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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on April 25, 2023. Brenton Kemp's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Tuesdays are always a fun day to cover MLB DFS as the slates are always lengthy with plenty of options on the board. Speaking to today's slate, we have a nine-game main slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel with a wealth of value to be had.
As a result, this nine-game slate locks at 7:05 PM ET on Tuesday, April 25 so be sure to get your lineups set and locked before that deadline! Remember, feel free to give me a follow and hit me up on Twitter @BKemp17 with any comments, questions, or banter when it comes to these free MLB DFS picks!
You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. Let's get after it and come out on top tonight!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Joe Ryan, MIN vs. NYY ($10,500 DK, $11,000 FD)
It's always fun watching some lesser-known names develop into stars each season and that's what we're witnessing from the Twins' Joe Ryan to this point in the 2023 campaign.
I mean, Ryan did enjoy a breakout last season. The right-hander worked to a 3.55 ERA and 25% K% across 27 starts for the Twins a season ago but he's taken it to another level this time around. Ryan has worked to a 3.24 ERA and 30.5% K5 across his first four starts this season while also dropping his walk rate to a stingy 4.2% mark. He's ditched his changeup in favor of a newly-formed splitter and the results are clear in his strikeout and walk rates to this point in the young season.
The Yankees always sport a dangerous offense but are tied for 19th with a 24.6% K% on the campaign while hitting just .227 as a team. Ryan has the opportunity to put up another strong effort at home in what marks his fifth start of the season.
Mason Miller, OAK vs. LAA ($5,700 DK, $7,500 FD)
Tuesday's slate is light on pitching so why not give Mason Miller a shot at a dirt-cheap price after what was an electric MLB debut against the Cubs last Wednesday. The hard-throwing right-hander averaged exactly 100 mph on his four-seam fastball in that outing and while he lasted just 4 1/3 innings he managed five strikeouts after posting eye-popping strikeout rates in what is admittedly a very small minor-league sample.
The Angels are right about in the middle of the pack in strikeout rate on the season and their offense has been solid, yet unspectacular. Obviously, they'll have very little tape on what Miller brings to the table as he's worth taking a chance on even if he's your SP2 on DraftKings.
It's not the worst evening to load up on bats and Miller's cost efficiency certainly allows plenty of room for that strategy.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Paul Goldschmidt - 1B, STL vs. Sean Manaea ($6,100 DK, $3,500 FD)
The value upside is higher on FanDuel but given the cost-efficient pitching on the board, you should be able to slip Paul Goldschmidt into your lineup against Giants southpaw Sean Manaea Tuesday night.
Manaea has scuffled early on, working to a 6.60 ERA/6.66 FIP in 15 innings to begin the season. He's yielded four homers in that time, all of which have come off the bats of right-handed hitters.
As for Goldy, we know he rakes lefties as he's hitting .353 with an .859 OPS off of them this season and hit .411 with a 1.327 OPS and .402 isolated power in the 2022 season. That's... very good. This one seems like a no-brainer.
Jake Burger - 3B, CWS vs. Jose Berrios ($3,000 DK, $3,100 FD)
You're going to want Nolan Arenado alongside Goldschmidt against lefty Tuesday night but Jake Burger isn't the worst pivot as he takes on the Blue Jays and right-hander Jose Berrios.
Berrios has struggled mightily early on as he sports a 6.32 ERA entering Tuesday's action. Certainly, his 2.68 FIP and 3.64 SIERA suggest he's going to be much better moving forward he's still surrendered a 42.2% hard-hit rate and 9.4% barrel rate, both of which continue to be well worse than his career average.
We've seen the short porch in right-center field in Toronto (359 ft.) and the righty-swinging Burger could reach it with ease given his ability to hit it to all fields. He's already hit five homers alongside a monstrous .439 ISO in just 49 trips to the plate. He's only hitting .220 but that also comes alongside a tiny .190 BABIP that doesn't make a whole lot of sense considering his 46.2% hard-hit rate. He's got a good shot at making it six long balls Tuesday night in downtown Toronto.
