Daily Fantasy MLB Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 4/23/16

 

Welcome to some Saturday baseball! We have a fun split-slate today with some interesting pitching options. Let's take a look at each slate and how we are going to attack them. Make sure to check out the updates article as it will touch on any breaking news or weather concerns, as well as some more picks!

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PITCHER

Early Slate

Masahiro Tanaka FD 9500 DK 10800
Opponent - TB (Snell) Park - @NYY
FD - 30.21 DK - 16.07

Let's be honest, it is very difficult to find a pitcher you like for the early slate. We have 3 high priced options in Corey Kluber, Masahiro Tanaka and Clay Buchholz. Personally, this early slate is a tournament only one for me. I am not high enough on any pitcher to play cash games. However, I think this is a great tournament slate. Tanaka is my favorite pitcher of all and I think he bring some great upside. The Rays will likely trot out a lineup with only 3 or 4 lefties. Tanaka has been great against righties over the course of his career with a 2.81 xFIP. While Tanaka certainly has a low floor, his ceiling is just as high.

Update: Our system is also spitting out Corey Kluber as a top option. It didn't appear that would be the case during write ups last night. This early slate is rough with the arms. 

Consider - Blake Snell, Tanner Roark

Evening Slate

Jose Fernandez FD 11000 DK 11500
Opponent - SF (Peavy) Park - @SF
FD - 38.31 DK - 21.1

Jose Fernandez and the Marlins will be taking on the Giants in a game with a 7 over/under. This ballpark is just about equal to the one in Miami as both are ranked in the bottom 3rd for hitters. Fernandez has been dominant against both sides of the plate with a career .246 combined wOBA. Fernandez is certainly my favorite cash game pitcher and will have him in plenty or tournament lineups. Fernandez gives you the type of upside to win a tournaments and his strikeout ability gives him some cash game safety.

Steven Matz FD 8300 DK 8700
Opponent - ATL (Chacin) Park - @ATL
FD - 35.93 DK - 19.07

Sure, Wacha will be the cash chalk at this price range. How about a tournament pitcher with some upside? Steven Matz. Matz had an extraordinary game last time out against the Indians with a 10 strikeout performance. While the Braves are pretty good at limiting strikeouts, they trot out enough lefties to give up their fair share. Matz has been a great pitcher in his short major league stint and will look to keep it up here on the road.

Consider - Michael Wacha, Jake Peavy

CATCHER

Early Slate

Russell Martin FD 2600 DK 3500
Opponent - OAK (Bassitt) Park - @TOR
FD - 9.86 DK - 7.67

The Blue Jays will be taking on Chris Bassitt today and will likely send him packing early. It is never a bad idea to get exposure to the Blue Jays on a small slate. Martin has hit righties well over the course of his career with a .326 wOBA and .396 SLG. I look for Martin to get some RBI opportunities and to capitalize on those. I am comfortable with Martin in both cash games and tournaments as he is not reliant on power.

Consider - Josh Phegley

Evening Slate

Yasmani Grandal FD 3700 DK 4100
Opponent - COL (Chatwood) Park - @COL
FD - 11.78 DK - 9.19

Yasmani Grandal will be the first of many Dodgers here in this article. The Dodgers will be facing off with Tyler Chatwood who is a below average right handed pitcher. Chatwood has a combined wOBA of .340 over the course of his career and his peripherals do not suggest any improvement. Look for the Dodgers to get to Chatwood and for Grandal to be in the middle of it all.

Consider - Matt Wieters, Tony Wolters

FIRST BASE

Early Slate

Jose Abreu FD 3200 DK 4400
Opponent - TEX (Lewis) Park - @CHW
FD - 13.79 DK - 10.87

Jose Abreu will be the lucky power bat that gets to take on Colby Lewis this week. While Lewis has not been horrible against righties over the past couple years, his peripherals suggest otherwise. With an xFIP over 4.00 in 3 straight years, Colby Lewis is ready for some regression. Abreu has hit righties just as well as lefties in his career and will have a great shot of hitting one out tonight. Lewis has already seen some of the impending doom with 5 home runs given up this year.

