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Happy Saturday RotoBallers, and happy April Fools! This is John Brubaker dropping some of my favorite plays for today's slate! I'm so excited that MLB DFS back, and here's a chance to start the season off on the right foot! We have a pretty large 12-game slate on our hands this afternoon, so let's waste no time to get after it!
We don't have any slate differences today, which is always a good thing. That way I don't have to make selections that may be on one slate and not the other. I have big ideas for this slate, so let's get right to it. I would like to note, my writeups will get a bit more detailed as the season goes on, as I'm still making adjustments to my projection model this early on in the season.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/1/2023 and the slate locking at 2:10 pm ET. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options, and value plays. 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. Now that we got all of that out of the way, it's onto the picks!
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Spencer Strider, ATL at WAS ($9,700 DK, $10,800 FD)
We'll start this afternoon's slate with Spencer Strider. The Nationals lineup is... mediocre at best. Strider had a rough final outing of 2022, getting lit up by the Phillies in the NLDS. He'll look to bounce back and get his 2023 season going. He projects to a 2.30 xFIP and a 37.29% strikeout rate this afternoon, by far the highest numbers on the slate.
Chris Sale, BOS vs BAL ($6,700 DK, $8,100 FD)
Regardless of whatever's going on with him, his recovery, or the fact that he's starting the second game of the season instead of Opening Day, I feel like it's a must to take a shot with Sale at this price. If he doesn't pitch well, you at least get him at a cheap price. If he does pitch well, you have a slate-breaker. He's projecting to a 3.19 xFIP and 20.29% strikeout rate, which is some solid value.
Also consider: Nick Lodolo, Patrick Sandoval
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Rafael Devers - 3B, BOS vs. Dean Kremer ($5,800 DK, $3,900 FD)
I'll start off in regards to infielders with Rafael Devers against Orioles starter Dean Kremer. Devers is 3-11 in his career against Kremer, with a double and a homer. He has a projected .398 wOBA, 38.69% hard contact rate, and .408 wOBA against Kremer's projected pitch types.
Matt Olson - 1B, ATL vs. Josiah Gray ($4,700 DK, $3,700 FD)
I'll take a look at the Braves next, with first baseman Matt Olson. Olson takes on Josiah Gray, a pitcher who he's 1-3 with a home run and a walk against. Olson projects to a .366 wOBA, 43% hard contact rate, and .383 wOBA against Gray's pitch types. I'll be all over the Braves this afternoon, following a relatively slow start to their season on Thursday.
Brandon Belt - 1B, TOR vs. Jack Flaherty ($2,700 DK, $2,000 FD)
If you want to rock with a cheaper option, take a look at Brandon Belt. Belt will take on Jack Flaherty, who has battled with injuries over the past few seasons. He projects to a .386 wOBA, 30% hard contact rate, and .463 wOBA against Flaherty's pitch types. He'll look to heat after going just 1-8 off of Flaherty thus far in his career.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Yordan Alvarez - OF, HOU vs. Lucas Giolito ($5,700 DK, $4,100 FD)
If you didn't read my DFS articles from last season, expect to see Yordan Alvarez as my first outfielder frequently. For my money, he's the best hitter in baseball. He takes on Lucas Giolito this afternoon, who he's just 1-7 against. He does project to a .462 wOBA today, along with a 45.6% hard contact rate and a .495 wOBA against Giolito's pitch types.
Michael Harris II - OF, ATL vs. Josiah Gray ($3,700 DK, $3,800 FD)
I'll look at a second Braves player here next, with Michael Harris. Harris went 1-4 with two runs scored against Patrick Corbin and company on Thursday. Today, though, he projects to a .392 wOBA, 38.9% hard contact rate, and .381 wOBA against Josiah Gray's pitch types. He went 0-3 against Gray last season, but I'm expecting him to get after Gray and the Nationals' pitching staff today.
Stuart Fairchild - OF, CIN vs. Rich Hill ($2,000 DK, $2,000 FD)
I'll wrap things up with a value outfielder in Stuart Fairchild. Fairchild will take on the old man Rich Hill this afternoon, someone who he hasn't faced yet in his career. He does, however, project to a .445 wOBA, 41.7% hard contact rate, and .534 wOBA against Hill's pitch types. While these projections are based on a small sample size, at the minimum price on both sites, I think he's a great upside play.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Atlanta Braves vs. Josiah Gray
In terms of stacks, I have to start things off with the Atlanta Braves. They'll take on Josiah Gray, who projects to a 4.57 xFIP this afternoon. The Nationals' bullpen isn't very good either. The Braves project to a .342 wOBA, 35.7% hard contact rate, and .334 wOBA against Gray's pitch types. They'll most likely be one of the chalkier teams on the slate, so I would look to them as more of a cash stack.
Favorite Plays: Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna, Michael Harris II
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Jack Flaherty
In terms of GPPs, I'll take a look at the Blue Jays. There is a possibility that the Jays come in with some ownership, but I'll be on them in tournaments regardless. Jack Flaherty projects to the worst xFIP on the slate (4.93), and the middle of the Jays lineup looks to project really well. The Jays as a lineup project to a .346 wOBA, 37.7% hard contact rate, and .344 wOBA against Flaherty's pitch types.
Favorite Plays: George Springer, Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, Brandon Belt
Also Consider: Boston Red Sox, New York Mets
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