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DraftKings Lineup Picks & Sleepers (4/21/17): MLB DFS Advice

There are no afternoon games Friday, meaning it's a normal evening slate of games on DraftKings. With 15 games on the docket, there will be plenty of options to choose from. While some expensive pitching targets exist for Friday, the key will be to find value on the mound in order to afford some big-time hitters. 

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/21/17. 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 @barryleonardjr.

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DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings

Cleveland Indians vs. Jose Quintana (LHP)

The Tribe hitters get a very favorable matchup Friday with Jose Quintana. The Chicago southpaw has really struggled to start the season, posting a record of 0-3 and an ERA of 6.75. He's given up five runs in two of his first three starts. Current Cleveland batters have a lifetime average of .280 against him, with Michael Brantley collecting 13 hits, a homer, and six RBI in 27 at-bats. Righties have been very successful against Quintana this year, so don't be afraid to deploy guys like Francisco Lindor, Edwin Encarnacion.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Adam Wainwright (RHP)

Wainwright is 0-3 to start the year and has given up a total of nine runs in his last two starts. Friday's task won't be easy, as he'll be going up against the hard-hitting Brewers. Milwaukee is one of the top offensive teams in the league and makes for a great lineup stack. Lefties have crushed Wainwright to the tune of .455 this year, so Travis Shaw and Eric Thames could be in for big games.

 

DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings

Jeremy Hellickson - vs. Atlanta Braves, $7,300 

Hellickson has started the new season with a record of 2-0 and an ERA of just 1.59. He has pitched in three games against two tough lineups -- Washington and Cincinnati -- and has looked sharp. He won't overwhelm opponents with strikeouts, but his ability to get outs is very valuable for fantasy lineups. With current Atlanta hitters carrying a combined average of .237 against him, Hellickson is in a good spot Friday.

Wily Peralta vs. St. Louis Cardinals, $5,700

This one could be a bit of a sleeper, but the St. Louis lineup hasn't been as dangerous this year as it has been in the past. Peralta has been flying under the fantasy radar a bit this year, but he's 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA. Don't let the fact that he went 0-2 against the Cardinals last year scare you away, he's pitching on a team that's been on of the best offenses to start the year.

 

DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings

Catcher (C)

Buster Posey - SF at COL, $5,100

If you take the above advice and go the cheap pitcher route you'll have some extra cap space for some big hitters. Buster Posey's price tag is higher than normal Friday thanks to the Coors Field effect. Despite missing time with a concussion earlier this year, Posey is off to a good start -- hitting .367 for the year and .444 over the last week. He's just 2-for-18 in his career against opposing starter Tyler Chatwood, but don't shy away. Posey is hitting well and racked up an average of .360 with two home runs and seven RBI at Coors last season.

First Base (1B)

Anthony Rizzo - CHC at CIN, $5,300

Rizzo has been smoking hot lately and is currently riding a nine-game hit streak. He is hitting .400 over the last week and has three straight games with at least 10 points on DraftKings. He has just six career at-bats against opposing pitcher Tim Adleman, but he's got four hits, including a double. Rizzo had six home runs in 40 at-bats at Great American Ballpark a year ago, so that bodes well for his chances Friday.

Second Base (2B)

Jose Ramirez - CLE at CHW, $3,700

Ramirez had a six-game hit streak end on Thursday, but he still enters Friday with a batting average of .345 with four homers and 16 RBI. He's really been hot recently, batting over .500 in the last week. He gets a good matchup with Jose Quintana Friday, as he has a lifetime average of .375 (9-for-24) against him.

Shortstop (SS)

Francisco Lindor - CLE at CHW , $3,900

Lindor went hitless Thursday, but he's still hitting .328 for the year and .370 over the past seven days. He continues to be the best available shortstop from a daily fantasy perspective and is averaging over 11 points a game on DraftKings. He can hit for both power and average, making him a must-start on most days.

Third Base (3B)

Nolan Arenado - COL vs. SF, $5,300

This one will cost you, but it's not wise to fade Nolan Arenado at home, particularly with him on a hot streak. The Colorado slugger is hitting .356 this year with six home runs, including that two that he hit against the Dodgers Tuesday. Arenado has three multi-hit games in his last four contests and is batting .435 over the last seven days. He does face a bit of a tough matchup with Johnny Cueto Friday, but his recent stretch and history at Coors Field should outweigh that. Arenado has been a daily fantasy stud and is a must-start, especially at home.

