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FanDuel MLB Lineup and Picks for Thursday, April 26

By Adam Strangis

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 21: Rhys Hoskins
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 21: Rhys Hoskins /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 05: Cesar Hernandez #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a single in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on April 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 05: Cesar Hernandez #16 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a single in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on April 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

Second Base, High End Spend

Ozzie Albies, $4,100

N/A 

One of these days, Homer Bailey is going to get completely blitzed and I want to be there for it. Albies is coming into his own as a player at the major league level and even though he’s not as good against righty pitching, he’s still firmly in play for tonight. We just talked about how Bailey has struggled through his career with lefty bats and Albies is a switch hitter. Bailey is pitching in a sandbox and I want a significant piece of the Atlanta offense if I can afford it in cash games. They aren’t coming cheaply at this point. There is just so much upside, it’s hard to turn away from at least one or two players.

Also Consider – Brian Dozier, $4,100

Mid-Range

Cesar Hernandez, $3,500

N/A

I know, we have another mid-range Philly after we highlighted an expensive Brave. I don’t set the price points, I just try to put the puzzle together afterward. Anyway, Hernandez isn’t always someone we chase given the relative lack of power upside. You need him to score runs or steal a base to really pay off the price tag but mid-range at second base looks dicey at best. We also don’t think Koch is a good pitcher and Hernandez still hits righty pitching at a .276 clip through his career. If Koch struggles today, Hernandez should be at the center of it. He’s also got a bit of pop that could surprise us. After all, Philly is pretty hitter-friendly as well.

Also Consider – Dixon Machado, $3,000

Value

One of the reasons that Hernandez holds appeal is because he’s one of the lowest priced second baseman you can actually feel comfortable playing. The value tier looks truly barren on this slate. Even if we get a player that is cheap at a good spot in the batting order, I’m not sure I’d want to play them. These are the kinds of decisions that help shape a slate. There’s really no choice but to see what kind of hand the lineups deal us closer to first pivot.