Francisco Lindor - SS, NYM vs. Josiah Gray ($5,100 DK, $4,000 FD)
Francisco Lindor comes in as a reasonably-priced shortstop Tuesday and has a solid chance of producing some power against Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray.
Gray has had serious home run issues in his young career with a 2.28 HR/9 in 46 appearances (45 starts) and is at an elevated 1.66 mark again this season. He owns a solid enough 3.73 ERA in four starts so far in 2023 but also sports a 5.77 FIP and 5.03 SIERA that both suggest regression moving forward.
As for Lindor, he's off to a solid start in the power department with four homers, nine doubles, and a .244 ISO in 23 contests. The switch-hitter has done the bulk of his damage off lefties but I certainly don't mind his chances against the home run-happy Gray Tuesday night.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Matt Vierling - OF, DET vs. Eric Lauer ($2,400 DK, $2,300 FD)
We'll get the outfield section started with some value as Matt Vierling should hit out of the leadoff spot Tuesday against Milwaukee Brewers southpaw Eric Lauer.
Vierling doesn't have a ton of MLB experience but has shown a solid combination of power and speed. The righty-swinging 26-year-old has a homer, three doubles, and a pair of stolen bases in 18 games on the season and hit eight homers with 15 steals between Triple-A and the big leagues across 138 games last season.
Not spectacular production, but the ownership will be low and the price is right. Lauer owns a 5.54 FIP and has surrendered five homers in just 23 innings this season. He also surrendered 27 homers in 29 starts last season. Clearly, he's susceptible to the long ball and let's see if Vierling can deliver on some value upside in this matchup.
Michael Conforto - OF, SF vs. Jake Woodford ($4,000 DK, $3,200 FD)
The lefty-swinging Michael Conforto should hit right near the top of the lineup against Cardinals righty Jake Woodford and that's enough to get him on my radar in this matchup.
After all, Woodford owns a 6.05 ERA/7.36 FIP with a hefty six homers allowed in just 19 1/3 innings on the season. He actually hasn't dealt with many home run issues in the past but has been hit hard in the early going this season.
For his part, Conforto already has four homers to his credit alongside an attractive .211 ISO in 18 games after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury. He's hit split his four homers between two off of a lefty and two off a righty so far but his .870 OPS and .235 ISO in his career off right-handers is far better than his work off of same-handed pitching.
This is another solid look at another reasonable cost.
Dylan Carlson - OF, STL vs. Sean Manaea ($3,600 DK, $2,500 FD)
How about that price on FanDuel? Regardless of how you slice it, Dylan Carlson looks like a fine addition to any Cardinals exposure against the aforementioned Manaea.
Once again, he's projected to hit high in the lineup and that works for me. What also should play well is low ownership considering he's hitting just .205 without a homer in 47 trips to the plate. His .291 xwOBA greatly exceeds his .239 current mar, and while not spectacular, it does paint some poor luck mixed in.
A switch hitter, Carlson has fared much better against lefties with a .315 career average and .862 OPS off lefties versus a .223 average and .678 OPS off righties. That's also a 140 wRC+ off lefties and an 89 wRC+ off righties. That's enough of a difference for me to give him strong consideration against a struggling southpaw.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Sean Manaea
The Cardinals didn't have a great showing after being victimized by Alex Cobb on Monday but their week should improve 24 hours later. Manaea's peripheral numbers might suggest positive regression but there are a handful of Cardinals bats that make sense here.
Simply put, expected leadoff man Tommy Edman should fit alongside Goldschmidt and Carlson while Nolan Arenado is right on the money should you be in the market for a four-man Cardinals stack on Tuesday.
Detroit Tigers vs. Eric Lauer
I noted Lauer's early-season struggles in the Vierling section but they certainly make for a nice cost-efficient look despite a slow start to their season.
Look, the Tigers won't hit much again this season but we have a hitter-friendly venue and a pitcher struggling with the long ball here. Vierling is a great start but Javier Baez is hitting up and Spencer Torkelson boasts big-time raw power. If you want to throw in a fourth, Eric Haase is cost-efficient and can even be had in the outfield in addition to a catcher on both sites.
Good luck tonight, everyone!
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