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FanDuel MLB Picks: Fantasy Baseball April 18

By Cory Eavenson

Mar 13, 2017; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish throws against the San Francisco Giants during a Cactus League spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Surprise, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish throws against the San Francisco Giants during a Cactus League spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 2, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado (13) singles during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado (13) singles during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

First Base

High Salary Option

Paul Goldschmidt $4200 – Goldschmidt is averaging 12.56 fantasy points per game, almost as many as the amount of games he has played (14). He has two home runs, six runs batted in, nine runs scored, and four stolen bases on the year. He gets a good matchup against the Padres righty Jarred Cosart tonight, who allows right handed batters to hit .376 against him. Cosart only strikes out his opponents 13% of the time, so it is highly unlikely that Goldschmidt will not get a hold of one tonight. **

High Value Option

Eric Thames $3400 – Thames is leading the league in home runs with seven on the year already. He is averaging a ridiculous 19.50 fantasy points per game while batting .405 with twelve runs batted in and fifteen runs scored. He gets another great matchup as he faces the Cubs lefty Brett Anderson, who is allowed left handed batters to slash .480 against him. Anderson only strikes out batters 10% of the time, so Thames will definitely be making contact tonight and is real threat to take another out in Chicago. ***

Third Base

High Salary Option

Nolan Arenado $4400 – Arenado is hitting .327 with four home runs, eight runs batted in, and eight runs scored on the season. He gets a favorable matchup tonight against the Dodgers lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu, who allows right handed batters to hit .403 against him. The only downside to this matchup is that the game is being played in Los Angeles instead of at Coors Field, but do not let that stop you from rostering one of the best third baseman in the league. **

High Value Option

Manny Machado $3900 – Machado is not your everyday value play. He is still priced fairly high, but lower than he should be due to his slow start to the season. He is only batting .175 with two home runs and seven runs batted in. Machado should be capable of turning it around tonight though, as he gets a fantastic matchup against the Reds righty Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo allows right handed batters to smash .568 against him and he only strikes out his opponents 10% of the time, therefore Machado is likely to get on base, and hopefully make it a round trip. ****