X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

MLB DFS: DraftKings, FanDuel Expert Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks For Today (4/3/24)

Joe Ryan - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB DFS Picks, Betting Picks

Zach's top DraftKings and FanDuel MLB DFS picks for today, Thursday, 4/3/25. His favorite daily fantasy baseball lineup sleepers and value picks for DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel.

The stateside portion of the regular season is already a week old, and most Major League Baseball teams are traveling this Thursday, getting ready for new weekend series that start on Friday. However, 10 teams are still in action throughout the day. The first two games get underway at 1:05 p.m. ET in Baltimore and Philadelphia. The Twins have their home opener against the Astros at 4:10 p.m. ET in the middle of the afternoon. The two evening games feature the Dbacks looking to finish a sweep of the Yankees in New York and the Brewers starting a four-game set against their NL Central rivals from Cincinnati.

FanDuel offers a five-game, all-day slate in addition to the two early and two late games on separate slates. DraftKings has a split slate with the three afternoon starts in one set of contests and the main contest starting at 7:05 p.m. ET with the two night games. This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/3/2024, with the first games starting at 1:05 p.m. EDT.

The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is always essential. While this post will have a few picks from the early games, it will also include options for the evening contests, so however you choose to play, it should have helpful information.

 

DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Joe Ryan vs. Astros ($9,500 DraftKings; $9,000 FanDuel)

The central game of the five games on Thursday features an excellent pitching matchup between Ryan and Hunter Brown on a cold, clear day in Minneapolis. Ryan has posted strong splits at Target Field throughout his career, with a K/9 of 10.5 at home, which is almost a full strikeout higher than his road rate. Last year, his K/9 was down overall, but he still managed to go 7-7 with a 3.60 ERA, 3.44 FIP, and 9.8 K/9.

He looked solid in spring training and started the season with five innings against the Cardinals, with five strikeouts and 15.1 DraftKings points while allowing one run on five hits in a no-decision. He should be comfortable in this environment and fired up to help his team win their home opener. He faced the Astros twice last season and went 1-1 while picking up 12 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings but also giving up a total of eight runs.

Ryan's strikeout upside makes him my top arm of the day, especially since the Astros rank in the top 10 in the MLB in K% and have 54 strikeouts in their first six games.

Nick Lodolo at Brewers ($8,500 DraftKings; $9,300 FanDuel)

Under the lights, Lodolo is my favorite starting pitching play. The Reds' lefty worked six strong innings against the Giants in his 2025 debut, giving up two runs on five hits. He oddly only had one strikeout after posting a 9.5 K/9 last year and a 9.8 K/9 in spring training. He should bounce back from a strikeout perspective against the Brewers, and he was much better last year on the road (3.56 ERA, 3.23 FIP) than at home (6.09 ERA, 4.74 FIP), so don't be afraid of giving him a start in Milwaukee.

Nestor Cortes vs. Reds ($6,900 DraftKings; $8,000 FanDuel)

Cortes's second start with the Brewers is almost guaranteed to go better than his first one since his Brew Crew debut resulted in his first three pitches of the season flying out of Yankee Stadium. He ended up giving up eight runs and five home runs in just two innings in a brutal outing.

Whether he was tipping pitches or the Yankees' new torpedo bats just sank his battleship, he'll look for a bounce-back outing against the Reds. Last season, he had a solid 9-10 record with a 3.77 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and 8.4 K/9. He also looked fine in spring training, giving up just four runs in 11 innings with 14 strikeouts. He's a good buy-low candidate with a nice spot to bounce back at home against the Reds, who ranked in the bottom 10 in the MLB against lefties in most major categories last season.

Also consider: Hunter Brown at MIN, Taijuan Walker vs. COL

 

Want more MLB DFS tools and content? Our MLB Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Lineup Optimizer, and access to our Premium Discord Chatrooms, where members can chat with our MLB analysts. Win more with expert tools and advice from proven winners!

