DFS MLB Lineups for April 6, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
For the next six months, each day there’s a good slate of DFS MLB games, we’ll be writing up a group of pitchers and hitters that we’re considering for our cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. We’ll also provide a list of stacks to consider, MLB start times, starting pitchers, and game run totals to give you a good idea of where the fantasy goodness might come from on a given night.
Unlike NBA DFS which is generally somewhat predictable from night to night, MLB DFS is a game with a lot of variance. You can make a really solid lineup and still fall short of the cash line. Even the best pitchers have off nights, and the very best hitters can still go 0 for 4. Trust the process and know that if you’re playing quality lineups, you’ll be a winner in the long term.
Another thing to remember is to always check the weather. Make this something that is part of your basic routine. Baseball games can get postponed! Your players receive no points from postponed games!
4/6/17 TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN
DraftKings Fastball: $33 buy-in, $175k guaranteed
DraftKings Moonshot: $3 buy-in, $100k guaranteed (20 entry max)
DraftKings Perfect Game: $333 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Rally: $5 buy-in, $25k guaranteed
FanDuel Grand Slam: $25 buy-in, $75k guaranteed
FanDuel Squeeze: $3 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
DFS MLB START TIMES, STARTING PITCHERS & GAME TOTALS FOR TODAY’S GAMES
7:10p: Braves (Garcia) @ Mets (Harvey): 7.5
7:10p: Blue Jays (Stroman) @ Rays (Snell): 8
8:10p: Mariners (Miranda) @ Astros (Musgrove): 8.5
9:40p: Giants (Samardzija) @ Diamondbacks (Ray): 9.5
Best DFS MLB Pitchers for April 6, 2017
Marcus Stroman @ TB ($8.7k DraftKings, $7.5k FanDuel)
It’s very surprising to see Stroman priced below several pitchers on FanDuel, as he’s the best overall option in my mind tonight. The young RHP made some adjustments over the winter and his new arsenal was on full display during the World Baseball Classic, where he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against a Puerto Rico team that was chock full of Major Leaguers and earned the tournament’s MVP award. He should be ready to crush for the Blue Jays this year and faces a Rays team tonight that posted the highest K-Rate (24.5%) with the lowest collective batting average (.243) amongst A.L. teams last year.
Matt Harvey vs. ATL ($8.1k DraftKings, $8.3k FanDuel)
Much more of a GPP option considering his up-and-down 2016 season, it’s worth hoping that Harvey begins 2017 on a good note against a very weak opponent. Atlanta’s offense has so far been quite lifeless and completely unable to produce against Noah Syndergaard or Jacob DeGrom, so Harvey could follow the lead of his younger teammates. He showed some promise with 17 K’s over 22.2 IP against Atlanta last season and current Braves are batting a collective .217 (20-for-92) with just 1 HR and 21 K’s in their careers against The Dark Knight.
Joe Musgrove vs. SEA ($7k DraftKings, $7.4k FanDuel)
Finally we got to our salary relief option on DK and a potential pivot off Stroman if you believe that all of the so-called top pitching options will falter this evening. Musgrove is coming of a stellar rookie campaign in which he posted a 21.5% K-Rate and .249 BAA over 11 appearances. While he faltered after his first couple of outings, Musgrove has shown the ability to make adjustments throughout his Minor League career and he has a couple of great “Out” pitches in a one-seam sinker and a hooking flat slider. It’s entirely possible that he outpitches fellow sophomore and LHP Ariel Miranda, who could struggle against a righty-heavy Astros lineup.
Best DFS MLB Hitters for April 6, 2017
George Springer vs. SEA ($4.5k DraftKings, $3.9k FanDuel)
He’s on fire to begin the year and draws another plus matchup tonight with aforementioned young southpaw Ariel Miranda visiting Minute Maid Park. Springer’s late-game heroics led the Astros to a victory over Seattle’s LH starter James Paxton and he’s now 4-for-13 with 2 HR and 6 RBI through 3 games this season. The powerful RHB posted a 40.2% Hard Contact Rate and a ridiculous 28.6% HR/FB ratio when facing LHP last season, so hard hit balls off tonight’s starter will be no fluke.
Josh Donaldson @ TB ($4.6k DraftKings, $3.9k FanDuel)
The rest of the Blue Jays lineup could take a step backwards this year, but “Bringer of Rain” is still going to mash. Donaldson is 4-for-9 with a BB on the young season and he should have another productive game indoors at Tropicana Field, where the Florida Native has smashed 4 HR over the past two seasons. Rays LH starter Blake Snell fell apart during a disastrous August in which he posted a 4.86 ERA and allowed opposing batters to sport a .413 wOBA and Donaldson was once again amongst the league leaders with a .240 ISO mark and .396 wOBA against LHP last year.
Other hitters to consider: Yoenis Cespedes, Buster Posey, Devon Travis, Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis, Travis d’Arnaud, Steve Pearce
4/6/17 STACKS
Astros vs Ariel Miranda
The Astros took a step back in terms of raking against lefties last year, but their three best hitters still tend to excel against the platoon. Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and the aforementioned Springer are all capable of doing damage against the Mariners’ sophomore southpaw, while Evan Gattis is always a candidate to go yard after posting a .355 wOBA with a .262 ISO mark against LHP last season. Miranda posted a problematically low 31.2% GB Rate and his 5.25 FIP belies his 3.88 ERA over 12 appearances last season, so he could definitely struggle in this tough spot on the road.
Blue Jays vs Blake Snell
Another team that crushed lefties two years ago and posted much more modest splits last season, Toronto still has a very solid lineup with which to attack Snell, beginning with new leadoff man Devon Travis. Donaldson is the most dangerous RHB in Toronto’s lineup, while Jose Bautista could make some noise early in the season and Troy Tulowitzki is still a dark horse to produce in this matchup considering he’s a career .314 hitter against the platoon. Steve Pearce and Kevin Pillar could both pay off as cheap additions to this stack and we’ve seen the bottom of the Blue Jays lineup produce more than the top at times.
