MLB DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for April 17, 2018
Baseball is back with a great slate of MLB DFS games scheduled for Tuesday, 4/17/18. The main slate on DraftKings includes 12 games starting at 7:05 p.m. EST, and FanDuel’s main slate also includes 12 games starting at 7:05 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. If a game gets rained out, your player gets zero points!
4/17/18 MLB DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
Super Full Count: $55 entry, $400k guaranteed (DraftKings) – $100,000 to 1st!
Knuckleball: $5 entry, $225k guaranteed (DraftKings) – $25,000 to 1st!
JUMBO Home Run: $150 entry, $300k guaranteed (FanDuel) – $100,000 to 1st!
Rally: $9.99 entry, $100k guaranteed (FanDuel)
Click here for FantasyDraft MLB DFS Contests – $4 free entry!
Best MLB DFS Pitchers for April 17, 2018
Corey Kluber @ MIN ($12.1k DraftKings, $11.4k FanDuel)
With the longest leash of any SP on the slate tonight, Corey Kluber clearly has the most upside. He’s coming off a dominant performance with 13 Ks and two hits allowed over 8 scoreless IP against Detroit and faces another familiar foe that he’s dominated in recent starts tonight. Kluber has struck out 23 with seven hits and 3 unearned runs allowed over his last two outings against the Twins. “The Klubot” has incredible stamina with at least 203 IP in each of his last four campaigns and he’s gone at least 7 IP in three starts to open 2018. **game in Puerto Rico**
Patrick Corbin vs. SF ($9.8k DraftKings, $9.5k FanDuel)
He didn’t necessarily cruise through the Giants lineup in a messy 5-4 loss last Tuesday, Patrick Corbin continued to flash his upside with 9 Ks over just 5.1 innings of work. The dynamic young LHP leads the Majors with a 1.21 xFIP and is third with a 14.24 K/9 ratio to go along with an impressive 17.9 percent swinging strike rate. The Giants are hitting .231 with the seventh-lowest wOBA (.286) and a 24.6% K-Rate when facing lefties this season. Corbin was more effective at Chase Field with a 3.15 ERA and 3.18 FIP at home, plus the introduction of a humidor for the baseballs at Arizona’s ballpark should lead to fewer long balls this year.
Nick Pivetta @ ATL ($8.4k DraftKings, $7.8k FanDuel)
Making a clear leap in his second season, Nick Pivetta has been lights out with a 2.50 SIERA and 0.96 WHIP through three starts this season. He draws tougher matchup tonight against a capable Braves offense, but his ability to spot pitches should inspire enough confidence to deploy him as a mid-tier option in most formats. With a 9.50 K/BB ratio and 11.4 percent swinging strike rate, Pivetta is using his 95 MPH fastball to set hitters up and a slider that rates 4.77 runs above average this year to punch them out.
Chad Bettis @ PIT ($7.1k DraftKings, $6.0k FanDuel)
While Pirates SP Trevor Williams has posted better fantasy numbers through three starts this season, he seems due for regression with a 94.9% Z-Contact Rate and 5.05 SIERA. Rockies RHP Chad Bettis may benefit if Williams falters, as he’s been equally solid in terms of standard numbers with a low 17 percent line drive rate and a .197 BAA through his three outings. Bettis posted a solid .379 xFIP with a 48.5 percent groundball rate against lefties last season, so he could handle the Pirates dangerous lefty combination of Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell. Josh Harrison (wrist) should miss this contest and that gives Bettis a decent shot to go deep enough into the ballgame to post solid FP totals, even if his strikeout numbers aren’t overly impressive.
Other pitchers to consider: Shohei Ohtani, Lance McCullers Jr., Gio Gonzalez, J.A. Happ, Zack Wheeler, Jake Odorizzi
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Best MLB DFS Hitters for April 17, 2018
Carlos Correa @ SEA ($4.8k DraftKings, $4.7k FanDuel)
Alert! The Astros are facing a homer-prone LHP tonight, making them one of the top stacking options on the slate. While George Springer (4-for-15, 4 HRs) has the most notable career splits against Mariners southpaw Ariel Miranda, Carlos Correa was also incredible against the platoon last season. He hit .407 with a 1.087 OPS and 25% HR/FB ratio on the road against LHP in 2017 and Miranda allowed a 2.21 HR/9 ratio when facing righties last season. Correa has been relatively quiet lately, so perhaps he serves as the best stand-alone GPP option with a lower ownership rate than Springer and fellow lefty-killer Jose Altuve. Evan Gattis, Alex Bregman, and Yuli Gurriel would all be potential additions to consider if stacking Astros.
Matt Chapman vs. CWS ($4.3k DraftKings, $4.2k FanDuel)
Quickly becoming one of the best young hitters in the game, Matt Chapman draws a juicy matchup tonight against struggling veteran Miguel Gonzalez. The White Sox RHP was hit hard last year and is off to a rough start with a 30 percent line drive rate, 2.14 WHIP and meager 3.86 K/9 ratio through two outings this season. He features a two-seam fastball that’s been 20.4 runs below average throughout his career and that makes him vulnerable against righties as well as lefties. Chapman is sporting a .317 SO mark with a .451 wOBA and 197 wRC+ in the start of what could be a career year and he’s hitting .400 (12-for-30) at Oakland Coliseum thus far.
Yadier Molina vs. CHC ($3.7k DraftKings, $3.6k FanDuel)
The catcher position is so thin on DK that Yadier Molina stands out as an obvious play, and he may even be worth a look in Cash games at the C/1B slot on FD tonight. A savvy hitter who seems to get better with age, Molina is rocking a .365 wOBA with a 25% HR/FB ratio and career-best 48.1 percent hard contact rate so far this year. Veteran LHP Jon Lester is clearly in decline with a 4.39 SIERA and 10.6 percent walk rate through three starts this season and Molina has owned Lester with 12 hits, including three doubles, a HR, and a SB over 35 career at-bats. Keep in mind Lester can’t throw to first base, so any Cardinals player with moderate speed is worth a look in tournaments tonight.
Mallex Smith vs. TEX ($3.2k DraftKings, $2.9k FanDuel)
With Kevin Kiermaier (thumb) out indefinitely, the Rays offense becomes even more toothless. Yet there are still bats to target tonight in a plus matchup against vulnerable LHP Matt Moore, such as Mallex Smith. The lefty speedster has done just fine in LvL matchups with 15 hits, two walks, and four stolen bases off LHP over the last two seasons. Moore has been lit up frequently in recent seasons and is actually much worse against lefties, giving up a .438 wOBA with a 5.99 FIP and 28.3 percent line drive rate against LHB last season.
Other hitters to consider: Bryce Harper, George Springer, Cody Bellinger, Kyle Schwarber, Sean Kingery, Ryan Zimmerman, Jed Lowrie, Evan Gattis, Dexter Fowler, Jose Pirela
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MLB DFS Stacks to Consider for April 17, 2018
Astros vs. Ariel Miranda (Mariners)
Athletics vs. Miguel Gonzalez (White Sox)
Angels vs. David Price (Red Sox) – Headcase factor w/Price
Dodgers vs. Bryan Mitchell (Padres)
Rays vs. Matt Moore (Rangers) – Rays have a weak lineup, but Moore is very vulnerable
