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The top FanDuel daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for 4/26/17 by Tom Vecchio. Expert MLB DFS advice, sleepers & player recommendations for FanDuel.
We have a 12 game slate for this hump day. Some great pitching options, to go along with some of the best hitters parks in play tonight. I tried to not give any players who are at Coors Field, since that is an obvious option, and wanted to give insight on other good plays. If you want to spend up for one of the top pitchers, you are going to need some value plays, which I provided below. So sit back, read up, and let's win some contests.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 4/26/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options, and of course value plays. Let's get to it, shall we?
You can read our DraftKings and Yahoo DFS lineup picks as well. If you want to contact me, send me a message on Twitter at @DFS_Tom.
Offensive Stacks
Chicago Cubs vs Tyler Glasnow
Glasnow isn't off to the best start this season, as he has only pitched 11.1 innings in three starts. He is getting hit early and often, and can't get a solid start under his belt. The most interesting stat for him is that he has given up 9 Walks in those 11 IP. Getting free runners on base is huge, and a great thing to look at when deciding who to stack. He simply isn't very good, and has a 3.41 WHIP to show that clearly. Every Cubs hitter is in play. Every single one of them, one through eight in the hitter order is an option. You can go with the chalk at the top of the lineup, or try and mix it up and go with the players lower in the order to try and get the at low ownership in tournaments. They are all good options.
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Johnny Cueto - P, vs LOS ($9,600)
If you don't want to spend up to get Syndergaard, Cueto is a great second option, and is cheaper. Cueto is pitching at home in San Francisco, which is one of the best pitchers parks in the league, so you have to give it a look. He is up against the Dodgers who have a 21% strikeout rate versus right-handed pitching, which puts Cueto in a good spot. He is coming off a rough last start, but that was at Coors Field, so you have to take his stats with a grain of salt. Through 24 innings pitched this year, he has 19 strikeouts, which isn't the highest, but the upside for him is because he is facing a strikeout prone team.
UPDATE: Robert Gsellman is starting instead of Noah Syndergaard tonight.
Noah Syndergaard - P, vs ATL ($11,500)
Whenever Thor is on the mound, you have to give him a look, since he has so much upside from strikeouts. He is averaging 43 FanDuel points per game this year and he has had at least seven strikeouts in three of his four starts. He also has gotten a quality start in everyone of his games this year, and that is a great extra points bonus on FanDuel. Syndergaard is up against the Braves, who have one of the worst offenses in the majors. They have only scored 65 Runs total this year, which is good for third least overall. Syndergaard is expensive, but if you are playing cash games, you really should try to fit him in, since his floor is so high and he is super consistent. In his first start of the year, Thor faced off against this Braves team, and had seven strikeouts through six innings, and a total of 43 fantasy points. If he can replicate that start, you should be in good shape when it comes to pitching.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Austin Hedges - C, @ ARI ($3,200)
Hedges has put together some huge games lately and is going a bit unnoticed since he plays for the Padres. He has scored 22 fantasy points or more in six of his last nine games, which include all six of his home runs for the year. Six home runs in nine games is something to take notice of, and when he gets a positive park shift playing at Arizona, you want to have some exposure to him. He has a .400 ISO and a 99 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, one of which, he is facing tonight.
Anthony Rizzo - 1B, @ PIT ($4,600)
It's easy to say play Rizzo on any night and you should be in good shape. But showing he has the stats to back up the choice is even better. The Cubs are facing off against Tyler Glasnow, who frankly, isn't a very good pitcher, and should always look to target against him. This year versus right-handed pitching, Rizzo has a .830 OPS and a 123 wRC+. So he is putting the ball in play, and is always a threat to go deep. He is good for cash games, and in a stack.
Dee Gordon - 2B, @ PHI ($3,300)
Gordon has cooled down a bit since his nine game hitting streak at the beginning of the season, so his price has also come down, which makes him a good play. Gordon has scored nine or more fantasy points in four of his last five games, and is in a spot to do much of the same tonight. He is facing a right-handed pitcher, and this year he is batting .322 vs righties, with a 105 wRC+. He also has some stolen base upside, which is always beneficial.
Jake Lamb - 3B, vs SDP ($3,800)
Play Jake Lamb tonight. Doesn't matter what format you are playing, just plug him into your lineups and forget about third base. He is absolutely crushing right-handed pitching this year. So far this season, he has a 1.041 OPS, .302 ISO, and a .432 ISO vs righties. Those are monster numbers, and he is playing at home in Arizona, which is super favorable for hitters. He is mashing the ball vs righties, and he is under 4k. Not sure what they are thinking in-terms of pricing at FanDuel, but he could easily be 5k. Get in on some Lamb tonight.
Xander Bogaerts - SS, vs NYY ($3,400)
Xander has yet to find the deep ball this year, but he is still hitting the ball well. He is batting .356 versus right-handed pitching, while posting a .344 wOBA. So the contact is there, he is just lacking some power to start the season, and that is fine. He is at home in Fenway, which is also a favorable hitters park, and the Sox offense can be as explosive as any team in the majors. So the home run upside may not be there for him, but exposure to the Red Sox offense in DFS is always good.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Jay Bruce - OF, vs ATL ($3,600)
The Mets have had a bit of injuries going around, and Bruce is one who seems to be healthy and playing everyday. He is also in a very favorable match up tonight, since he is facing a right-handed pitcher, who he is mashing this year. So far this season, Bruce has a .340 AVG, .362 ISO, and a .469 ISO vs righties. Huge, huge numbers, and for his price, you really can't get better than that. He had a hot streak of home runs about a week ago, and hasn't hit one in four games, so he is due for one, and I'm calling his long ball tonight.
Steven Souza Jr. - OF, @ BAL ($3,500)
Souza was named AL player of the week for the previous one, and boy did he deserve it. He had 10 hits in seven games, and 7 RBI in that same span. Really seeing the ball well, no matter what kind of pitcher he is facing. But since he is facing a right-handed pitcher tonight, here are his stats versus them this season, .333 AVG, 1.012 OPS, .263 ISO and a .432 wOBA. He is viable in all formats tonight.
Jacoby Ellsbury - OF, @ BOS ($3,600)
If you like a good DFS narrative, this is the spot for you. Ellsbury is back in Boston facing off against his former team. he hasn't been with them for a number of years now, but I'm guessing he still wants to put on a show. Up against a right-handed pitcher, Ellsbury has had good success vs them this year. He is batting .340, with a .160 ISO and a 156 wRC+. Really like this spot for him, and should consider using him in a stack, which could be lower owned.
MLB News & Injury Alerts
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