MLB Picks and Pivots – FanDuel Picks for April 7
Welcome to the Thursday 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 9 games start early at 12:35PM EST which leads to a variety of FanDuel game options including an all-day slate, an Early Only slate starting at 3:35PM including 5 of the 9 games and finally a “Late” slate at 7:05PM including the final 3 games.
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 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 Pitching
Starting Pitcher
- Tanner Roark ($6,700) – The Thursday starting pitching slate has no clear cut option that stands out so it may make sense to drop down and load up on the highest upside hitters of which there are many. Roark and the Nationals will be home for the Marlins and are the highest favored team to win based on the opening lines. Roark had a strong spring giving up only one earned run, he has decent career numbers against Miami and in his career pitches much better at home. One of the reasons I like Roark is that he has tremendous career numbers against Giancarlo Stanton (2 for 12) and Marcell Ozuna (3 for 14). If Roark can keep the Marlins big hitters off the board as he has in the past, he should be in good position for a win.
- Robert Stephenson ($4,600) – The cheapest priced pitcher on the slate, the Reds rookie gets the start against the Phillies. This pick obviously comes with significant risk, but Stephenson has a big arm, racked up over 1 strikeout per inning last year in the minors and gets a favorable matchup against the Philadelphia lineup. This is a total dart throw for GPP’s but at this price, you can stack your lineup across the board.
Next: Top Hitters
Hitters
- Mike Trout ($4,800) / Albert Pujols ($2,800) – The Angels will be home for a matchup with Texas and Derek Holland and both hitters have fantastic career numbers against the Rangers hurler. Trout is 10 for 32 in his career against Holland with 5 extra base hits, 2 home runs and 9 RBI’s. Pujols is 8 for 23 with 6 extra base hits and 3 home runs. I am happy to lock in these two sluggers with their career numbers against Holland with the savings I will get from my Starting Pitching.
- Adrian Beltre ($3,200) and Rougned Odor ($2,900) – The Rangers right handed hitters will also see a beneficial matchup going up against the Angels and lefty Hector Santiago. Beltre in his career is 8 for 28 with 6 XBH and 3 home runs. Odor meanwhile is 9 for 17 with 4 XBH and 1 home run.
- Arizona/Cubs Stack: This game is projected to have one of the highest, if not the highest, run total of any of Thursday’s games as the Cubs head to Arizona. John Lackey will toe the rubber for Chicacgo after his fantastic year last season with the Cardinals. However looking at his numbers from last season he had an ERA over 2 points higher on the road, and Arizona is one of the best places to play for hitters. Jean Segura ($3,100) is 8 for 19 in his career against Lackey and has found a resurgence hitting atop the Diamondbacks lineup. Rubby de la Rosa had a rough spring for Arizona, pitched to over a 5.00 ERA at home last season and left handers hit .315 against him last year with 20 home runs. A left handed stack of Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward and Kyle Scwarber will allow us to roster a high powered GPP winning trio.
Next: FanDuel Picks For April 7th
Make sure to review the lineups as they are announced before locking in your lineups! Have a great day gamers!