 

DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings

 Ryan Braun - MIL vs. STL, $5,000

Braun has turned back the clock a bit to start this season and is hitting over .300 with five home runs. He has two career home runs in his career against Adam Wainwright. Braun could be a savvy pick Friday, as many could stay away from his .213 lifetime average against the St. Louis right-hander and his low average against righties this season. Still, Braun has been hitting well and has been a very reliable source of fantasy points with an average of near 11 a game. 

Charlie Blackmon - COL vs SF, $5,100

Blackmon has struggled this year, particularly over the last week, hitting just .208. However, when hitting at Coors Field, his average is .348 with two home runs. He has also been good in the past against Johnny Cueto, hitting .300 (9-for-30). It's always wise to deploy some Rockies when they are home. Carlos Gonzalez would be the better choice here, but he's dealing with an injury, so go with Blackmon.

Steven Souza Jr. - TB vs HOU, $3,500

Steven Souza Jr. had a huge day Thursday, going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. The outfielder is hitting .349 for the season and slugging .603. He has hit .308 over the last week and enters Friday with 11 hits over the last seven games. Despite being a right-handed batter, Souza has torched righties this year with a .341 average and two home runs.

 

DFS Hitters to Avoid on DraftKings

Anthony Rendon - WAS at NYM, $3,500

Yes, Rendon has heated up lately, hitting .348 over the last weekbut he faces a very difficult matchup with New York's Jacob deGrom on Friday. In 10 at-bats against him Rendon is hitless and has three strikeouts. While that's a small sample size, there's also the fact that Rendon is hitting barley over .200 against righties this season, and deGrom has limited right-handed hitters to a .212 average.

Trevor Story - COL vs. SF, $4,900

Trevor Story is priced among the most expensive shortstops available on Friday, but he's not worth the price. Sure, the thought of him hitting at Coors Field is enticing, but not when you realize how badly he's struggled this year. Story is hitting just .135 this year and has already struck out 25 times. Also, in his brief career against Johnny Cueto he's just 3-for-12.

 

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POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

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24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Austin Reaves

Back in Starting Five
Matisse Thybulle

Kris Murray, Matisse Thybulle Suit Up Friday
Scoot Henderson

No Longer Limited
Ben Joyce

Throws Successful Bullpen Session on Friday
Jamal Murray

Jalen Pickett Available Friday vs. Portland
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

to Start on Saturday
LeBron James

Upgraded to Available Friday vs. Clippers
Bryan Ramos

Orioles Claim Bryan Ramos Off Waivers From Cardinals
Max Scherzer

Blue Jays Have Intensified Talks With Max Scherzer
Marcelo Mayer

Likely Out for a Few More Days
Yimi García

Yimi Garcia Won't be Ready for Opening Day
Max Christie

is Downgraded to Out
Evan Mobley

is Unavailable for Friday's Game
Tyler Herro

to Make his Return on Friday
Norman Powell

is Cleared to Play on Friday
Nicolas Claxton

to Remain Out on Friday
Kyshawn George

Won't Play on Friday
Andrew Nembhard

is Ruled Out on Friday
T.J. McConnell

is Available on Friday
Lauri Markkanen

Won't Suit up on Friday
Gerrit Cole

Hits 96.9 MPH in First Live Session
Nolan Schanuel

Improves Bat Speed, Hoping for More Power
Tyler Mahle

Expected to Face Hitters Next Week
Félix Bautista

Orioles Place Felix Bautista on 60-Day Injured List
Sung-Mun Song

to Make Spring Training Debut Soon
Jason Adam

to be Ready for Opening Day?
Yuki Matsui

Dealing With Groin Tightness
Johan Oviedo

Red Sox Want Johan Oviedo to be More Explosive
Sawyer Gipson-Long

to Throw a Bullpen on Friday
Drew Rasmussen

to See Career-High in Innings?
Bryce Miller

Looking to "Go Even Further" in 2026
Brandon Nimmo

Ramping Up Slowly With New Team
Wyatt Langford

Rangers Easing Wyatt Langford into Cactus League Games
Pablo López

Pablo Lopez to Have Season-Ending Tommy John Surgery
José Berríos

Jose Berrios has "Looked Sharp" This Spring
CFB

Curt Cignetti Agrees to New Deal With Indiana, Will Earn $13.2 Million Per Year
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Returns to Practice
Josh Morrissey

Remains Out Against Finland
Sidney Crosby

Won't Play Friday
Anthony Hernandez

Set For UFC Houston Main Event
Sean Strickland

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Uros Medic

Set For UFC Houston Co-Main Event
Pascal Siakam

Remains Out for Personal Reasons
Geoff Neal

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Ty Jerome

Scotty Pippen Jr. Ruled Out Friday vs. Utah
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Expected to Play Friday
Deandre Ayton

