MLB Picks and Pivots – FanDuel Picks for April 6
Welcome to the Wednesday edition of Picks & Pivots, a daily fantasy column focused on providing analysis for the upcoming MLB FanDuel slate. The purpose of this column is to first identify key building blocks that can be used for any roster construction and then identify pivot points to help differentiate your lineup in hopes of a big pay day!
Follow me on Twitter @2lockSports and feel free to pose questions each day as you work to construct your DFS roster on FanDuel!
Today’s 13 games start at 1:10PM EST and FanDuel offers 4 different slates to play on – Early Only, Afternoon Only , a 7:05PM Main Slate and an All Day Slate.
One of the things I love about MLB DFS is that you can be strategic in the slate you chose to play once you identify your targets. Some of the best pitchers are on the evening slate while some of the best hitting matchups are on the afternoon/early slates so I highly recommend tailoring your lineup to the slate which plays into the strength of your ideal lineup. Now onto the picks…
Next: Top Starting Pitchers
Starting Pitcher
- Jose Fernandez ($11,200) and Stephen Strasburg ($11,300) – As I alluded to in the opening, picking the right slate is important when trying to differentiate your lineup in larger tournaments. Jose Fernandez is the clear cut ace in the early games and with a K rate of almost 30% and the fact he is favored to win, he makes for a tremendous play across all formats. Strasburg meanwhile is the largest favorite on the day and with a similar near 30% K rate locking him in against the Braves is a great play even at this price point.
The reason I lumped these two players together is that if I am going with either of these pitchers I am only doing so in the All Day Slate. Fernandez will be massively owned in the early slate and I expect Strasburg to be the same in the evening slate. By playing in the all-day slate, you will have the ability to dilute the ownership of these aces and look to further differentiate your lineup elsewhere.
- Kenta Maeda ($7,200) – I would be lying to you if I told you I knew much about Maeda, but what I do know is he is going up against the Padres who have been outscored 18-0 over the first two games of the season. There is a tremendous amount of unknown here but that also can work in Maeda’s favor as this will be the first time MLB hitters get to face him and often we see foreign pitchers dominate initially until enough tape is available to properly scout them for MLB purposes.
- Michael Pineda ($8,400) – One potential mid-range pivot I like for GPP’s is Pineda as he has flashed elite strikeout upside and the Astros present one of the most favorable strikeout matchups against RHP. The weather in NY remains frigid and with this game starting at 7:05PM EST it will be in the low 40’s but feel like it is below freezing. Pineda is risky, and he got hit hard in his only home start against Houston last year, but the strikeout upside is there and the environment certainly favors the pitchers tonight in NY.
Next: Top Hitters
Hitters
- Kevin Pillar ($2,900) , Troy Tulowitzki ($3,500), Russell Martin ($3,000) and Chris Colabello ($2,700)– No team hit left handed pitching last season better than the Blue Jays so realistically all right handed bats in this lineup are in play. However with the elevated $4,000+ price points for Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson it will be tough to employ a true stack unless you go with a budget starting pitcher. I will look to stack the “cheaper” key right handed bats in the Blue Jays lineup going up against Matt Moore Looking at the BvP stats, Martin is 3 for 7 with 2 homeruns in his career against Moore and Colabello is 3 for 4 with a home run. I have no issue using the cost friendly stack or mixing and matching with one of the big 3 Toronto bats.
- David Peralta ($3,400) and Socrates Brito ($2,200) – Arizona again has the highest projected total on the board going up against the Rockies and right hander Tyler Chatwood. A stack of the Diamondbacks hitters will make for an interesting pivot off the Blue Jays stack or I will look to stack both lineups utilizing some of the more budget friendly options. Brito got the start in CF against the Righty yesterday and was slotted in the 2 hole in the lineup – assuming that continues, he makes for an excellent punt play in the OF. Peralta hit cleanup yesterday and has 5 hits over the first two games, with another excellent matchup on tap he is primed for a multiple RBI day.
- Trevor Story ($2,900) – The Rockies shortstop now has 3 hits on the season, all 3 of which are homeruns and is averaging 30 fantasy points per game so far on the young season. He has been on many of the winning lineups over the last two days but his price point has stayed at a very reasonable level. I can certainly see fading him in hopes other gamers chase the points, but in multi entry games, why not take a shot that the hot streak will continue as the Rockies continue to mash here in the early going.
Next: Minnesota Twins Fantasy Preview
Make sure to review the lineups as they are announced before locking in your lineups! Have a great day gamers!