MLB DFS: DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (4/28/24) - Today's Top Lineups

Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The early part of the MLB season has been good to me, so I'm looking to build off that momentum and hit the ground running as we progress into the 2024 campaign. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's slate!

We have some really interesting matchups today. The pitching mix is light on aces and instead offers a selection of midrange starters and back-of-the-rotation punt arms, which will certainly lead to some interesting lineup decisions. I'll point out the standout plays, but with a nine-game slate and so many options on the mound, there will be plenty of opportunity to get creative with your picks today.

This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/28/2024 and the slate locking at 1:35 p.m. EDT. 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. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.

DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Tarik Skubal vs. Kansas City Royals ($10K DK, $10.9K FD)

Without a doubt, Tarik Skubal is the best pitcher on this slate. Through five starts, he boasts an outstanding 2.12 xERA and 2.49 xFIP. His success includes phenomenal batted-ball metrics, like a .190 xBA, 85.4 MPH average exit velocity, and a 31% hard-hit rate. Even better, Skubal brings a fantastic strikeout upside. Opposing hitters whiff on 30.4% of swings with a 34.3% chase rate, amounting to a 31.3% strikeout rate.

Tarik Skubal's 8th and 9th Ks. pic.twitter.com/xNmAd4yU2s

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 23, 2024

After starting the season as one of the league's hottest offenses, the Kansas City Royals have come crashing back down to Earth. They are scoring 4.7 runs per game overall this season, down to 3.4 runs over their past seven contests. Overall, the Royals sport an underwhelming 94 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. There are some scary bats in this lineup, but it's ultimately a favorable matchup for Skubal.

Patrick Corbin vs. Miami Marlins ($6K DK, $6.2K FD)

Beyond Skubal, no pitcher on this slate feels reliable, so punting down to Patrick Corbin is in play. I won't try to convince anyone that Corbin is a good pitcher at this point in his career, but rather that he isn't that bad. On the surface, his 6.51 ERA is ugly. That said, Corbin's 4.42 xFIP is considerably more palatable and suggests his performance is better than what the results tell us. He is also fresh off a strong outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Corbin is the cheapest pitcher on both DraftKings and FanDuel today, so he doesn't need to do much to pay off his price tag.

Outside of affordability, the primary reason Corbin is worth pursuing today is the matchup. The Miami Marlins are plating only 3.4 runs per game on the season. They bring one of the league's worst offenses and are egregiously bad against left-handed pitching. The Marlins own a league-worst 46 wRC+ against southpaws, spanning over 400 plate appearances.

Also Consider: Albert Suarez, Zack Littell, Lance Lynn

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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Elly De La Cruz - SS, CIN vs. Dane Dunning ($5.9K DK, $4.3K FD)

There were plenty of doubters, but Elly De La Cruz has been one of 2024's biggest early breakouts. Through 27 games, he has generated a .987 OPS with seven home runs and an MLB-leading 17 stolen bases. The swing-and-miss part of his still exists, though the results are prolific when De La Cruz puts the bat on the ball. That success includes a .535 xSLG, 92.9 MPH average exit velocity, 18.2% barrel rate, and a 50.9% hard-hit rate.

On the surface, Dane Dunning's 4.61 ERA indicates he is having a decent enough season. Underneath, his advanced metrics are horrible, starting with a 7.02 xERA. Dunning is getting crushed by opposing hitters to the tune of a .559 xSLG, 16.2% barrel rate, 93.7 MPH average exit velocity, and a 52.9% hard-hit rate. He has surrendered seven home runs already this season -- tied for third-most in the majors this season.

Ozzie Albies - 2B, ATL vs. Ben Lively ($5.4K DK, $3.9K FD)

Fresh off an injured list stint, Ozzie Albies is looking to pick up where he left off. On the season, the 27-year-old is slashing .319/.380/.500 with a 151 wRC+. Though Albies has been limited to just 16 games thus far in 2024, his offensive upside is understood. He mashed 33 home runs last season, part of an .849 OPS.

