We have a rare 13 game Thursday slate scheduled for today, which is quite a treat early in the season. There are two different start times (12:10 ET and 7:05 ET) and three different groupings - Early Only, All Day and Main.
The odds-makers in Vegas have pegged the following games as the one they project to be the highest scoring, per the over/under set: Twins at Brewers (8.5), Astros at Rangers (8.5), Tigers at Royals (8.5), Angels at White Sox (9), and Mariners at Indians (8.5).
As for park factors, the teams and batters that should benefit the most from positive park factors (those that benefit hitters and do the reverse for pitchers) are - lefties at Yankee stadium, lefties at Baltimore, right-handed hitters in Cincinnati, lefties in Arlington, and right-handed hitters at Chicago (White Sox).
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball MLB lineup picks for FanDuel on 4/21/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from high-priced to low-priced options and identify options who will out-perform their expectations, including sleepers and value plays on FanDuel.
DFS Lineup Stacks to Target for FanDuel
Astros versus A.J. Griffin
The Astros' hitters have a great matchup tonight in a hitter's ballpark against a pitcher that allowed 2.09 HR/9 in the second half of 2015. The wOBA and slugging percentages he allowed last year weren't spectacular, but this Astros lineup has a lot of pop. The thing that attracts me the most here is the long ball threat, as Griffin allowed 2.05 HR/9 to right-handed batters last season. A few of the guys I'm looking to stack are Preston Tucker, Colby Rasmus, and Evan Gattis. Both Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve are in play as well.
White Sox versus Jered Weaver
The White Sox offense has been quite sluggish but I like them as they could go overlooked on this busy slate and there is the potential for a lot of home runs in this matchup with Jered Weaver at US Cellular. As I mentioned above, right-handed batters have strong, positive park factors today and there are quite a few right-handers in this lineup that can put it in the seats. In 2015, Weaver allowed 1.54 HR/9 to right-handed batters on the road, along with posting a 5.52 FIP to that group. A few of the right-handed batters I particularly like are Jose Abreu, Tyler Saladino and Avisail Garcia. The lefty Adam Eaton fits nicely as well.
Also Consider: Cubs versus Brandon Finnegan
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider for FanDuel
Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD) - $13,000
There are quite a few reasons that Kershaw is the top pitcher in our starting pitcher streaming tool, starting with the fact that he's posted a 0.7 HR/9, 2.60 ERA and 109 K/9 over his last 141 innings pitched. There are quite a few aces going today, but I give Kershaw the nod as my overall number one mainly because of the matchup. He pitches in a solid ballpark for pitchers and faces a very weak Braves lineup that has posted just a .265 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season.
Gerrit Cole (SP, PIT) - $9,700
While Kershaw could play as a cash or tournament option, I like Cole in just a tournament role. He has been a little sloppy through two starts this season, which could help to keep his ownership low. Most importantly in those starts, though, was that the velocity and strikeouts were still there, even in a short number of innings. Over his last 100+ innings, Cole has allowed an amazingly impressive 0.3 HR/9. Today's matchup in San Diego against what could be the worst offense in the league is a stellar one.
Also Consider: Max Scherzer (SP, WAS) - $12,000
I know it feels like I listed an all-star lineup above, but I didn't even mention Jake Arrieta, David Price, Dallas Keuchel, Johnny Cueto or James Shields. There are so many studs going today.
DFS Infielders to Consider for FanDuel
Catcher (C)
Evan Gattis (C, HOU) - $2,400
Gattis is a huge value play with enormous power upside tonight. He faces a pitcher in AJ Griffin that is prone to allowing home runs in bunches to right-handed hitters, and Gattis should be slotted in an appealing slot in the Astros' order. Thus far, he's posted a .229 ISO against right-handed pitching.
First Base (1B)
Chris Davis (1B, BAL) - $4,200
As I alluded to earlier, left-handed hitters in Baltimore have a great matchup today and with that considered, $4,200 is a very favorable price for Crush. It's a small sample, but in 2016, Davis has posted a .415 wOBA and .376 ISO against right-handed pitching.
Second Base (2B)
Robinson Cano (2B, SEA) - $3,500
He isn't the top guy in my projections, but I really believe he has the highest upside and a strong matchup. Anytime the upside, matchup and outstanding price align on a guy with Cano's skill set, I feel good about rostering said player. In 2016, Cano has posted a .350 wOBA against right-handed pitching.
Shortstop (SS)
Javier Baez (SS, CHC) - $2,300
This one comes as a bit of a risk, so if you're strictly a cash game guy, turn your head away. Baez is a guy that could get a shot today as Maddon likes to rest starters once or twice a week, and his core middle infield just played the entire St. Louis series. Right-handed hitters on the Cubs have a great matchup today in terms of squaring off with Brandon Finnegan and playing in a power hitter's park. More than willing to take a stab at Baez at this price.
Third Base (3B)
Kyle Seager (3B, SEA) - $3,400
Seager, like Cano, is a lefty I like too much at this price and in this matchup to leave off my roster. That said, I think there are a lot of different viable options at third base this afternoon and this evening. Seager hasn't gotten off to a blazing start, but we know he hits right-handed pitching well and he's slotted fifth in the order.
DFS Outfielders to Consider for FanDuel
Colby Rasmus (OF, HOU) - $3,500
I mentioned him in my stack earlier and he's been a big help in making me profitable this season, so I can't quit him just yet. He has strong park factors working for him today, strong numbers against right-handed pitching, and, my favorite part of the equation - he faces AJ Griffin, who I don't imagine goes too deep into this start.
Adam Jones (OF, BAL) - $3,000
Mediocre start or not, this is far too cheap a price for Jones to be listed with. I'm not here to complain though, as it gives me the option to have a strong outfield even with all the expensive options at starting pitcher today. Thus far in 2016, Jones has posted over a .200 ISO against right-handed pitching.
Mike Trout (OF, LAA) - $4,600
Not to sound like a broken record, but like is the case with Jones, this is far to cheap a price for Trout to be posted with. He has a fantastic matchup both in terms of the opposing pitcher he faces (John Danks) and in park factors.
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