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Mark Strausberg highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 4/15/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
"So, did anything interesting happen in baseball last night?", Tom asked imperfectly. Tom Swifty jokes aside, I still late can't believe a perfect game was broken up by an HBP just before the finish line. Still, a no-hitter is pretty impressive either way. I will say upfront that I am not expecting anything that infrequent to happen as part of my Thursday FanDuel lineup picks.
With baseball having a handful of games this afternoon, the main slate this evening is a little limited, but that just means your choices become even more pivotal. Don't worry, I got you! My recommendations have not been giving me triple my investment like they did to start the season, but I'm still on a hot streak. Still cashing. Sooner or later, I'm going to go cold, but for now, let's see if I can keep it going.
Read below to find out what I do in providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 4/15/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also check out today's DraftKings MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. With that out of the way, let's get t0 my winning picks!
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
There are some potential mid-range options like Sean Manaea and Rich Hill who I might run in some of the larger GPP contests. However, unquestionably for cash games but also for my GPPs, there are essentially two options I like tonight. And no more. Better to differentiate on the hitter side tonight in my humble opinion. I'll be going with one of these two options nearly across the board.
Anchor Play 1:
Jakob Junis - KC vs TOR ($6,000)
On a slate such as tonight where the pitching options are limited, I will often just go for one of the cheapest options and spend up elsewhere. And given how hot the Toronto bats have been lately, Junis comes with plenty of risks. However, for just $6K, has the same upside as most of the other pitching options and costs a whole lot less, making him a great bargain.
Junis started the year in the pen, but he quieted the Cleveland in his first start last week. He pitched a solid five innings, with a 0.667 WHIP, while striking out six. Junis is coming off a strong spring, which is key given how little he did in 2020. However, the last two season that he started 30 or more games, he had 164 strikeouts. Junis is by far the best pitching value play on tonight's slate, which will allow us to spend up for bats.
However, if there are a ton of cheap bats you like, you could do the reverse and go with the priciest option on the board.
Anchor Play 2/Potential Alternate Play
Julio Urias LAD vs COL ($9,600)
Urias is $1500 more expensive than the next closest option and for good reason. He was strong in his last start. He pitched nearly six innings and did not walk a single batter. He gave up three runs, but came away with his second win. His first win was a beauty as he went seven innings, struck out six, and only gave up one run. That's particularly noteworthy, given that he was in the pitching nightmare that is Coors field.
He is now taking on those same Rockies, but home at Dodger stadium. At a minimum, I think he gets the W, and I would be surprised if he gives up more than three runs. He's a little pricey, but still less than $10K. If you can grab enough cheap bats, I'd lock Urias into your pitching slot.
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Whit Merrifield - 2B/OF, KCR at ARI ($4,000)
Merrifield has hit safely in each of his last give games and is currently hitting .375 on the season. He's also on pace for better than a 40/40 season with both three stolen bases and HRs. I don't think a 40/40 season is happening. Yet the point is Merrifield brings a little bit of everything to the table and right now, it's far more than a little. And given that the Arizona pitching staff has an ERA of 5.00, have given up 17 HRs already and are sporting a 1.44 WHIP, Merrifield should continue his scorching start.
Zach McKinstry - 2B, LAD vs COL ($3,100)
But Merrifield is not the only 2B off to a hot start. He has been playing a lot of outfield lately, but as long as McKinstry qualifies at 2B, we need to consider him. Especially at his low price of just $3100 and if you are pitching Urias. McKinstry smacked his third homer of the season last night, picking up his fifth game of the season with 15 or more FDFPs. He's not at the same level as Merrifield, but he's hitting an impressive .333 and barely over $3K makes for a nice bargain play.
Corey Seager - SS, LAD vs COL ($3,700)
The sixth-year veteran has also started hot, hitting .356 so far this season, and usually hits near the top of the order. But with his career OPS of .866, Seager is a proven commodity. Opposing pitcher Austin Gomber is not. He has all of six starts at the major league level, and in those six starts has an xFIP of 4.75. Seager is $100 less than Bo Bichette, who is facing the aforementioned Junis. I'd much rather have Seager.
Josh Bell - 1B, WSH vs ARI ($3,400)
If you haven't realized yet, there are a number of options tonight at middle infield on this slate. However, there is not much value at 1B. The exception might be the switch-hitting Josh Bell. Bell has only played two games this year, giving us and the sites very little info to price him correctly. However, I remind you that in his last full season, Bell walloped 37 homers for the Pirates. Bell is a sneaky play who will be in most of my GPP lineups.
Bell is not the only Washington player I like tonight.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Juan Soto - OF, WSH vs ARI ($4400)
And that player is Juan Soto. He is my top bat for tonight without question. First off, he has a great match-up. The left-handed Soto is facing off against right-hander Merrill Kelly and his highly flammable 8.10 ERA. Secondly, it's Juan Soto! If I have to tell you how good Soto is, maybe you need to reconsider what you do in your leisure time and should not be playing MLB DFS.
Finally, there are plenty of great players who are off to mediocre starts, but Soto is not one of 'em. He has put up fantasy points in eight of the nine games he has played this year and easily has 40+ point upside, as he had against the Dodgers five days ago. He currently has an OPS of 1.067. Don't get cute, play Soto tonight.
Mark Canha - OF, OAK vs DET ($3,000)
Soto is not the only outfielder off to a smoking start with a great match-up tonight. Canha fits that description too, but he is priced at an absolute steal of $3K. The right-handed Canha should be grooving against the left-handed Tarik Skubal and his 7.71 ERA. Granted Canha is in a groove against everyone right now and is averaging over 13 FDFPs per game. Canha has seven runs just in the last four games. Wanna bet he makes it to eight tonight?
Austin Meadows - OF, TBR vs TEX ($3,600)
Compared to some of the other options on this page, Meadows might be least alluring. He is only hitting .238. However, his average is being dragged down by a BABIP of .233, nearly a hundred points lower than his career level. I'd expect his batting average to begin to rise. Even more encouraging is that Meadows has put up fantasy points in eight straight games, giving us a solid floor. He too is averaging double-digit FD points per game.
Rangers pitcher Jordan Lyles doesn't impress me. He has an xERA of 5.04 and a FIP nearly a run higher. I think the right-handed Lyles is in for a rough night against the left-handed Meadows.
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