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Even with a shorter slate this Monday, there are plenty of intriguing games to watch, including an 11:05 AM eastern time start in Boston. With several different contests being offered on DraftKings, you'll have lots of different lineup options. For our purposes, the following picks have been made for contests running all day.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/17/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings.
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 @TroyKlauder.
DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings
Cleveland Indians vs. Kyle Gibson (RHP)
The Indians are a great stack on Monday as they face one of the worst regular starting pitchers in all of baseball, Kyle Gibson. Gibson had a ridiculously bad 5.07 ERA in 25 starts last year and has picked up right where he left off this year, putting up an 8.00 ERA through his first two starts. Francisco Lindor and Edwin Encarnacion are top tier picks who look to tee off on Gibson. Yandy Diaz and Abraham Almonte are additional picks coming for cheap, as anybody in the Indians lineup on Monday will enjoy their day at the plate.
Seattle Mariners vs. Tom Koehler (RHP)
After putting up eight runs on the Rangers on Sunday, the Mariners lineup has another great opportunity on Monday against mediocre righty Tom Koehler. Koehler hasn't posted an ERA below 4.00 since 2014 and is never a threat to put up big strikeout numbers, so lots of balls are put in play against him. The scorching hot Mitch Haniger is a great play batting second, while Jarrod Dyson should lead off -- both will be in a prime position to get on base and score some runs. If you're looking for an elite hitter, anybody in the heart of the Mariners lineup is a strong play: Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, or Kyle Seager.
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings
Jaime Garcia, ATL vs. SD - $7,200
Without a true ace on the mound for any team on Monday, it could be a good idea to grab cheaper options and load up on bats. If that's your strategy, Jaime Garcia should be one of your starters, as he gets to face Padres incredibly easy lineup, who have put just up a .294 wOBA this season. Garcia comes at a great price thanks two his poor first two starts, but those were against legitimate lineups. Against San Diego, Garcia should have no troubles, although you shouldn't expect big strikeout numbers.
John Lackey, CHC vs. MIL - $10,200
John Lackey is Monday's upside play for starters, as he faces Milwaukee at home. The Brewers have the second highest K% in all of baseball with 27.7%. Lackey has struck out 17 batters in his 12 innings this year, so he could put up another huge strikeout total in this one. The Brewers are no easy matchup though, so you run the risk of Lackey getting hit around if you use him. He's a boom or bust play on Monday.
DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings
Catcher (C)
Willson Contreras, CHC vs. MIL - $3,600
On a day where there aren't many acceptable catching options available, it's a good idea to take a guy like Contreras. He's the third most expensive play at catcher, but won't hurt your budget too much overall with the $3,600 price tag. Contreras gets a fantastic matchup in Chase Anderson, who had a 4.39 ERA last season with a 5.09 FIP. The Cubs are going to tee off on Anderson, and Contreras will be right in the middle of the action, racking up runs and RBI.
First Base (1B)
Chris Carter, NYY vs. CHW - $4,300
After hitting a National League leading 41 homers last year, Chris Carter has found his home at Yankee Stadium. 12 of those homers in 2016 came off lefties, who Carter has mashed throughout his career with a 117 wRC+, and Carter gets a matchup he can drool over in Derek Holland. Holland's homer problems are well documented, as he had a 1.26 HR/9 in 2016 after putting up a 1.69 HR/9 in 2015. A hitter with loads of home run power against a pitcher who struggles with the longball is a recipe for lots of fantasy points at Yankee Stadium, so get Carter into your lineups.
Second Base (2B)
Brandon Phillips, ATL vs. SD - $3,600
Veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips comes into Monday's game red-hot, batting .389 in the last week with a homer and three steals. He should continue this hot streak facing Jered Weaver, who is somehow still pitching after latching on with the Padres this offseason. Weaver has just a 5.73 K/9 through two starts this year while putting up a 5.21 K/9 last season. This type of matchup is great for Phillips, who swings at everything and hardly ever walks or strikes out (3.11 BB%, 11.6 K% in 2016). Batting fifth in the Atlanta lineup, Phillips will have lots of RBI chances and looks to have a stellar day at the plate on Monday.
Shortstop (SS)
Francisco Lindor, CLE at MIN- $4,200
As mentioned earlier, the Indians have a fantastic matchup against Kyle Gibson, and Francisco Lindor comes in as a surprisingly cheap play for such an elite talent. Lindor has been spectacular so far this year, hitting .362 with four homers and a boatload of counting stats from batting second. Using him as part of a Cleveland stack or even as a standalone play has the potential to reward fantasy players greatly.
Third Base (3B)
Evan Longoria, TB at BOS - $4,800
Evan Longoria hasn't gotten off to a good start in 2017, but he is set to feast on Steven Wright at Boston on Monday. Fenway Park is an outstanding hitters' park, and Wright is coming off an outing where he gave up eight earned runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched. There's not much convincing needed on this one - Longo is a premiere option at the hot corner with a dreamy matchup. Don't get scared off by two weeks of games where he hasn't performed, or you'll get left in the dust when Longoria takes off on Monday.
DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings
Giancarlo Stanton, MIA at SEA - $4,400
Giancarlo Stanton comes in at an incredibly low price for his skill level. This could mean that he's a popular play Monday, but he's still worth running with for his insane upside. Stanton puts up insane numbers against lefties, so the middling Ariel Miranda is going to get steamrolled by Stanton. Miranda lacks the strikeout potential that makes fantasy players weary of Stanton, so he will get the chance to display his absurd power in Seattle.
Jarrod Dyson SEA vs MIA - $3,200
Jarrod Dyson was mentioned as part of the Mariners blurb at the beginning of the article, and for good reason. Dyson will be leading off for the Mariners, so he has four high-powered hitters behind him when he gets on base. Dyson will bathe in runs on Monday provided that he gets on against the weak Tom Koehler, and there's always potential for stolen bases from the speedster.
Khris Davis, OAK vs TEX - $4,100
Khris Davis is raking this April, batting .340 with six bombs already. He gets a chance for more on Monday against the Rangers' A.J. Griffin, who enters his start with a 6.45 ERA. Davis has already homered off Griffin earlier in the year, hitting a solo shot on April 7th. The A's slugger comes in at a fair price with an easy opponent.
DFS Hitters to Avoid on DraftKings
Eric Thames, MIL at CHC - $3,800
Eric Thames has gotten off to a gaudy start and has a ridiculous five homers in his last four games. Since he's at such a cheap price, Thames is going to have insanely high ownership on Monday. Thames is a player you're going to want to fade, as his value is diluted by being such a popular pick. His matchup isn't an easy one against John Lackey -- his last four games have been aided by a garbage Cincinnati pitching staff. Don't get suckered in to the hype.
Avisail Garcia, MIL at CHC - $3,600
Avisail Garcia has been tearing the cover off the ball, hitting .465 to start the year, and comes in at a thrifty $3,600 on Monday. Still, he should be avoided by fantasy players, as masses of players will see the hot start and cheap price and slot him in their lineups. Garcia has been an incredibly poor hitter for the last two seasons, so there's no reason to believe he's magically the best hitter in baseball after two weeks. Garcia is sporting a .536 BABIP, which is certain to come down, and he's still striking out at a 21.4% rate, so it's not like he's making much more contact. Jordan Montgomery had an impressive debut against Tampa, so it's a smart move to fade Garcia.
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