DFS MLB Lineups for April 11, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com

For this baseball season, 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 DFS NBA which is generally somewhat predictable from night to night, DFS MLB 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 horrible starts, and the best hitters in the game 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. Always. Make this something that is part of your basic routine. Baseball games can get postponed! Your players receive no points from postponed games! There’s rain around Pittsburgh today, so keep an eye out.

4/11/17 MAIN SLATE TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN

DraftKings Swing for the Fences: $3 buy-in, $333k guaranteed 
DraftKings Fastball: $33 buy-in, $225k guaranteed
DraftKings Grand Slam: $400 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
FanDuel Monster: $300 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Grand Slam: $33 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Squeeze: $6 buy-in, $300k guaranteed

DFS MLB START TIMES, STARTING PITCHERS & GAME TOTALS FOR TODAY’S GAMES

7:05p: Reds (Davis) @ Pirates (Taillon): 8
7:05p: Cardinals (Lynn) @ Nationals (Gonzalez): 8.5
7:05p: Mets (Harvey) @ Phillies (Buchholz): 8.5
7:05p: Brewers (Peralta) @ Blue Jays (Happ): 9
7:10p: Braves (Colon) @ marlins (Straily): 8.5
7:10p: Orioles (Bundy) @ Red Sox (Pomeranz): 9.5
8:40p: Padres (Weaver) @ Rockies (Senzatela): 12
10:05p: Rangers (Hamels) @ Angels (Skaggs): 8
10:10p: Astros (Musgrove) @ Mariners (Miranda): 8.5
10:15p: Diamondbacks (Ray) @ Giants (Samardzija): 7.5

Best DFS MLB Pitchers for April 11, 2017

Cole Hamels @ LAA ($10k DraftKings, $9.5k FanDuel)
He might have struggled in a season debut against the A.L. champion Indians, but Hamels still showed that he has plus stuff and he could rebound in a much better matchup tonight. The Halos posted mediocre offensive numbers and a weak .316 wOBA against LHP last year, while current Angels are a combined 46-for-207 (.222) with 43 K’s in their careers against Hamels. He should get ample run support from the red-hot Rangers lineup against a vulnerable LHP in Tyler Skaggs and he was much better on the road with a 2.40 ERA and 10-3 record away from Rangers Ballpark last season.

J.A. Happ @ MIL ($8k DraftKings, $8.5k FanDuel)
Happ could be the best per dollar option tonight in a great matchup against a Brewers team that posted the highest K-Rate (25.5%) in the Majors and hit .254 against LHP last year. While the Brew Crew flashed plenty of power against the platoon, Happ is a crafty southpaw who can avoid the barrel of the bat, as he actually held RHB to a lower batting average (.227) and much lower Hard Contact Rate (30.4%) than lefties last season. Ryan Braun (9-for-28, 3 HR, 6 K’s) is the only Milwaukee hitter with extensive experience against Happ, so it might take them a few trips through the order to get a bead on him.

Lance Lynn vs. CIN ($6.3k DraftKings, $6.9k FanDuel)
The strikeout numbers weren’t there for Lynn, but he looked very solid in his 2017 debut after missing last season following Tommy John surgery. A RHP who posted incredible consistent numbers over five seasons before going under the knife, he’ll pitch at spacious Nationals Park tonight. Current Nats are a combined 19-for-79 (.241) with 19 K’s in their careers against Lynn, who should creep closer to his career K/9 ratio of 8.70 once he gets his footing back, but in any case, he’s a very solid value play at this generously low price tag.

Other pitchers to consider: Jeff Samardzija, Robbie Ray, Jameson Taillon, Matt Harvey, Wily Peralta

Best DFS MLB Hitters for April 11, 2017

Freddie Freeman @ MIA ($4.4k DraftKings, $3.6k FanDuel)
The rest of the Braves lineup is relatively toothless, but Freeman continued to put up all-star caliber numbers with a monstrous line (4-for-5, 2 HR, double, SB, 55.6 FD points) on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh. He draws another plus matchup tonight against RHP Dan Straily, who has allowed a 1.32 HR/9 ratio and posted a 5.21 FIP against the platoon throughout his career, while Freeman happened to homer off him in one of his 3 plate appearances. Straily was lit up for 5 ER over 3.1 IP in his first appearance of 2017 and he could certainly struggle against an elite LHB in Freeman.

