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Tom Vecchio highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 3/31/18, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
We have a split slate of games, which is normal for a Saturday, but I will be focusing in on the 7pm main slate, as it's larger. Plenty of good options across the board, and whether you are looking for cash game players, or some that are more GPP focused, you will find them on this slate.
I will be referring to stats and notes from last season, since we have nothing to work with as of yet. As the season goes on, we'll get into all of the good stats and info, to bring the best quality I can.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 3/31/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me up on Twitter @DFS_Tom.
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Yu Darvish - P, CHC @ MIA (FD - $9,400)
Darvish is up against a Miami team, who will likely be very tired after their marathon 17 inning game last night. Darvish was already in a good spot, and a now tired minor league team taking the field against him, should make him one of the top pitchers on the night. Last season Darvish had a 26% strikeout rate vs left-handed hitters, and a 27% strikeout rate vs right-handed hitters. The Marlins team has changed a bit from last year, but just to know, they had a 19% strikeout rate vs right-handed pitchers, which was low. They got significantly worse in the offseason, and are a good team to attack. This is a great pitcher parks, which also prove to benefit Darivsh.
Lucas Giolito - P, CWS @ KAN (FD - $7,400)
Giolito is a cheaper option at pitcher, and has some nice upside. Last season he only pitched 45 innings, so its a bit of a small sample size, but there are some encouraging signs. He had a 49% ground ball rate versus left-handed hitters and a 40% GB rate vs right-handed hitters. He did how ever give up over one home run per nine to both types of hitters, so there is some risk here. Giolito allowed an under .200 average to both handedness of hitters last season, but remember, he only pitched 45 innings. He has flashes of upside, just needs to prove it on a larger scale.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Alex Avila - C, ARI vs COL (FD - $2,600)
Avila was out of the lineup last night, so should be set to rejoin the starters today. He doesn't play when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound, as the case was last night, so now that a right-hander is on the bump, you want to roster him. Last year he had a .377 wOBA and a .208 ISO vs RHP, and with this still being a hitters park, he is in a good spot. Avila is also really cheap, so you are able to fit him in with any roster.
Freddie Freeman - 1B, ATL vs PHI (FD - $4,700)
Free money Freddie is always one of the top options on the slate for first base, and tonight is no different. Last season he had a .422 wOBA and a .293 ISO vs right-handed pitchers, and guess what? He is facing a righty pitcher today who has his struggles with left-handed hitters. That pitcher is Vince Velasquez, who gave up a .376 wOBA to left-handed hitters, along with 1.31 HR/9. Freeman is one of the best hitters in the league, and simply just a great spot for him tonight.
Jonathan Schoop - 2B, BAL vs MIN (FD - $3,300)
Despite this being a right-handed on the mound, Schoop has solid numbers vs righties, and has some power upside. Last year he had a .341 wOBA and a .184 ISO vs RHP, along with 22 of his 32 home runs vs RHP. He is up against Kyle Gibson, who gave up 1.69 HR/9 to right-handed batters last season, along with a .352 wOBA. Schoop isn't too expensive, and can make a great addition to a Baltimore stack, if you are looking for a GPP option.
Travis Shaw - 3B, MIL @ SDP (FD - $3,300)
Shaw is also a player who you want to target when he is facing a right-handed pitcher, as he is tonight. The Brewers have plenty of power in their lineup, so this is also a good spot for a stack. Last year, Shaw had a 127 wRC+ and a .249 ISO vs RHP, and despite this being a bit of a pitchers park he is in a good spot. He had a 22.6% HR/FB rate last year, which is well above average, meaning he should be considered a power hitter in this spot.
Eduardo Escobar - SS, MIN @ BAL (FD - $2,200)
Escobar is super cheap tonight, and really opens up your roster for filling it will stacks. Last year Escobar had a 99 wRC+ and a .216 ISO vs right-handed pitchers, and with him being in a hitters park, it could spell good things. He is up against Andrew Cashner, who gave up just over one home run per nine to left-handed hitters, but in the two seasons prior he was up at 1.50 HR/9 to lefties. Cashner is due for some regression to his normal, meaning you want to stack against him.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Yasiel Puig - OF, LOS vs SFG (FD - $3,200)
When Puig isn't flipping his bat, he can actually be one of the more productive hitters in the league, and is in a great spot to show that tonight. He is up against Derek Holland, who simply put, isn't a good pitcher. Last year, Holland gave up a .408 wOBA to right-handed hitters, along with 2.26 HR/9, which is hilariously bad. Play Puig tonight in cash, play him as a one off in GPP, play him where ever you want.
Wil Myers - OF, SDP vs MIL (FD - $3,100)
Last year, Myers had a .334 wOBA and a .207 ISO vs left-handed pitchers, and is up against one tonight. The Padres aren't a team you generally go to for stacking, so if you are looking for a one off in a lineup who has power and home run upside, this is you guy. Strikeouts can be a bit of an issue for him, but when he makes contact, its usually for extra bases.
