MLB DFS Slate Preview: Monday, April 24
Erik Wardenburg previews the Monday, April 24th slate, breaking down his favorite MLB DFS picks, the top stacks, and some optimizer values at DraftKings & FanDuel. Sign up for MLB Premium to build DFS lineups like a pro!
Seven games to start the week, and after some rain issues the last few days, today will have no PPD or delay concerns.
Even without Coors Field in play we have a couple teams creeping up to a 6 run projected total, and one offense (Miami) facing today’s top SP is all the way down to a 2.7 run total.
Lots of great MLB DFS picks from teams between those ranges as well, so let’s get to it and start the week strong!
MLB DFS Picks: FanDuel & DraftKings
This daily article highlights some of RG’s most helpful MLB DFS tools, including our industry-leading MLB DFS projections and MLB DFS optimizer, with some picks and analysis along the way. I will focus on the main slate of the day, but you can still find plenty of other tools, content, and analysis on RG for other slates. Let’s get to it!
MLB DFS Weather Check
Before we look at the projected lineups and MLB DFS picks for the day, it’s crucial to understand how the weather will impact the slate. Then we can better understand if we want to target certain games with ideal hitting conditions, for example, and possibly avoid games at risk of delay or postponement. Two tools to use are the MLB Weather Report and MLB WeatherEdge, which are both managed by RG’s Chief Meteorologist, Kevin Roth. You should also be following Roth on Twitter for his important weather news and updates.
- NYY/MIN is the coldest game today with temps in the 40s. MIA/ATL and OAK/LAA will have the best hitting conditions with temps in the 60s and 9mph blowing out. STL/SF will be in the 50s with 10mph blowing out.
- Dome games today are KC/ARI, DET/MIL, and CHW/TOR.
MLB Projected Lineups – Analysis & Top Stacks
There are ways to get edges in MLB DFS, such as stacking a lineup or targeting guys higher in the order (since they are more likely to see an extra at-bat). We should always look for value bats that arise each slate. They allow us to fit those extra one or two players into our lineup who are likelier to hit home runs and get us those ceiling games we need to win tournaments.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at MLB Starting Lineups to see what the likely batting orders are for this slate, which teams I’m looking to stack, and any other interesting notes. Going forward, the projected lineups will usually be pretty consistent daily, with the main changes being based on the opposing pitcher being a righty or lefty. Also, certain players are more likely than others to get a day off if playing a day game after a night game.
- Javier Baez sat out yesterday with some finger swelling but is back in the lineup today, and Baddoo will remain in the leadoff spot with Maton moving to cleanup.
- Springer is getting a day off for Toronto, so Bichette will move to leadoff and Biggio will play RF and hit 8th.
- The Twins tried Joey Gallo in the 2-hole over the weekend but he’s back down to 7th today. Kepler is back at leadoff while Polanco is up to 3rd in the order.
- Franmil Reyes could be back from the paternity list for KC and would be a strong play against a lefty today. MIL is also facing a lefty and will load up on righties with Yelich getting a day off.
- Arizona is giving Rojas and Walker days off, so Perdomo will hit leadoff and Longoria will hit cleanup.
- Mitch Haniger is back for the Giants.
- Paul DeJong returned to the STL lineup yesterday and delivered with three hits including an HR. I’d expect him to continue to start, which may squeeze Donovan out of regular starts as Edman can move to 2B. Nootbaar has a good shot of being the everyday leadoff man against righties after another big game yesterday, which will also make it harder for Donovan to find regular starts.
- My top stacks today are LAA, ARI, TOR, and KC, and behind them I like, MIL, ATL, and MIN.
Make sure to follow the RG MLB Twitter feed for confirmed lineups, as well as our DFS Alerts page for important news and analysis.
MLB DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Optimizer Picks
With a good feel for the projected lineups, weather, and strong stacks to consider, let’s check out the RotoGrinders MLB DFS optimizer, LineupHQ. With this tool, you can create up to 300 MLB DFS lineups in seconds, all of which will adhere to the custom settings you input. For insight into how one of the best MLB DFS players uses LineupHQ, read this article and watch the embedded videos from the GOAT himself, CheeseIsGood.
If we click on the “P/$” column header in the LineupHQ grid, it will rank all of the available players from highest to lowest based on their expected fantasy points per dollar of salary on the specific DFS site you have selected — this is one of the best starting points for finding value on every slate. Let’s do that now and see what stands out on FanDuel and DraftKings.