Dexter Fowler @ WAS ($4.3k DraftKings, $3.2k FanDuel)
Nationals southpaw Gio Gonzalez might’ve posted good numbers in his first start of the year, but this is still the same pitcher who looked completely showered at points while posting a 4.57 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 32 starts last year. He struggles against a particular type of batter and the switch-hitting Fowler certainly fits the mold, as he’s 10-for-20 with 3 XBH and a HR in his career against Gio. Fowler hit .293 with a .380 wOBA and a far lower K-Rate (15.3%) as a righty last year and that makes him a solid addition to a potential Cardinals stack.

Dee Gordon vs. ATL ($4.1k DraftKings, $3.2k FanDuel)
He’s coming alive as a slap hitter with immense speed and that’s allowed Gordon to flash upside with 2 stolen bases over his last 4 appearances. At some point, Father Time will simply catch up to the now 43-year-old Bartolo Colon even though he befuddled his former team at Citi Field in his season debut. The Marlins have been a tough opponent for Big Bart in the past and Gordon is their table setter, while he’s 10-for-29 in his career against Colon and could be able to time up the veteran and swipe a bag tonight.

Mitch Haniger vs. HOU ($3.4k DraftKings, $2k FanDuel)
Every slate I check Haniger’s price tag on FanDuel, and every time I’m shocked to see him priced at the minimum $2k. The popular sleeper went nuts during the preseason and is riding that momentum into the regular season with 7 hits, including 3 HR over his last 5 appearances. He’s in a prime spot as the Mariners two-hitter with Jean Segura in front of him while Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz bat behind him and the whole top of that order could find more success in a repeat matchup with RHP Joe Musgrove after they tagged Charlie Morton in a similar spot yesterday.

Other hitters to consider: Wil Myers, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Ryan Braun, Joey Votto, Matt Carpenter, Mark Trumbo, Welington Castillo, Hunter Pence

4/11/17 DFS MLB STACKS

Rangers vs Tyler Skaggs
Texas posted the fourth-highest batting average (.273) with a .325 wOBA against LHP last year and should be able to take their high-scoring offense on the road at Angels Stadium. With Adrian Beltre still capable of mashing lefties as he has throughout his career and Elvis Andrus serving as a pest towards the top of the lineup, Skaggs could struggle again after coughing up 5 ER and walking 3 over 5.1 IP in his season debut. Skaggs fell apart last August with a 7.23 ERA over 23.2 IP during that month and the Rangers lineup is full of batters who could make him pay for any mistakes.

Rockies vs Jered Weaver
Once again last night, the Rockies came out completely dry in a good matchup at Coors Field, but let’s roll the dice with them one more time. Trevor Cahill managed to hold them to one run by keeping the ball on the ground and avoiding carry in that thin air, but Weaver posted the lowest GB Rate (28.8%) in the Majors last year and coughed up the second-highest 1.87 HR/9 ratio as a result. Nolan Arenado has a lot of HuLo (High Upside, Low Ownership) potential after going 0-for-4 last night and he’s a good candidate to pay off his lofty price tag along with Charlie Blackmon, while Gerardo Parra is reasonable mid-tiered hitter and either Dustin Garneau or Tony Wolters could provide salary relief at catcher.

Marlins vs Bartolo Colon
Dee Gordon could set the table while thumpers Giancarlo Stanton (6-fot-15, 2 HR) and Christian Yelich (11-for-33, HR) could continue to pound a very familiar and very old RHP in Colon. Current Marlins are a combined 79-for-274 (.288) with 9 homers in their careers against Bart, giving some life to Justin Bour as a low-cost punt with plenty of pop from the left side of the plate. J.T. Realmuto could also serve as a great option at catcher since he’s one of the more consistent hitters in this lineup.

Other Stacks to consider:
Orioles vs. Drew Pomeranz
Cardinals vs. Gio Gonzalez
Astros vs. Ariel Miranda
Pirates vs. Rookie Davis
Mets vs. Clay Buchholz