FanDuel MLB Daily Lineups: Monday April 16
By Matt Rogers
Welcome to FanDuel MLB Daily Lineups for Monday, April 16th 2018. We’re a fantasy baseball column focused on helping you build a DFS MLB optimal lineup for each slate.
Sunday’s Main slate was frustrating for many FanDuel MLB players. With so many weather-related issues across the Main slate, it was hard for players to determine which games could be played, and which would not. We were concerned about every game not in the dome, and that turned out to be the best approach.
Even though there was no precipitation in Kansas City, they ended up canceling the much-anticipated Angels and Royals game due to not only very cold temperatures, but also the wind chill, which turned out to be near single digits, leading to potential frost bite.
However, many FanDuel MLB players didn’t head the warnings, and our Pirates, Phillies, and Rays stacks worked out very nicely. Ivan Nova was a cheap way to land 46 FanDuel MLB points at the pitcher position, and with our four-man Phillies focus along with two-man Rays and Pirate stack, we were able to get 170 to nearly 200 FanDuel MLB points in our lineups, and easily won cash games, along with some GPP’s.
For FanDuel MLB this Monday, we already have the Orioles and Red Sox game postponed. That leaves the Marlins and Yankees game as the only event outside of the Main slate, starting after 7pm ET. So we’re down to only ten games for tonight’s FanDuel MLB top slate of the night.
Before we get there, a reminder to never take a DFS MLB optimal lineup as ‘bible’ for your personal lineup each day. Use the suggestions as guidance. Also, make sure you follow final lineup thoughts throughout the day on our twitter account @FantasyCPR or me @mattymcmatt17 look for late breaking lineup news.
Weather Note: There are less weather issues today, which a major storm beginning to exit off the eastern part of the US. However, there are still some concerns. The Marlins, Yankees, Nationals, Mets, Rockies, and Pirates are all at risk of at least a delay, and have an outside chance of a cancellation. Also, with the storm exiting, winds are picking up all over the east coast, and where games are played, there is the potential for a major wind impact to each game (good or bad for offense). We are considering wind speed and direction in our lineup picks tonight.
So with the major weather-related considerations addressed, let’s get to the top pitching options…
FanDuel MLB: Top Pitcher Main Slate
With so many FanDuel MLB players likely playing Jacob deGrom ($9,400) against a struggling and banged up Nats offense in Citi Field tonight, we tried to find a great alternative solution. There are many talented hurlers starting on the mound today.
Aaron Nola ($8,800) is off to a solid start this season, with 16 strikeouts in just over 18 innings. But he’s given up ten hits, eight walks, and four runs in those 18 innings as well. While Nola pitched a tremendous 49 FanDuel MLB point outcome against the Reds, he’s already struggled at Citi Field against the Mets and in Atlanta, at SunTrust Field, this season. Nola is back in Atlanta tonight, where the Braves have hit well against right-handed pitchers.
Both James Paxton ($8,500) and Dallas Keuchel ($8,100) were top-tier talent last season, but they’re also both struggling at the start of this season. With the two facing each other tonight in Seattle, neither is appealing against solid offensive lineups and with the win up in the air.
Finally, Luis Castillo ($7,000) carried a high 25%+ K-rate into this season, and already has 13 strikeouts in 16 innings this spring. Also, while White Sox prospect Reynaldo Lopez ($7,300) has a sub-20% K rate since early last season, the hard-throwing young pitcher already has eleven in just 13 innings pitched this season.
However, both pitchers have control issues, and there’s incredible risk playing either pitcher versus the rock-solid play of deGrom. Hyun-Jin Ryu ($7,200) is a decent play in pitcher-friendly San Diego, but there’s risk with that play too. So, we’re right back to playing deGrom tonight. He’s the best bet at 40+ FanDuel MLB points, and a solid baseline with the right offensive stacks.
FanDuel MLB: Top Hitting Stacks Main Slate
Before we get into our offensive stacking targets for the Monday Night FanDuel MLB Main slate, we must first provide a DFS MLB optimal lineup public service announcement. Anthony Rizzo ($2,000) is expected to come off the disabled list for the Cubs tonight, and should be in the starting lineup. He is dirt-cheap for FanDuel, and should be in everyone’s lineups. Play him regardless of the chalk.
With one spot already filled for our offense, let’s turn our attention to the offensive stacks. Two pitchers immediately jump off the page when looking for offensive targets. Jeremy Hellickson is the latest Nationals five-spot starter to take the mound, tonight. Hellickson is sporting a disgusting 1.92 home runs per nine innings, and the wind is blowing very hard out to right field tonight. For that reason, we’re stacking the Mets bats, with a focus on left-handed hitters.
So while right-handed hitter Yoenis Cespedes ($4,000) seems like a decent option tonight, we recommend playing Michael Conforto ($4,000) instead. Brandon Nimmo ($2,800) is another lefty likely in the lineup, and his value tonight is great. Amed Rosario ($2,300) is a right-handed hitter, but with a late swing could come into play tonight. Many of Rosario’s key hits this year have been to right field.
With three Mets bats in the lineup, along with Rizzo, we have four more spots to consider. Within those four spots, we recommend a combination of any top value hitters from the Phillies or Blue Jays tonight.
The Phils have Julio Teheran on the mound in SunTrust Park. So they’re in a hitter-friendly baseball field with a pitcher hurling fastballs but getting shelled at a high rate this season. And with the value we’ve already created in our lineup, it’s easy to afford to Phillies plays like Rhys Hoskins ($4,600), RBI creator Maikel Franco ($3,400), and efficient Cesar Hernandez ($3,700) likely leading off the lineup.
The Blue Jays are playing in a domed field in Toronto tonight, back home, and have the visiting Royals in town. Kansas City is putting lefty Eric Skoglund on the mound, making a Blue Jays righty bat play like Kevin Pillar ($2,700) a great option in the OF or Utility spot tonight. But when the lineup hits the wire, we recommend grabbing any one of the great right-handed backs from the Blue Jays.
FanDuel MLB: Summary and Example Lineup
So, to wrap up our thoughts. We considered multiple pitching plays tonight, including value plays like Reynaldo Lopez or Luis Castillo. But there is considerable risk in every other play at the pitcher position tonight, so we’re sticking with the chalky Jacob deGrom in most of our lineups. Lopez and Castillo, are a good pitching pick for GPP’s, however.
For offensive stacks, we’re using any combination of the Mets, Phillies, and Blue Jays. If you’re playing many Mets, try to find guys hitting the ball into right field, especially their top-hitting left-handers. For the Blue Jays, try to focus on the RHB, and grab any Phillies hitter you want against Teheran.
With that summary in mind, here’s a look at the sample lineup for the Main FanDuel MLB slates on Monday, April 16th:
FanDuel MLB MAIN Slate Sample Lineup:
P Jacob deGrom ($9,400)
C/1B Anthony Rizzo ($2,000)
2B Carlos Hernandez ($3,700)
3B Maikel Franco ($3,400)
SS Amed Rosario ($2,300)
OF Michael Conforto ($4,000)
OF Rhys Hoskins ($4,600)
OF Brandon Nimmo ($2,800)
UTIL Kevin Pillar ($2,700)
Remaining Salary: $100
Note: This is a recommended lineup after discussing our top options for today. You should use this as a guide, and provide your own input when building FanDuel NHL lineups. We are not telling you, or selling you, to use this lineup.
Best of luck in your FanDuel MLB contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all your DFS news and analysis across MLB, NBA, NHL, and EPL this spring!