 

DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Eugenio Suarez - 3B, ARI vs. Carlos Carrasco ($4,300 DK; $3,700 FD)

Suarez is off to a big start for the Diamondbacks, who can close out a three-game sweep of the Yankees with a win against Carrasco, who dominated spring training but gave up three runs in two innings against the Brewers last week.

Suarez has only gone 5-for-21 (.238), but all five of those hits have been home runs. He had a key grand slam on Tuesday in Arizona's win and finished that game with 20 DraftKings points and 29.2 FanDuel points. Suarez is 4-for-17 with a home run and a triple in his career against Carrasco and is still an affordable option at the hot corner despite his strong start.

Kristian Campbell – 2B/OF, BOS vs. Charlie Morton ($3,500 DK; $2,400 FD)

Campbell signed a big extension with the Red Sox on Wednesday and continued to deliver on the field as well. The rookie is 8-for-20 (.400) in his first six games in the MLB with four walks, four doubles, a home run, and a .523 wOBA. He is extremely affordable on FanDuel at under $2,500, and he brings added flexibility on DraftKings, where he can fit into roster constructions either at 2B or in the outfield.

Ben Rice – 1B, NYY vs. Merrill Kelly ($3,100 DK; $2,700 FD)

On the other side of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry, the Yankees also have a nice infield value to consider in Ben Rice. The 26-year-old mashed his way onto the Opening Day roster with five home runs in spring training and a .359 wOBA. He kept right on producing when the games counted as well, going 5-for-13 (.385) with a pair of home runs and a .565 wOBA in his first five games. He is 4-for-8 (.500) this season against righties, and seven of his eight MLB home runs have come on that side of the split.

After going 0-for-3 on Wednesday, I expect Rice to bounce back and bring great value in this matchup against Kelly.

Also consider: Bryce Harper, Ketel Marte, Matt McLain

 

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Aaron Judge - OF, NYY vs. Merrill Kelly ($6,300 DK; $3,800 FD)

Judge has looked human in this series against the Diamondbacks, going just 1-for-8 with five strikeouts, but he should be able to get back on track on Thursday night against Kelly, whom he is 1-for-4 with a home run against in six plate appearances. Judge is 7-for-19 (.368) on the season despite this down series with four home runs and a .626 wOBA.

Jackson Chourio - OF, MIL vs. Nick Lodolo($4,200 DK; $2,900 FD)

Since starting the season 0-for-5 with five strikeouts in a game that both he and Nestor Cortes will never want to see again, Chourio has been excellent. He has picked up at least one hit in each of his five games since then with three doubles, four RBI, and a home run. He went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and 24 fantasy points on Wednesday against the Royals to help deliver the Brewers their first series win of the season. He's 5-for-16 (.313) in the early going this season against lefties and will look to continue that success against southpaws when he faces Lodolo on Thursday.

Heston Kjerstad - OF, BAL vs. Tanner Houck ($3,100 DK; $2,300 FD)

Kjerstad is a bargain outfielder with a high ceiling if he can find his way to playing time. With the injury to Colton Coswer (thumb), Kjerstad should start against righties for the next few weeks. He sat Wednesday against Garrett Crochet but should be back in the lineup against Houck, who had a rough spring training (11.20 ERA) and gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings in his last start. Kjerstad is just 1-for-7 (.143) so far this year, but is still considered an excellent prospect after hitting .303 with 16 home runs and a .425 wOBA last year in Triple-A.

Also consider: Kyle Schwarber, Yordan Alvarez, Wilyer Abreu, Hunter Goodman

 

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

1. Yankees vs. Merrill Kelly

2. Orioles vs. Tanner Houck

3. Phillies vs. Antonio Senatela

  • Favorite Plays: Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Max Kepler


Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



MLB DFS News and Injury Alert




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jaylen Waddle

Questionable for Week 3 Against Buffalo
Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension