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Troy Klauder's DraftKings analysis and advice. The top MLB DFS lineup picks on for 4/23/17, as well as a couple of sleepers for daily fantasy baseball rosters.
This Sunday has a full slate of games, so it's time to build some lineups. 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 4/23/17. 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
Texas Rangers vs. Jason Hammel (RHP)
Jason Hammel has been a mess this year, putting up just nine walks to seven strikeouts through his first 15 2/3 innings, good for a 4.60 ERA. The 34-year-old has been declining every year, and this may be the season that the wheels fall off. This is fantastic for opposing Rangers hitters, who look to feast on Hammel at their hitter-friendly home park in Arlington. Rougned Odor and Nomar Mazara are more expensive plays who should return their value and put up lots of points, while Joey Gallo is a cheap opportunity for a monster bomb. Check to see if Delino Deshields Jr. or Jurickson Profar is in the lineup, as either one will be a bargain. Get as many Rangers as you can in your lineups on Sunday.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Jimmy Nelson (RHP)
Jimmy Nelson is coming off an atrocious 2016 where he put up a 4.62 with a 5.12 FIP, with a 7.03 K/9 and 4.32 BB/9. Nelson is one of the worst regular starting pitchers in all of baseball, and he just got shelled by the Cubs for seven runs his last time out. Therefore, it's a smart move pounce on Cardinals hitters on Sunday, such as Kolten Wong who you can get at a big discount. Hitters like Matt Carpenter, Dexter Fowler, and Aledmys Diaz are a smart way to spend your payroll, as they should get tons of run and RBI production as they tee off on Nelson.
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings
Ricky Nolasco, LAA vs. TOR - $7,800
For the last two years, you would have been insane to even consider starting a pitcher against the Blue Jays on DraftKings. This year's Blue Jays team is much different, though, as they have had the worst offense in the league this year with a .269 wOBA. They are without Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki, making their lineup a shell of what it used to be. They're also starting career minor leaguer Casey Lawrence on the mound, meaning Ricky Nolasco has a great shot at getting the win. As for Nolasco, who was originally scheduled to pitch Monday before Jesse Chavez was used in relief on Saturday, he has a poor 4.76 ERA through his first four starts. However, he is coming off a nice six inning start against a tough Houston lineup where he only gave up two earned runs. Nolasco is no ace, but his great matchup at home against a weak Toronto lineup makes him a great cheap play for Sunday.
Mike Foltynewicz, ATL @ PHI - $7,800
Mike Foltynewicz hasn't had an ideal start to his 2017, posting a 4.26 ERA with eight strikeouts and seven walks through 12 2/3 innings (two starts and one relief appearance). Folty has a great opportunity to right the ship on Sunday against the Phillies, who have put up just a 96 wRC+ this year and strike out a ton -- their 23.7 K% puts them at 6th most in the league. Folty put up strong peripherals last year, with an 8.10 K/9 and 2.55 BB/9, so don't give up on him after two starts. The 25-year-old should have a good start Sunday for a low price.
DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings
Catcher (C)
Yasmani Grandal, LAD @ ARI - $3,700
Even though Yasmani Grandal is only hitting .250, he's off to a much better start than you probably realized, posting a .377 OBP and .432 SLG and a 130 wRC+ this year. That's elite level production out of the scarcest position in baseball, and yet somehow he's only $3,700 on Sunday. Grandal bats fifth in the high-powered Dodgers lineup, and he should rake against Shelby Miller, who had a 6.15 ERA last year. Grandal should rack up hits and RBIs at Chase Field, one of the best hitter's parks in the league. Seemingly every factor lines up perfectly for Grandal.
First Base (1B)
Justin Bour, MIA @SD - $3,300
Why would you start a hitter batting .175 in Petco Park? Well, the answer is simple -- Luis Perdomo. Perdomo is back from the disabled list and starting on Sunday, after giving up five earned runs in his only start earlier this month. Perdomo had a 5.71 ERA last season and gave up home runs like it was his job, with a 1.41 HR/9. Justin Bour has gotten off to a horrible start, but he's only played in less than a month of games. In 321 plate appearances in 2016, Bour put up a nice 114 wRC+ and regularly bats fifth in the Marlins order. Don't give up on Bour because of his small sample size this year. Instead, take advantage of his price that has fallen into the cellar and enjoy the production.
Second Base (2B)
Robinson Cano, SEA @ OAK - $4,100
If you need an top-tier level talent for a mid-level price, Robinson Cano is your guy. Cano is off to a slow start, but homered Saturday and is looking for more against Andrew Triggs on Sunday. Triggs' crazy first three starts, where he hasn't allowed a run, are merely a mirage, as he has just nine strikeouts through 17 1/3 innings and is rolling with a .196 BABIP and 80.0 LOB%. He is the type of pitcher that a veteran like Cano can tear apart. Get in now before the price rises on Cano.
Shortstop (SS)
Dansby Swanson, ATL @ PHI - $3,600
Swanson has gotten off to a slow start (seeing a theme here?) but makes for a great play Sunday. Swanson represents yet another opportunity to take advantage of a low price based on a small sample. Zach Eflin showed that he is not a major league pitcher last year after he posted a pathetic 4.41 K/9 and 5.54 ERA. Swanson's great contact tool will come in handy here, as Eflin is incredibly easy to make contact off of. Swanson should have a nice day at the plate.
Third Base (3B)
Travis Shaw, MIL vs STL - $3,800
Travis Shaw, colloquially known as The Mayor of Ding Dong City, is off to a torrid start this year with fivw home runs and a 141 wRC+. He bats cleanup for the Brewers, who are at home in the great hitting environment of Miller Park. Mike Leake is his opposition, who only has a 5.91 K/9 through his first three starts this year and had a 4.69 ERA last year. Shaw's ridiculous start should continue on Sunday, and your only worry should be that not too many other owners grab him at such a low price.
DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings
Jason Heyward, CHC @ CIN - $3,900
After last year's absurdly bad season at the plate, Jason Heyward seems to have found his footing again this year, as he is batting .300 with homers in his last two games. His opposition is Bronson Arroyo -- which is a joke that I'm typing this in 2017. The 40-year-old has risen from the dead to pitch for the first time since 2014, and currently has an 8.40 ERA. Arroyo is going to get absolutely obliterated by the Cubs, and Heyward will be right in the middle of their lineup. Don't miss out on this opportunity with Heyward.
Gorkys Hernandez SF @ COL - $3,700
Normally it's tough to even mention hitters at Coors Field, since DraftKings sets their prices much higher when they travel to Colorado (for good reason). However, Giants outfielder Gorkys Hernandez is coming in at a basement level price. Hernandez isn't a great hitter, but against Kyle Freeland in the ultimate hitter's park, he's hard to pass up. Freeland got crushed for six runs his last time at home, so the Giants are likely to do the same. Hernandez will almost certainly be in the lineup after Denard Span was injured on Saturday night, and he if he's leading off he will have incredible value. As a fair warning, lots of other owners may have Hernandez in their lineups too, so be aware of the contest you're entering before you decide to play him.
Justin Upton, DET @ MIN - $4,400
Justin Upton, who cracked 31 home runs last year, is a fantastic play against Kyle Gibson on Sunday. Gibson has a 6.91 ERA through his first three starts and gave up five earned runs in his start against the Tigers earlier this month. Upton is rocking a 142 wRC+, so even with a dilapidated Detroit lineup, he should produce on his own.
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