Cleared to Return Friday
Melquizael Costa

A Favorite At UFC Houston
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Shut Down for Remainder of Season
Aaron Nesmith

to Miss Second Half of Back-to-Back
Devin Booker

Exits Early in Blowout Loss
Dan Ige

An Underdog At UFC Houston
Logan Cooley

Sheds Non-Contact Jersey
Maxwell Crozier

to Miss 10 Weeks After Surgery
Kirill Marchenko

Dealing With Lower-Body Injury
Petr Mrazek

Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
Victor Hedman

Suffers Lower-Body Injury
Sidney Crosby

Considered Day-to-Day
Rashee Rice

Accused of Assault by Long-Time Girlfriend
Ben Griffin

Looking to Return to Top Form at Riviera
Keegan Bradley

Looking to Build Momentum at Riviera
J.J. Spaun

Putting a Major Concern at Riviera
Sepp Straka

May Have Tough Time at The Genesis Invitational
Shane Lowry

Trending Up Entering the Genesis Invitational
Justin Rose

Off Most Radars at The Genesis Invitational
Robert MacIntyre

a Long Hitter to Watch at Riviera Country Club
Jake Knapp

Red-Hot Heading to Riviera
Min Woo Lee

Attempts to Build Momentum After Pebble Beach
Harry Hall

an Unknown for The Genesis Invitational
Matt Fitzpatrick

Has Favorable Path to Success at Riviera This Week
Wyndham Clark

Not Likely to Contend at Genesis Invitational
Ludvig Aberg

Might Find the Genesis Invitational More Challenging
Harris English

Carries Strong Form to Riviera
Patrick Cantlay

Eyes Another Strong Week at The Genesis Invitational
Daniel Berger

Needs Short Game to Show Up at Riviera
Sam Burns

Hopes Return to Form Continues at Riviera
Collin Morikawa

Riding Wave of Victory Into Riviera
Hideki Matsuyama

Looks to Have Repeat Success at The Genesis Invitational
Scottie Scheffler

Looks to Find Paydirt at Riviera
Xander Schauffele

Rounding into Form Before Genesis Invitational
Morgan Rielly

Available After Olympic Break
Charlie Lindgren

Practices Fully Tuesday
John Carlson

Ready to Rock After Olympics
Radek Faksa

Unavailable Against Team Canada
Anton Lundell

Good to Go Wednesday
Brandon Bussi

Earns Three-Year Extension
SJ

Sharks Terminating Jeff Skinner's Contract
Mike Evans

Will Return in 2026
Kenneth Walker III

Seahawks Not Expected to Use Franchise Tag on Kenneth Walker III
Bucky Irving

Undergoes Offseason Shoulder Surgery
Tyreek Hill

Says he Will Play in 2026
Joey Logano

Finishes Third in the 2026 Daytona 500
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. Finishes as the Runner-Up in the Daytona 500
Chase Elliott

Falls Short of His First Daytona 500 Victory Again
Brad Keselowski

Ends Daytona 500 With a Top-Five Finish
Tyler Reddick

Wins the Daytona 500 for the First Time with 23XI Racing
Tyreek Hill

Released by Dolphins
Joey Logano

Should DFS Players Roster Joey Logano At Daytona?
Ryan Blaney

Is Ryan Blaney Worth Rostering for DFS at Daytona?
Chase Briscoe

May Not be Worth DFS Consideration for Daytona
Chase Elliott

Is Chase Elliott Worth Rostering At Daytona This Week For DFS?
Austin Cindric

May Be Worth Rostering At Daytona
Cleveland Browns

Browns to Spend Top Draft Picks on Receiver or Offensive Lineman?
Brad Keselowski

Is Brad Keselowski Worth Rostering for Daytona Lineups?
Tyler Reddick

May be A Solid and Sneaky Pick for Daytona Lineups
Alex Bowman

is A Highly Favorable Mid-Tier Option for Daytona
Ross Chastain

Could be A Top DFS Scorer for Daytona
Justin Allgaier

is One of the Safest DFS Options for Daytona
Tim Stützle

Tim Stutzle Matches Team Germany Record With Third Goal
Jack Eichel

Off to Hot Start in Olympics
OTT

Mads Sogaard Injured Saturday
NASCAR

Christoper Bell Emerging As One of The Best at Daytona
William Byron

Trying for Third Straight Daytona 500 Victory
Kyle Larson

Has Never Posted a Top-Five Finish at Daytona
Denny Hamlin

Is Denny Hamlin Overrated at Daytona?
Chris Buescher

an Easy DFS Pick for the Daytona 500
Kyle Busch

on Pole, Still Searching for Elusive Daytona 500 Victory
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
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WR
TE
K
DEF