MLB Fantasy Baseball DFS Fanduel Lineup Picks for 4/2

The article seeks to point out players with high point potential relative to their salary. These players will almost certainly never be the “best” option at their position. However, selecting a few cheap options allows you to fill the rest of your team with high-end to elite players. Here are a few bargains to consider for tonight’s matchups:

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Hector Santiago, SP ($5,400)

Santiago is a boom-or-bust play for the most part. He walks far too many batters and has historically given up homeruns at a high rate. Nonetheless, there are several things working in Santiago’s favor in this matchup.

• He’s moving from the homerun haven of U.S. Cellular Field to the homerun-suppressing Angel Stadium.
• Last year the Mariners were horrible against lefties. Against lefties they finished last in AVG and OBP, had the 28^th worst SLG, and posted the 6^th highest K-rate in all of the MLB. Cano morphs from a golden god into a slightly above average hitter against lefties. Kyle Seager and Justin Smoak turn into bad hitters when facing a LHP. Does anyone else in that lineup really scare you?
• Santiago will also be getting run support from a top five offense that’s facing a mediocre pitcher (James Paxton). Wins are very difficult to predict for pitchers, but extra run support certainly increases Santiago’s odds.

This certainly isn’t the safest play (Kuroda vs. HOU or Gio Gonzalez vs. NYM earn that title), but there is very high upside here for a very low price.

Daniel Nava, OF ($2,900)

• Nava crushes RHP (AVG .301/OBP .398/ SLG .456)
• He’s hitting leadoff, which means more PA and more chances to score points
• He’s facing a flyball pitcher (Ubaldo Jimenez) in a park with a short porch in right field.
• Note: Daniel Nava is a guy to keep an eye on over the next few weeks in daily games against righties. With Victorino injured he should get a significant amount of playing time and bat at the top of the order.

Christian Yelich, OF ($3,300)

• Yelich, like Nava, is a left-handed hitter that hits RHP well (.364/.445/.503) and is batting leadoff tonight. It should be noted that Yelich has an unsustainable BABIP against RHP (.481).
• Yelich is facing Jordan Lyles. Lyles is a bad pitcher against righties and an even worse one against lefties.

David Freese, 3B ($2,800)

• The fantasy community doesn’t view Freese in high regard, but he’s always been a good hitter against LHP (even when his overall numbers were miserable last year).
• Freese is hitting in a tremendous offense which increases his potential for runs and RBI.
• Freese is pretty undervalued at 3B. He’s a top 5-6 player at his position for tonight’s matchup and he is priced like a bottom-tier player.

Rain Out Warning:

There is some rain in the forecast for tonight’s Cardinals v. Reds game. Start players at your own risk. I’ll be staying away from all Cardinals and Reds though.