- Kind of a no-brainer for cash game SP today, as Spencer Strider ($11,200) has a ceiling 10+ FP higher than anyone else today, and at home against the Marlins is about as good a spot as any for any SP. Bassitt ($8,500) and Rea ($7,200) are a couple cheaper SPs I like using in GPPs, while Gray ($10,600) and Montgomery ($9,000) are worth having some exposure to as well.
- The Angels are the first team I’m targeting in cash games, starting with Taylor Ward ($2,900) who is at his cheapest price of the season. Hitting leadoff for the highest projected scoring offense of the slate, along with having the platoon advantage against Waldichuk, Ward has too many factors in his favor today at a price that is about $500 too low. Rendon ($2,800) has a low floor but is a fine value option as well, and I would make sure to have at least one of Trout ($3,900), Ohtani ($3,800), or Renfroe ($3,700) in your main build.
- KC/ARI currently has the highest projected total of the slate, and there’s guys from both teams I’m looking to use in my main build. Bobby Witt ($3,300) is going to be $4k before we know it, and with a five game hit streak going, the platoon advantage today, and a price that is just way too cheap for his upside, I love using Witt at either 3B or SS today. Perez ($2,700) and Reyes ($2,500) would be my next targets from KC, while Olivares ($2,500) and Pasquantino ($2,900) are fine options to complete a full stack. From Arizona I’m looking at Ketel Marte ($3,000), Geraldo Perdomo ($3,200), and Corbin Carroll ($3,200), as they remain at fantastic prices and can each hit for power and swipe a bag or two.
- Matt Boyd has been pretty bad in his first three starts, allowing 6 ER, 12 hits, 9 walks, with just 11 total strikeouts. The Brewers will be full of value righty bats today, so I like using one or two of them in your main build depending on positional needs. Luke Voit ($2,400) is really standing out as a top value option at that price, and in a small sample size against Boyd he’s hitting .333 with two HR’s in nine career ABs.
- MIN and TOR also have some high-upside bats at excellent prices, so I can’t fault any cash game lineup that includes Byron Buxton ($3,000), Carlos Correa ($2,900), Jorge Polanco ($2,600), Daulton Varsho ($2,900), or Alejandro Kirk ($2,700) as all are too cheap today.
- Strider ($10,900) remains the clear SP1 on DK, and right now I’m still deciding between Bassitt ($8,000) and Rea ($7,000) as my SP2 in cash games. I’m giving Rea a slight edge currently as I like his matchup with Detroit better, he’s projected to be lower-owned than Bassitt, and I think he’ll get more run support than Bassitt for a better chance at a win.
- We have an interesting situation at SS today as Paul DeJong ($2,000) is minimum price, and I don’t think I can fade someone with his upside for $2k. I still love Bobby Witt ($5,100) at SS, so I’m sort of hoping DeJong is out of the lineup today to make the decision much easier. Check out our Underdog Fantasy promo code for new signups, where today I like taking higher 1.5 total bases for Witt.
- Ward ($4,900) is much pricier compared to FD but still a solid play, while Hunter Renfroe ($5,100) comes at a very fair price and is my top Angels play if you can’t fit in Trout ($5,900).
- Marte ($4,100), Carroll ($4,400), and Perdomo ($3,700) make for a great mini-stack, and from KC I really like the prices of Olivares ($3,200) and Pasquantino ($3,500), while Perez ($4,800) is my top C of the slate.
- Brian Anderson ($3,400) and Luke Voit ($2,500) are my favorite p/$ plays from MIL, while Daulton Varsho ($4,000) and Jorge Polanco ($3,900) are a couple other value bats to strongly consider in your main build.
MLB Premium subscribers will have access to all of this data in LineupHQ, so be sure to keep checking there as we start getting the confirmed lineups and projections update. The very best P/$ plays tend to be pretty consistent throughout the day for MLB. That being said, projections can always change if someone is hitting higher in the order than initially projected or if a player with a low salary gets a spot start for an injured/resting player.
MLB DFS – RotoGrinders Premium Tools Pre-Lock
If you have any tough last-minute decisions or need some quick MLB DFS picks, our MLB Premium package also contains Consensus Value Rankings, an Expert Survey, and daily LineupHQ Premium tags from our MLB DFS experts.
And for up-to-the-minute news and analysis leading right up to lock, make sure to watch MLB Crunch Time later in the day.
Good luck today!