaign but hasn't allowed an earned run in either of his last two starts while striking out 14 across 10 innings. He'll get a solid matchup today against an Athletics lineup that's surprisingly above-average against left-handed pitching. Nevertheless, I'm more than comfortable backing Heaney in this spot.
Garrett Whitlock, BOS at MIL ($7,200 DK, $8,500 FD)
I'll take a look at Garrett Whitlock next. Whitlock (1-1, 4.50 ERA) has made just two starts on the young season, and has allowed six earned across 12 innings while striking out 10. I think this is a good spot for Whitlock, despite the Brewers ranking in the top ten in both wRC+ and wOBA against right-handed pitching. My model projects Whitlock to a 3.20 xFIP and 27.14% strikeout rate in this one.
Also consider: Joe Musgrove
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Fernando Tatis Jr. - SS/OF, SD vs. Merrill Kelly ($5,200 DK, $4,400 FD)
As far as hitters go, I'll start the slate off with Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis has played just two games since being back from his injury/PED suspension, and has just one hit in nine at-bats. He'll see a familiar face in Merrill Kelly tonight, though, who he has a double and three homers against in 19 plate appearances. He projects for a .447 wOBA against Kelly's pitch types and is certainly high-upside play on this slate.
Eugenio Suarez - 3B, SEA vs. Miles Mikolas ($4,000 DK, $3,000 FD)
I'll take a look at Eugenio Suarez next. Suarez comes into tonight's game against Miles Mikolas with a 112 wRC+ and .316 wOBA on the season. He projects to a 35.59% hard contact rate and .324 wOBA against Mikolas's pitch types. Suarez has seen Mikolas quite a few times from his time in Cincinnati, going 6-11 with two homers in 14 plate appearances against the righty.
Matt Carpenter - 1B, SD vs. Merrill Kelly ($2,800 DK, $2,600 FD)
I'll wrap things up in terms of infielders with Matt Carpenter. Carpenter has gotten off to a slow start in limited action thus far into this season, coming into this one with a 101 wRC+ and .322 wOBA. He hasn't seen much of Merrill Kelly in his career, going 0-4 in just four at-bats vs the righty. With that said, though, he projects to a 45.5% hard contact rate and .308 wOBA against Kelly's pitch types.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Yordan Alvarez - OF, HOU vs. Kyle Wright ($6,400 DK, $4,500 FD)
I'll start off the outfielders with who other than Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez is coming into this game with a .397 wOBA and 162 wRC+ on the season. While I do believe that Kyle Wright is a good pitcher, I really do think Alvarez is matchup-proof. Wright's got the best of Yordan in their only two matchups, striking him out each time. However, Yordan projects to a 45.5% hard contact rate and a .432 wOBA against Wright's pitch types.
Taylor Ward - OF, LAA vs. Zack Greinke ($4,900 DK, $3,200 FD)
I'll take a look at Taylor Ward next. Ward comes into this Saturday night matchup with an 89 wRC+ and .297 wOBA. While I think he's a bit overpriced on DK, I do like him as the leadoff guy in an Angels stack (more on that later). While Ward projects to a 36.73% hard contact rate and a .369 wOBA against Zack Greinke's pitch types, he is just 1-5 against Greinke in his career. I'll use him as a stack staple here though, and build around him.
Edward Olivares - OF, KC vs. Tyler Anderson ($3,200 DK, $2,300 FD)
I'll look to the other side of that Angels/Royals matchup with Edward Olivares. Olivares is an absolute steal in my opinion on FanDuel, getting a two-hole hitter for that cheap. While Tyler Anderson had a fantastic 2022, his regression is starting to show early in 2023. Olivares is just 1-4 against Tyler Anderson in his career, he projects to a .396 wOBA and 31.3% hard contact rate against the southpaw tonight.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
San Diego Padres vs. Merrill Kelly
I mentioned the Padres earlier when writing up both Fernando Tatis Jr. and Matt Carpenter. I do have them as my top stack tonight, with a hard contact rate north of 30% and a .335 projected wOBA as a team. They've gotten off to a slow start this season, but will look to get it rolling against Kelly, who has pitched well against the Padres in his career. In any event, I'm backing the model on this one.
Favorite Plays: Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Matt Carpenter, Xander Bogaerts
Los Angeles Angels vs. Zack Greinke
I'll wrap things up tonight with the Los Angeles Angels against Zack Greinke. Greinke is 0-3 with a 4.03 ERA on the season, and now takes on an Angels lineup that hasn't been all that great against right-handed starters this season. It's easy to stack the stars in this lineup, and I certainly will be doing so in some lineups. However, I'll be looking at the "edges" of the lineup, taking stabs at guys like Taylor Ward, Hunter Renfroe, and Jake Lamb as well.
Favorite Plays: Taylor Ward, Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Hunter Renfoe, Jake Lamb
Also Consider: Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals
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