Consider - Justin Smoak, David Ortiz

Evening Slate

Joey Votto FD 3400 DK 4100
Opponent - CHC (Lackey) Park - @CIN
FD - 11.58 DK - 8.93

Joey Votto is my favorite first baseman on the slate, and I expect him to be pretty low owned. John Lackey is certainly not a gas can, but I wouldn't call him anything close to an ace either. Votto has struggled early on hitting under .200 but that will not last long. In 2015, Votto hit for a .406 wOBA vs righties, top 10 in the league. Lackey has been an average pitcher against lefties over the past few years with a .326 wOBA. Look for Votto to get back to his regular self at home in a great ballpark.

Eric Hosmer FD 3300 DK 4300
Opponent - BAL (Worley) Park - @KC
FD - 3.27 DK - 2.63

Eric Hosmer and the Royals will be taking on one of the worst pitchers on the slate, Vance Worley. Worley has been horrible in his last 100 innings against lefties with a .36 wOBA and 4.44 xFIP. Hosmer on the other hand, has picked up his play against righties and will continue to do so. While the ballpark certainly isn't optimal, Hosmer has the power to get it out. I am comfortable with Hosmer in both cash and tournaments as he can score in so many different ways.

Consider - Adrian Gonzalez

SECOND BASE

Early Slate

Brett Lawrie FD 2600 DK 3400
Opponent - TEX (Lewis) Park - @CHW
FD - 10.59 DK - 8.43

Brett Lawrie is another hitter that gets to take on the one and only Colby Lewis. As mentioned above, Colby Lewis is "due" for some regression this season. I look for the White Sox to have a huge game and Lawrie should be able to get some action. I prefer Lawrie in tournaments as he is a bit power reliant.

Consider - Jason Kipnis, Jed Lowrie

Evening Slate

Chase Utley FD 3600 DK 4500
Opponent - COL (Chatwood) Park - @COL
FD - 11.78 DK - 9.4

Here is your 2nd honorary Dodgers player to be mentioned, Chase Utley. The Dodgers and White Sox are my 2 favorite teams to target today, as i'm sure you can tell by now. Utley has hit righties extremely well over the course of his career as evidenced by his tremendous .367 wOBA. Make sure you have some exposure in cash games and tournaments.

Scooter Gennett FD 2900 DK 4000
Opponent - PHI (Morton) Park - @MIL
FD - 11.04 DK - 8.99

Scooter Gennett is a player I love to roster as he always seems to be a little too under owned. I am sure he will be once again with a game in Coors Field. Gennett has hit for a .345 wOBA over the course of his career against righties. I look for Gennett to reach his prime this year and become a consistent option. Charlie Morton is a below average righty who has struggled to limit lefties with a career .376 wOBA against lefties.

 

SHORTSTOP

Early Slate

Marcus Semien FD 2700 DK 4100
Opponent - TOR (Happ) Park - @TOR
FD - 8.92 DK - 7.07

Shortstop is a pretty tough position to fill in the early slate with the top options having the worst match ups. However, Semien is looking pretty appealing at a low price around the industry. Semien gives you a ton of power compared to the players around him at the position. J.A. Happ is a soft throwing lefty who struggles to keep the ball in the yard. Let's hope Semien can take advantage of a get ahead fastball or hanging curve and is hitting further up in the lineup.

Consider - Carlos Correa, Tyler Saladino

Evening Slate

Corey Seager FD 4000 DK 4800
Opponent - COL (Chatwood) Park - @COL
FD - 12.69 DK - 10.16

Shall I go into the reasons why these Dodgers are such great plays? I won't, but I will go into Seager a little bit. Seager had a huge game last night a homer and a few walks/runs. Seager has entered into the majors as the league's top prospect and has not disappointed. Make sure to jump on Seager while the average fan doesn't recognize the name.

Javier Baez FD 2200 DK 3500
Opponent - CIN (Straily) Park - @CIN
FD - 8.48 DK - 6.7

Javier Baez is another player coming off a big game with a homer and a stolen base. Straily is not a good pitcher and the Cubs should definitely be able to get to him. Baez will likely be hitting 6th or 7th and will have plenty of opportunities to drive in some runs. Straily has been very susceptible to the long ball with almost a 1.0 HR/9 rate. Look for Baez to take advantage of the many weaknesses Straily Possesses.

