MLB DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (04/06/24)

As happens so often early in the season, this is a true split slate. We will be concentrating on the eight-game "main" slate tonight. That takes my head out of it (Cubs vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto) and my heart (Twins...yes, Twins fans still exist).

Instead, we get Coors, deep Pfaadt Fried snake in the desert, and the Yankees in Yankee Stadium. We have the fireworks on the main slate, even if we don't have the next big thing at pitcher.

This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 04/06/2024 and the slate locking at 7:05 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

Garrett Whitlock at Angels ($8.6K DK, $8.9K FD)

Whitlock looked sharp against Seattle in his first outing, even striking out eight Mariners in five innings. He might not get quite the strikeouts, but Whitlock is in another great position tonight. The Angels are hitting just .194 against right-handed pitching in the early going with a cool 28.8% strikeout rate.

Whitlock had a great spring and a nice first start. Cap that off with a dream matchup and a reasonable price, and I will have him in every DraftKings lineup. I will be above the field on Whitlock tonight.

Keaton Winn vs. Padres ($7.5K DK, $7.2K FD)

It's a little harder to run Winn on FanDuel because he's not going to pile up the strikeouts. The Padres are striking out just 20% of the time against righties in the early going. The price reflects the lack of strikeout upside on FanDuel, but you really need to weigh how many more strikeouts Whitlock or Kevin Gausman will get against the cash you save and what you do with it.

On DraftKings, this is pretty simple. Winn held the Dodgers to three runs in five innings in his debut with six strikeouts. The Padres aren't anywhere near the Dodgers' lineup. I don't expect a clean outing from Winn, but 20 DraftKings points are possible. That's a great return for the price.

Also consider: Michael Wacha, Brandon Pfaadt

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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Isaac Paredes, 3B - TB vs. Ryan Feltner ($5K DK, $3,5K FD)

This is more of a FD play due to the massive price discrepancy, but Paredes smashes fastballs and sliders. Feltner has only thrown 14 pitches this season that weren't one of those two types. Paredes jumped off the page with metrics yesterday as well. He rewarded us with two singles, a run, and a RBI. I have no issues going back to this well.

Salvador Perez, C/1B - KC vs. Chris Flexen ($4,200 DK, $3,100 FD)

There's always a bit of a jump on the field when you roster a catcher on FanDuel, even a guy that's as hot as Salvy. He hit .387 with a pair of homers and nine RBI in the first week. Flexen throws a cocktail of four-seamers and cutters that Perez punishes. That would explain his homer off of Flexen in five plate appearances so far. Expect another hard hit for Salvy against Flexen tonight.

Jeremy Pena, SS - HOU vs. Jon Gray ($3.8K DK, $2.8K FD)

Gray was dreadful in his opener and the metrics suggest that he got lucky that he only gave up four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Cubs. Yikes. Pena has obliterated sliders and four-seamers so far this year (to be fair, he did last year too), which are the two pitches Gray throws most.

Gray's velocity is way down and none of his pitches have been effective. Pena may only get two cracks at Gray, but he's cheap and he's hitting .393 on the season against everyone. Pena makes for a great mid-range option tonight.

Also consider: Christian Walker, Blaze Alexander, Corey Seager

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Randy Arozarena, OF - TB vs. Ryan Feltner ($5.9K DK, $4.3K FD)

Both of Arozarena's homers in 2024 have come off of four-seam fastballs. More than half of Feltner's pitches are of that type. Arozarena has a history of smacking fastballs. Coors isn't quite the hitter haven that it becomes during the summer yet, but it's going to be seasonably warm and breezy in Denver today. This is as good of hitting weather as you'll ever get at Coors in April.

Michael Conforto, OF - SF vs. Michael King ($4K DK, $3.5K FD)

Conforto's price is a gift on DK. He is hitting .419 with three homers and 10 RBI in just eight games so far this year. The Giants are a team notorious for platoons, but Conforto is demolishing lefties this year as well, so he's going to get four at-bats every game.

King has been solid this year, but he hasn't gone deep into games either. The Padres' bullpen has been an issue this year. Their 6.20 ERA is 23rd in baseball. Conforto isn't the only Giant I'll be paying close attention to tonight.

MJ Melendez, OF - CWS vs. Chris Flexen ($3.4K DK, $2.7K FD)

The hot start for Melendez can be traced in part to his handling of four-seamers. He has always hit sinkers and cutters well, which is what Flexen uses as secondary pitches to keep hitters off of the fastballs. Melendez has a homer and three RBI in the two games against the Pale Hose so far. He likes these guys anyway. He's really going to like what Flexen throws.

Also consider: Adolis Garcia, Yordan Alvarez, Tyler O'Neill, Jackson Chourio

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

1. Houston Astros vs. Jon Gray

Favorite Plays: Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, Jeremy Pena

2. Kansas City Royals vs. Chris Flexen

Favorite Plays: Salvador Perez, Bobby Witt Jr., MJ Melendez

3. Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Max Fried

Favorite Plays: Christian Walker, Ketel Marte, Eugenio Suarez