April 15, 2017

JB's DraftKings analysis and advice. The top MLB DFS lineup picks on for 4/15/17, as well as a couple of sleepers for daily fantasy baseball rosters.

Who's ready to get rowdy? Welcome to Saturday DFS, RotoBallers. Today we have a full plate of baseball, split between a 10-game Early Slate and a five-game Main Slate. Mother Nature looks to be fairly cooperative, with only the CWS-MIN game in Minneapolis looking like a serious storm risk for the second consecutive day. There is also a few strong forecasted winds that could give our hitters a huge boost in reaching the stands such as the games in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Cincinnati. So keep that in mind when paying up for your pitchers!

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/15/17. I am not one to waste time nor insult someone's intelligence. I won't tell you that Mike Trout and Chris Sale are good plays today, because they are good plays everyday. Instead I will focus on where you can scrape up value in order to afford rostering Mike Trout and Chris Sale- whom you know are good plays today because you are an adult and have watched baseball at least once in your life. Enjoy the read and good luck out there today!

You can read our FanDuel and Yahoo DFS lineup picks as well. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @RowdyRotoJB

DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings

Cincinnati Reds versus Zach Davies

The suprising Reds currently sit at fourth in the entire league in runs scored and team OPS. They were somewhat quieted last night by Tommy Milone so I expect a big bounceback performance tonight against Zach Davies who owns a mind boggling 10.61 ERA and 2.36 WHIP after his first two starts of 2017. Joey Votto and Adam Duvall are must-haves if you can afford the costs, but Eugenio Suarez, Zack Cozart, Scooter Gennett, and Billy Hamilton are more than affordable.

Also Consider: Chicago Cubs versus Tyler Glasnow; Seattle Mariners versus Andrew Cashner

DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings

Justin Verlander, DET at CLE ($8,500)

Nothing about the matchup will make you warm inside considering Verlander owned a 4.88 ERA against the Indians last year and Corey Kluber is on the mound. But the Tribe are currently in a bit of a funk and sit at 22nd in the league in OPS versus RHP. It's not often you get to roster Verlander at this price, and he has the strikeout potential to provide plenty of value, even if one of the Cleveland lefties takes advantage of the forecasted 17 mph wind blowing out to rightfield. He has already accrued 14 whiffs in his first two starts of 2017. I mean he costs less than Matt Shoemaker for goodness sake. I don't feel safe enough to have him as my anchor cash pitcher today, but feel good about the ceiling for GPP contests.

Tanner Roark, WSH vs PHI- ($8,100)

The stars have aligned for a gem from Roark against the Phillies. In 2016 he owned a 2.72 ERA at home, a 0.79 ERA against Philly, and a 1.61 ERA for day games. It's the perfect storm. That's not even including the fact these two teams went into extra innings on Friday, meaning potential fatigue could play a role on the hitters. Roark should be rostered in all cash lineups today, and hopefully will have a low enough ownership percentage due to the top-heavy slate to warrant a SP1 spot in GPP lines as well.

Also Consider: Ervin Santana, MIN vs CWS ($7,500) *GPP-only due to weather concerns

DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings

Catcher (C)

Welington Castillo, BAL at TOR ($3,200)

BvP lovers brace yourselves. In 26 career AB against Marco Estrada, Castillo has hit four HR and a double. That equates to a .808 SLG. He got a day off on Friday, so he should be plenty rested for this matchup. The RHB has yet to break the HR seal this year, but has hit the ball much better away from Camden Yards early on. Opposing pitcher Estrada had an ugly start last time on the mound, and has already given up three bombs and seven ER in just 11 IP in 2017.

Also Consider: Christian Vazquez, BOS vs TBR ($2,700)

First Base (1B)

Mitch Moreland, BOS vs TBR ($3,300)

Moreland has been a pleasant surprise offensively for the Red Sox thus far in 2017. He leads the league with eight doubles, and is slashing .324/.410/.559. Despite the good numbers, he has yet to hit a HR and only has one RBI. But a matchup with Jake Odorizzi could be the cure as the Boston studs are finally recovered from their battle with the flu. Odorizzi owned a 5.40 ERA against the Sox in 2016, and has given up three long balls in just 12 IP this year. I like Morelands chances for wrapping a line drive around Pesky Pole today, along with plenty of RBI opportunities at a low cost.

Also Consider: Jesus Aguilar, MIL at CIN ($3,400)

Second Base (2B)

DJ LeMahieu, COL at SFG ($3,500)

Matt Moore posted a 6.10 ERA against the Rockies in 2016, while LeMahieu hit .331/.415/.517 against LHP. We've all heard the saying "Keep It Simple Stupid." LeMahieu's ceiling away from Coors and amidst an early season slump is low enough to keep him out of GPP consideration, but the floor and price fit nicely with cash games.

Also Consider: Scooter Gennett, CIN vs MIL ($3,700)

Shortstop (SS)

Zack Cozart, CIN vs MIL ($3,500)

As we have seen plenty of times in the past, Cozart can go on some freakish hot streaks, and he is currently in one to begin the 2017 season. After hitting his first HR Friday, his BA now sits at an absurd .467. Despite the uno jack, he has added two doubles and two triples along with a SB. There's no reason to keep him out of your lineups until this streak has for sure died off. He is at the heart of the previously mentioned Reds stack due to the lack of value at the shortstop position today. Also Zach Davies has been terrible, absolutely terrible.

Also Consider: Trevor Story, COL at SFG ($4,000)

Third Base (3B)

Mike Moustakas, KC vs LAA ($3,400)

I couldn't keep Moose out of my lineups Friday due to his cheap price tag, and he repaid me with a HR. Today his price still remains too low, and he draws a matchup with Matt Shoemaker. Shoemaker struggled in away games last season, and was flat out awful against the Royals. Add in the fact that he has a 7.71 ERA and allowed three long balls through two starts in 2017 and you got yourself a great play for both GPP and cash games.

Also Consider: Eugenio Suarez, CIN vs MIL ($3,600)

DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings

Willson Contreras, CHC vs PIT ($3,600)

It won't be often that I choose to use Contreras in the outfield this year, but with the matchup and 20 mph forecasted winds blowing to dead center, I'll certainly take a piece of that pie for this price. In his first start of 2017, Tyler Glasnow gave up five ER and walked four in just 1 2/3 IP. Yikes. His pitching coach stated that for Saturday's game he will be using a new pitch delivery, so I assume another rough outing as he searches for a new look. Contreras took the day off Friday so he should return to his usual spot in the Cubs dangerous lineup Saturday refreshed.

Andrew Benintendi, BOS vs TBR ($3,900)

Even though the fantasy stat line doesn't look overly sexy, Benintendo 64 has been as advertised in 2017. He has 10 hits in 38 AB, and has only struck out four times. He is certainly going to become an OBP monster, and when he faces the right pitchers, he's going to put some balls out past Pesky Pole. Jake Odorizzi is certainly the right pitcher to target. The ceiling isn't overly high here, but the floor is certainly high enough to warrant a spot in your cash lines.

Billy Hamilton, CIN vs MIL ($4,100)

When you find a pitcher that Billy Hamilton has strong BvP numbers against, you use him. It is rare in nature, but can lead to crazy SB output. Zach Davies will be used for this theory, as Hamilton is 4-8 against the RHP for his career and already has swiped five bases in 2017. Maybe he can double that total today. In case you have forgotten since the other times I mentioned it, Zach Davies has been very bad this season.

Also Consider: Chris Young, BOS vs TBR ($3,100); Manuel Margot, SDP at ATL ($3,500)

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