MLB Picks and Pivots – FanDuel Picks April 18

Aug 16, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; A fan turns the K card as San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (not pictured) records his fourteenth strikeout as another fan holds a broom for San Francisco Giants “sweep” of the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at AT&T Park. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

MLB Picks and Pivots – FanDuel Picks April 18

Welcome to the Monday 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!

FanSided and FantasyCPR have you covered – For additional FanDuel MLB analysis, take a look at my fellow staff writer Matt Rogers FanDuel Economics column. Also, Mike Marteny provides Draft Kings MLB Picks analysis giving you some of the best and most thorough content you will find anywhere!

Monday’s games kick off at 11:05AM EST in Boston but the main slate begins at 7:05PM EST with an abbreviated 7 game slate..

I will continue to track winning GPP lineups and compare trends over 5 day periods to help us understand what it takes to remain profitable. I HIGHLY recommend each of you do this each morning to look back on the previous night and understand how the winning lineups are constructed in the games you participate in.

The view below compares the 5 day period April 11-15 and the winning GPP scores from a selection of GPP entries I have entered over the past week with a comparison to how Saturday, April 16th slate played out.

Average Top GPP Finish Points Scored: 229 Points(5 day) – April 16(237)
Average SP Salary: $7,500 (5 Day) – April 16 ($11,900)
Hitter/Pitcher Percentage of Salary Spent: 21/79 (5 Day) – April 16: 34/66
$ Value Per Point: $6.4 (5 Day) – April 16: 6.8

Saturday’s slate bucked the trend we had seen developing over the previous 7 days as paying up for the stud pitcher in Jake Arrieta was the difference in GPP entries with his 60 point performance. Many of the mid-tier pitching plays flopped which left the door open for the “safety” and upside that Arrieta delivered on Saturday.

Now on to the picks…

Next: Top Pitching Options

Apr 12, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Starting Pitcher –

Noah Syndergaard – $11,300 – The price is high, but this may be a case similar to Saturday where the “chalk” ace pitchers puts up the dominant score and none of the mid-level options pan out. Thor has averaged 55.5 points over his first two starts which would result in 4.9x value at this price point which for cash games seems like the perfect building block. In GPP’s however is the upside capped? Keep in mind – Noah was not able to get the win his last time out which if he had, would have resulted in a 66 point game against the Marlins (5.8x value) so there is still upside at this price point especially in a matchup against the Phillies. In 2 career starts against the Phillies, Thor is 2-0 with 15’s over 10 innings and a sub 2 ERA. In cash games, Noah feels like a lock and with the smaller slate and some shaky mid-tier options this may be the night to pay up in GPP’s and differentiate with your lineup.
Chase Anderson ($6,100) – If I am going to drop down and pay up for my hitters, the Brewers right hander is my top choice in a matchup with the Twins who continue to struggle offensively on the year. Anderson has put up 36 points per game in two starts which is good for 5.9x value at this price point. What has been most impressive with Anderson so far is that he has put up this value in starts against two of the best offenses in baseball in the Astros and the Cardinals so if he is able to return that kind of value against those types of lineups, the upside is there in this favorable matchup with the punchless Twins.

Next: Top Hitters/Stacks

Apr 16, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart (2) is congratulated by first baseman Joey Votto (left) after scoring on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Adam Duvall (23) against the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

Hitters –

Reds Stack – Jordan Lyles takes the mound against the Reds on Monday and in two starts this season he has averaged 4.5 points per game. Yes you read that right. The Reds are in a position to hammer Lyles on Monday and the Batter Versus Pitcher history for some of the Reds top hitters only reinforces this point:
- Joey Votto ($3,900) – 7 for 11 with 4 XBH and 2 home runs
- Jay Bruce ($3,800) – 4 for 14 with 2 home runs
- Zack Cozart ($2,900) – 6 for 11 with 3 XBH and 1 home run.

Add in the red hot Eugenio Suarez ($3,600) who is putting up 15 fantasy points per game this season and is averaging a ridiculous 4 fantasy points per AT BAT over his last 3 games.

This is my top stack of the night and with value options elsewhere you can fit the Reds in with a stud like Syndergaard.

Michael Saunders ($2,900) – If you are playing the all-day slate (and why wouldn’t you) – I want as much exposure I can get to Saunders before his price jumps. On Sunday, Saunders was moved to the leadoff spot and anyone hitting in front of Encarnacion, Bautista and Donaldson is in an incredible spot to deliver big fantasy totals.

Next: FanDuel Economics For April 18?

Make sure to review the lineups as they are announced before locking in your lineups! Have a great day gamers!