RADIO
Welcome to the weekend, RotoBallers. Today we have 15 games, split into a five game early slate and a 10 game main slate. The only weather concern on the forecast today is the first game of the slate in Cincinnati. It will more than likely be delayed due to rain, making Jake Arrieta a risky play in the early slates. Other than that we have beautiful baseball weather, with hitter-friendly winds in Texas, Chicago (W), and Oakland. Be sure to keep that in mind when setting your lineups. Now, let's get rowdy.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 4/22/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options, and of course value plays.
You can read our DraftKings and Yahoo DFS lineup picks as well. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @RowdyRotoJB.
Offensive Stacks
Chicago Cubs versus Cody Reed (LHP)
If you are playing in the early slate today, or all-day, you can't ignore the potential fireworks in Cincinnati today. The Cubs own the fourth highest OPS in the league against left handed pitching this year, and own the seventh highest over the last seven days. Reed has three scoreless innings out of the bullpen in 2017, but that won't save him from this Cubbie beat down. Over two starts against CHC last season, Reed surrendered 15 runs in only eight innings. Yikes. Usually I wouldn't recommend such a chalk or pricey stack, but the low prices on Javier Baez and Addison Russell easily make room for rostering Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.
Also Consider: Tampa Bay Rays versus Charlie Morton (RHP)- GPP
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Carlos Carrasco, CLE at CWS ($10,300)
Its expensive, but its still a slight discount compared to being the top priced guy over on DraftKings today. The White Sox own the second worst OPS against RHP in the league and are also near the bottom over the last seven days. Carrasco owns a nice 2.33 ERA and 0.84 WHIP on the year with 19 K in 19 1/3 innings, and scored 43 FP against this very team in week two of the season. That was without getting the W, too. He is as safe as it gets today, and is almost literally guaranteed a W with the Sox resorting to Mike Pelfrey after placing James Shields on the DL yesterday. All cash lineups start here.
Matt Boyd, DET at MIN ($6,700)
Boyd is a great early/all-day slate GPP option today. After the ugly start to begin the 2017 campaign, Boyd has settled down and pitched two consectutive quality starts only giving up one earned run along the way. Two start ago he faced these Twins and earned 46 FP after going six strong innings and punching out just as many. Like Carrasco, Boyd has a very high probability of earning his third straight W today, with the opposing team sending LHP Aldaberto Mejia to the mound.
Also Consider: Chase Anderson, MIL vs STL ($7,700)- GPP
FanDuel DFS Infielders
James McCann - C, at MIN ($2,300)
One of the Tigers bats that will help Boyd get that W today is the backstop, McCann. He owns an .800 SLG against southpaws this year, and has already launched three bombs. The high HR potential makes him a great GPP pick, but his putrid .147 BA should keep him out of cash consideration.
Also Consider: Salvador Perez - C, at TEX ($3,000)
Logan Morrison - 1B, vs HOU ($2,400)
LoMo hit his fourth dinger of the year last night, and always grabs my attention when facing RHP where he owns a .268/.333/.512 slash. As we saw against Masahiro Tanaka on Opening Day, these Rays can feast on low-ball pitchers, making this matchup with Charlie Morton very interesting. I feel confident enough in LoMo today to use him as salary relief in cash games, as well as a HR-hopeful GPP play.
Also Consider: Edwin Encarnacion - 1B, at CWS ($3,600)
Jonathan Villar - 2B, vs STL ($3,000)
Yes he is only hitting .176, but that is why we get to take advantage of this lowly price tag today. Despite the BA struggles, Villar still has hit three HR and stolen four bases already this season. He has five hits in his last three games, so the bat seems to be waking up, which is bad news for the losing-velocity Lance Lynn. I'll take the leadoff hitter of the hottest offense in baseball with an extremely rare speed and pop combo for just three Gs in my cash lineups to afford Mr. Carrasco.
Also Consider: Javier Baez-2B, at CIN ($2,600)- All Day Slate
Yangervis Solarte - 3B, vs MIA ($2,800)
One of the many Padres I like in GPP contests, Solarte has the power stroke from the left side of the plate to take Dan Straily yard today. Both of his bombs this year have come off RHP, and he is slashing .350/.409/.600 at Petco so far in 2017. In one of the uglier on-paper pitching matchups you will see this year, we could see a football-like score when its all said and done.
Also Consider: Jake Lamb - 3B, vs LAD ($3,700)
Francisco Lindor - SS, at CWS ($4,000)
Any chance I get to roster Lindor, I just can't avoid it. Especially on a night where he gets to face a weak RHP. His 14.9 FPPG leads all shortstops (with more than one GP) and he is hitting .342 with three HR against RHP in 2017. Find a way to get Lindor into all your lineups today, it's going to get rowdy in Southside. I forgot to mention the winds are forecasted to be blowing out to RF at U.S. Cellular Field.....
Also Consider: Addison Russell - SS, at CIN ($2,700)- Early Slate
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Chris Young - OF, at BAL ($2,400)
The southpaw destroyer draws a matchup with Jayson Aquino who was recalled from Triple-A to start for the Orioles today. In just two starts in the minors this season, Aquino gave up five runs. It should be a fun day for the Red Sox, especially the right-handed bats. Chris Young is a cheap option to get a piece of the action.
Mitch Haniger - OF, at OAK ($2,800)
What a pleasant surprise Haniger has been for the Mariners. For the season he is hitting .303/.418/.561 with four dongs and two swipes. Against RHP he has been even better, hitting eight of his nine XBH and owning a 1.004 OPS. Jharel Cotton may be a very fine pitcher one day, but today is not that day.
Corey Dickerson- OF, vs HOU ($3,100)
Far too cheap for the bomb potential in todays matchup for C-Dick. After going deep in last nights contest, he now has four on the season and is hitting .322. He should be sitting atop of the Rays lineup today, in what I already described as a tasty matchup against Morton.
Also Consider: Mookie Betts - OF, at BAL ($4,400)
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