 

THIRD BASE

Early Slate

Anthony Rendon FD 2800 DK 4000
Opponent - MIN (Hughes) Park - @WSH
FD - 11.32 DK - 9.02

Third base is pretty stacked position in the early slate and while all those top guys are in good spots, let's take a look at a sneaky play that should go way under owned. Phil Hughes has exhibited reverse splits over his career and in 2015 gave up a .369 wOBA. Rendon on the other hand, has hit righties well with a .329 wOBA. This is a great recipe for success and I expect Rendon to be overlooked by many. I am comfortable with Rendon in both cash and tournaments but prefer him in tournaments.

Consider - Adrian Beltre, Todd Frazier, Josh Donaldson

Evening Slate

Maikel Franco FD 2700 DK 3800
Opponent - MIL (Anderson) Park - @MIL
FD - 12.93 DK - 10.29

Franco is coming off a 2 home run game where he was seeing the ball perfectly. As the lone Phillies bright spot, Franco has been shining and will continue to do so. Chase Anderson has been horrible against righties over the past 2 seasons with 13 home runs given up in under 100 innings. I expect Franco to carry over yesterday's game and make a big impact here. Miller Park is only going to help.

Justin Turner FD 3600 DK 4300
Opponent - COL (Chatwood) Park - @COL
FD - 12.83 DK - 10.23

While I have recommended a ton of Dodgers lefties, here is a righty. However, it is for good reason. In 2015, Turner smashed righties to the tune of a .390 wOBA and a 153 wRC. Tyler Chatwood has been as bad against righties as he has lefties and Turner will more than welcome Chatwood to the mound in Coors. I am comfortable with Turner in all formats as he will be in a great lineup position.

 

OUTFIELD

Early Slate

Adam Eaton FD 2900 DK 4200
Opponent - TEX (Lewis) Park - @CHW
FD - 13.2 DK - 10.56
Melky Cabrera FD 3000 DK 3200
Opponent - TEX (Lewis) Park - @CHW
FD - 11.51 DK - 9.22

Some more White Sox, you say? Why yes, that is what happens when Colby Lewis takes the mound. Both Adam and Melky Cabrera are great plays as both have righties to a 150+ wOBA over the past few seasons. If you are looking to stack the White Sox, you have to have these two guys as they are both very important to the team success. Eaton is the leadoff speedster and Melky is the guy they lean on to drive in the runs. In a game with an 8 1/2 over/under, look for the White Sox to score some runs.

Delino Deshields Jr. FD 3200 DK 3400
Opponent - CHW (Rodon) Park - @CHW
FD - 11.48 DK - 9.17

Delino Deshields Jr. has been very good against lefties over his short major league career. He will be taking on Carlos Rodon today after Rodon was knocked out in 0.1 innings last time out. While we are not going to expect that again, the Rangers should be able to get some hits and runs against him. Deshields will be right at the forefront of the attack with some power and speed. I am comfortable with Deshields in every format as he can score in so many different ways.

Consider - Bryce Harper, Miguel Sano, Justin Ruggiano

Evening Slate

Jason Heyward FD 3400 DK 4400
Opponent - CIN (Straily) Park - @CIN
FD - 12.01 DK - 9.49
Dexter Fowler FD 4000 DK 4900
Opponent - CIN (Straily) Park - @CIN
FD - 10.05 DK - 7.9

Here is another pair of outfielders that are in a tremendous spot. Both of these guys have been seeing the ball very well and have been swinging the bat even better. These guys will likely hit 1st and 2nd and should be able to get the Cubs off to a good start. Another thing I love about both of these players is they give you so many different ways to produce fantasy points. They both have speed and power as well as the great chance to be driven in when they get on base by talented hitters like Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

Yasiel Puig FD 4000 DK 5000
Opponent - COL (Chatwood) Park - @COL
FD - 14.09 DK - 11.16

Puig is going to be the final Dodgers hitter mentioned and just might be my favorite. Puig is a player that plays off a ton of momentum and he has just that after throwing someone out last night at 3rd from the wall. As mentioned above, Chatwood is evenly bad against both righties and lefties. Puig has hit righties extremely well with a .376 wOBA over the course of his career. Puig is my pick for home run of the night.

Consider - Carlos Gonzalez, Mike Trout, Michael Conforto, Joc Pederson

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