MLB DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for April 16, 2018
10 games on the main MLB DFS slate for Monday, 4/16/18. Below is a list of our top MLB DFS picks for pitchers, hitters, and stacks to target in Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. The info below can also be used for creating 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 Paul Goldschmidt can go 0-for-4 on a given night, and Max Scherzer can get lit up by an unsuspecting 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 an MLB slate. There were six games postponed Sunday and already one today (BAL @ BOS). ***STL/CHC has been postponed***
4/16/18 MLB DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
Tape Measure Homerun: $5 entry, $200k guaranteed (DraftKings) – $25,000 to 1st!
Fastball: $33 entry, $250k guaranteed (DraftKings) – $50,000 to 1st!
Rally: $9 entry, $100k guaranteed (FanDuel) – $20,000 to 1st!
Grand Slam: $55 entry, $200k guaranteed (FanDuel) – $50,000 to first!
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Best MLB DFS Pitchers for April 16, 2018
Aaron Nola @ ATL ($10.4 DK / $8.8 FD)
Aaron Nola has issued eight walks over his 18.1 innings, but he’s only allowed four earned runs and he’s fanned 13 batters. The Phillies ace had a stellar 9.86 K/9 last season and a 9.81 K/9 mark in 2016. Nola saw the Braves in his first start of the season and he only allowed three hits and one run over 5.1 innings. If you remember, he was rolling in that start and was taken out early.
Hyun-Jin Ryu @ SD ($9.7 DK / $7.2 FD)
San Diego’s 25.0 strikeout rate is the seventh highest, and their .234 average ranks 16th. Hunter Renfroe is worth a look in a couple spots because he crushes lefties, but for the most part, Hyun-Jin Ryu should be able to go up and down the lineup with ease. It was a rough first start for the southpaw, but he bounced back nicely with eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings against Oakland where he only allowed one hit. Ryu is a cash saver on FanDuel, but you’ll have to spend up on DraftKings.
Reynaldo Lopez @ OAK ($8.3 DK / $7.3 FD)
Reynaldo Lopez has been nearly perfect in his two starts: 1 ER on 4 hits over 13 innings. Lopez has issued seven walks, but he’s struck out 11. He showed strikeout upside last year as he had at least six punch outs in four of his eight starts. Lopez had a respectable 9.74 K/9 over 121.1 AAA innings last season and the Athletics have their fair share of free swingers (23.3% K-Rate). Their 24.3% mark last season was the fifth highest.
Others to consider: Jacob deGrom, Blake Snell, Luis Castillio (GPP)
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Best MLB DFS hitters for April 16, 2018
Ian Desmond @ PIT ($3.7 DK / $2.6 FD)
Colorado’s 62 home runs and .345 wOBA vs. LHP was third best in 2017 and they have a league-high 13 home runs against lefties this season. DJ LeMahieu leads the team with four homers and 10 hits. Ian Desmond is a bit cheaper and has three home runs off lefties this season. In fact, eight of his 10 hits have come against southpaws and he hit .336 against them in his last full season (2016). Steven Brault has allowed 12 hits over 13 innings and enters with a 46.4% hard hit rate. He’s also issued seven walks and has a 4.22 BB/9 over 81 career IP. It’s actually hard to believe Desmond’s price on FanDuel given his upside.
Travis Shaw vs. CIN ($3.4 DK / $3.6 FD)
Much like Paxton, Luis Castillo has a sparkling SwStr percentage (14.0%), but he’s allowed four home runs and 13 earned runs over 16 innings. Castillo makes for sneaky GPP play as people may be off of him due to his struggles to start the season, but you’d be silly not to draft a couple Brewers who have pop. Eric Thames and Ryan Braun may not suit up which makes the lineup a bit watered down, but Travis Shaw has been hitting in the cleanup spot all season and he leads the Brewers with 17 hits. He has two home runs and had 66 extra base hits last season.
George Springer @ SEA ($4.9 DK / $4.5 FD)
James Paxton has a solid K/9 and SwStr%, but he has the second highest fly ball rate (56.1%) and he’s allowed three home runs. Paxton has also allowed 16 hits, six walks and 10 runs. George Springer has three home runs off southpaws this season, and he led his team with nine last year. The Astros had the second highest wOBA vs. LHP in their championship season and can throw out many different lineups. Marwin Gonzalez and Jake Marisnick are cheap options if they find away to get the start.
Adam Duvall @ MIL ($3.7 DK / $2.4 FD)
Adam Duvall hit .279 against lefties last season and his 10 home runs were tied with Joey Votto for the team lead. Duvall has three bombs this season and Brent Suter has been all contact and all runs over his 15.1 innings this season. Suter has allowed 17 hits, nine runs, five walks and has a 41.2 percent fly ball rate. It’s been rough to say the least.
Teoscar Hernandez vs. KC ($2.6 DK / $2.7 FD)
The price tag doesn’t get much cheaper than Teoscar Hernandez’s this evening. In his first game since the call up, he hit in the two spot for the Blue Jays and came away with two doubles, two RBI and a stolen base. Hernandez had eight home runs in 26 games with Toronto last season and two in his first four AAA games this season.
Others to consider: Joey Votto, Jose Abreu, DJ LeMahieu, Javier Baez, Adrian Beltre, Matt Davidson, Trevor Story, Jean Segura, Charlie Blackmon, Hunter Renfroe, Carlos Gomez
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MLB DFS Stacks to Consider for April 16, 2018
Rockies @ Steven Brault
Pirates vs German Marquez
Phillies @ Julio Teheran
Astros @ James Paxton