Ben Lively is going to be one of the preferred pitchers to target on this slate. Across 19 appearances last season, Lively posted a 5.03 xERA. The struggles included a .474 xSLG, 8.3% barrel rate, and a .269 xBA. In particular, Lively was brutalized by left-handed hitters to the tune of a .570 slugging percentage.

Austin Shenton - 1B, TB vs. Erick Fedde ($2.1K DK, $2.1K FD)

Austin Shenton's major league career is just 10 games deep so far, but the rookie has a worthwhile upside. Over 134 games played between Double-A and Triple-A last season, he produced a .304/.423/.584 slash line with 29 home runs. Shenton has largely struggled in the majors so far, but he hit a home run and a double yesterday and may be hitting his stride just in time to be an excellent value play today.

Erick Fedde is back in the majors following a season in the KBO. While he has looked good in his return thus far, I'm not convinced the 31-year-old is a remarkably different pitcher than he used to be. Before going abroad, Fedde had a horrible 2022 season, featuring a 5.45 xERA over 27 starts. In total, Fedde owns a 5.26 ERA for his MLB career, including a .466 xSLG.

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Juan Soto - OF, NYY vs. Tobias Myers ($6.2K DK, $4.3K FD)

Juan Soto needs no introduction at this point. He's slashing .324/.443/.581 with seven home runs during his debut season in the Bronx. His advanced stats are incredible across the board, featuring a .607 xSLG, 18.4% barrel rate, 58.6% hard-hit rate, and a 95.2 MPH average exit velocity. Soto is always worth the spend if you can spare the salary, and today is a particularly opportunistic spot.

Tobias Myers is looking to build off a successful major league debut, surrendering just one run over five innings pitched against the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week. That said, he is unlikely to find the same success going forward. Myers posted a 4.93 ERA across 29 appearances between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023, down from a 7.82 ERA over 23 minor-league appearances the season before that. Further, the home run ball has plagued Myers at every level, and Soto is the perfect opponent to take advantage of that.

Michael Harris II - OF, ATL vs. Ben Lively ($5K DK, $3.4K FD)

Ben Lively's struggles are already outlined above, and Michael Harris II is another great angle from which to attack. Harris sports an impressive .324/.355/.486 slash line with three home runs, five stolen bases, and a 136 wRC+. That success consists of strong batted-ball metrics, such as a 46.2% hard-hit rate, 90.9 MPH average exit velocity, .295 xBA, and a .428 xSLG. Harris doesn't have quite the same level of pop as teammates like Ronald Acuna Jr. or Marcell Ozuna, but left-handed hitters have been particularly lethal against Lively.

Andy Pages - OF, LAD vs. Kevin Gausman ($3K DK, $2.9K FD)

Andy Pages has made a strong first impression during his first 10 games in the majors. The 23-year-old sports a .822 OPS with two home runs and a 135 wRC+. The hot streak is nothing new for Pages, considering he posted a .371/.452/.694 slash line in Triple-A to start the campaign, and he is the third-ranked prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system. Pages carries considerable hype, and the early returns tell us he is everything he was cracked up to be. I recommend rostering Pages while he is still cheap.

It probably won't persist too much longer, but Kevin Gausman is having a horrible season. Through five starts, the 33-year-old carries a 6.31 xERA. He has shockingly been one of the worst starting pitchers in the majors so far in 2024. As part of the struggles, Gausman has surrendered a .521 xSLG and an 11.3% barrel rate. Right-handed hitters are slugging .580 against this season, part of a .429 career mark.

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

1. Cincinnati Reds vs. Dane Dunning

• Favorite Plays: Elly De La Cruz, Will Benson, Jake Fraley, Spencer Steer

2. Atlanta Braves vs. Ben Lively 

• Favorite Plays: Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Marcell Ozuna