MLB DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for April 2, 2018
Baseball is back with a full slate of MLB DFS games scheduled for Monday, 4/2/18. The main slate on DraftKings includes nine games starting at 7:07 p.m. EST, while FanDuel’s main slate also includes nine games starting at 7:07 p.m. EST.
For today, we’re listing our top MLB DFS pitchers, hitters, and stacks to target in Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. The info below can also be used for crafting your daily fantasy baseball strategy at FantasyDraft.
Please note the advice below is relevant for daily fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, and lots of other factors. This is important to consider when constructing a roster. Remember that more than in other sports, variance is a huge part of baseball. Even Jose Altuve can go 0-for-4 on a given night, and Max Scherzer can get lit up by a weak team.
Weather can also play a huge role in MLB DFS on a nightly basis, and lineups are constantly shifting. So always, always check the starting lineups and weather reports when playing for an MLB slate. **Note: The Yankees-Rays and Mets-Phillies games have been postponed due to snow**
4/2/18 MLB DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
Swing For The Fences: $5 entry, $300k guaranteed (DraftKings) – $50,000 to 1st!
Fastball: $33 entry, $125k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Supreme Squeeze: $6 entry, $250k guaranteed (FanDuel) – $50,000 to 1st!
Grand Slam: $33 entry, $75k guaranteed (FanDuel)
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Best MLB DFS Pitchers for April 2, 2018
Charlie Morton vs. BAL ($11.1k DraftKings, $8.5k FanDuel)
While he doesn’t have the same upside as Lance McCullers Jr. or Justin Verlander, the flamethrowers in the Astros rotation, Charlie Morton also has a very high floor because he’s supported by the best offense in baseball. Earning more run support seemed to bring the best out of Morton last year, as he posted a career-high 10.0 K/9 ratio and career-low 1.19 WHIP over 25 starts for Houston in 2017. Baltimore posted the ninth-highest K-Rate (23%) last year and has posted a 27.5% K-Rate with the lowest collective .117 average in the Majors through 4 games this season.
Mike Clevinger @ LAA ($10.4k DraftKings, $7.7k FanDuel)
In his second MLB season, Mike Clevinger figured out how to miss bats. His swinging strike rate rose to 12.4 percent and he posted an impressive 27.3 percent K-Rate while lowering his HR/9 ratio to 0.96 in the process. The end result was a 12-6 record and 3.11 ERA on an Indians team that scored the sixth-most runs in the Majors. He allowed just 3 hits and 1 ER with 6 K’s over 6 IP in his last trip to spacious Angels Stadium and was generally at his best in the final month of the season with a 0.99 ERA and 2.13 FIP over seven appearances in September.
Jaime Garcia vs. CWS ($8.5k DraftKings, $5.9k FanDuel)
It’s a bit tough to find a reliable SP in the mid-tier price range on DK tonight, but Jaime Garcia seems like a safe Cash play. The savvy lefthander posted an 11.1 percent swinging strike rate and while he was victimized by the long ball, the White Sox managed the second-fewest HRs (186) amongst American League teams last year. The Northsiders also posted the eighth-highest K-Rate (23.1%) last season and aside from Opening Day hero Matt Davidson, lack many truly dangerous righties to pounce on Garcia, who posted an excellent 2.82 xFIP and 9.50 K/9 ratio when facing lefties last season.
Brian Johnson @ MIA ($6.9k DraftKings, $5.7k FanDuel)
Facing a Yankees lineup that is one of the most dangerous in the league against lefties, Brian Johnson struck out five and allowed just two hits over 4.2 shutout innings to earn a spot in the Red Sox rotation. He’ll make his season debut against arguably the weakest lineup in the N.L. in the Marlins at a ballpark with one of the lowest run factors for RHB in the Majors. Miami posted a collective .321 wOBA at home last season and obviously becomes less dangerous with Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna all shipped out of town. Johnson has posted a 2.69 ERA and 7.97 K/9 ratio over 36 starts in the Minors and notably spun a five-hit shutout against Seattle last May.
Other pitchers to consider: Taijuan Walker, Andrew Triggs, Chad Bettis, Ben Lively, Bartolo Colon (on DK)
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Best MLB DFS Hitters for April 2, 2018
Paul Goldschmidt vs. LAD ($4.9k DraftKings, $4.4k FanDuel)
He’s been ice cold to open the season, but it might be time to pounce on Paul Goldschmidt at a diminished price tag. He’ll have the platoon advantage against inconsistent LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, who has posted a 1.78 HR/9 ratio and 3.55 BB/9 ratio over his last two MLB campaigns. Goldschmidt hit .313 with a .442 wOBA and 30% HR/FB ratio at home against lefties last season and happens to be 9-for-21 with 2 HRs in his career against Ryu.
Alex Bregman vs. BAL ($4.3k DraftKings, $3.2k FanDuel)
The rest of the Astros lineup is red hot around him, but Alex Bregman has yet to join the party this season. That could change tonight as he’ll likely continue to bat second in one of the most stackable lineups on the slate. Houston should be all over Orioles struggling RHP Chris Tillman, who posted an unsightly 10.87 ERA and 2.30 HR/9 ratio on the road last season. Tillman gave up a 2.82 HR/9 ratio when facing RHB last season and gave up 2 HRs to Bregman over just four at-bats. As a rookie, Bregman slashed .315/.367/.536 during the second half of the season and flashed plenty of category juice with 19 HRs and 17 SB on the year.
Howie Kendrick @ ATL ($3.8k DraftKings, $2.4k FanDuel)
After getting some rest on Sunday, Howie Kendrick should be in the lineup tonight with Daniel Murphy (knee) on the shelf. The veteran started hot in 2017 with a .379 wOBA and 133 wRC+ during the first half of the season and will be worth deploying as a value until he likely slows down later in the summer. Tonight Kendrick faces a vulnerable young LHP in Sean Newcomb, who struggled with a 5.13 BB/9 ratio and 4.71 SIERA over 19 starts last year. Kendrick hit .322 with a .385 wOBA against the platoon last season and should hit towards the middle of a deadly Nationals lineup.
Other hitters to consider: Charlie Blackmon, Jose Altuve, Trea Turner, Francisco Lindor, Anthony Rendon, Xander Bogaerts, Yasiel Puig, Evan Gattis, Justin Smoak, Eduardo Nunez, Jed Lowrie, Kevin Pillar
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MLB DFS Stacks to Consider for April 2, 2018
Astros vs. Chris Tillman (Orioles)
Nationals vs. Sean Newcomb (Braves)
Blue Jays vs. Reynaldo Lopez (White Sox)
