MLB DFS Slate Preview: Saturday, April 8
Erik Wardenburg previews the Saturday, April 8th 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!
It should be a high scoring six game main slate as every game total is currently at 8.5 or higher, with WSH/COL leading the way at 11 runs. It could turn in to a five game slate as SDP/ATL has rain in the forecast pretty much all night, so tread carefully especially with SPs there.
Pitching is kind of all over the place as there’s no clear cut “must play”, but still a lot of strong options that have big game potential. There’s plenty of great MLB DFS picks for bats though, as three teams have projected totals above five and almost all of the rest are over four currently.
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 take a look at the projected lineups and MLB DFS picks for the day, it’s important to get a feel for how the weather will impact the slate. Then we can get a better idea if we want to target certain games with ideal hitting conditions, for example, and possibly avoid games that are 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.
- SDP/ATL is by far the riskiest game of the night, as a best case scenario would be a very late start. There’s just too many other great offenses and solid pitchers in the other five games that I will not be risking a 0 in my cash game lineup, and will likely just avoid this game. By all means stack this game up in GPPs though, because if it does end up playing we could see some seriously low-owned bats, and both of these offenses can always break a slate.
- STL/MIL & LAD/ARI are in domes, while BAL/NYY will see temps in the low 50s with barely in wind. WSH/COL will be in the high 50s with about 10mph wind coming in from left, and TOR/LAA will be in the mid 60s with 9mph wind blowing out.
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 that 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.
- Donaldson is heading to the IL with his hamstring injury, so LeMahieu will get most of the starts at 3B. This will also move Cabrera up in the order to the 6thspot, while guys like Hicks and Kiner-Falefa will start seeing more starts, especially against lefties.
- STL and MIL will stack up the righty bats as both face a lefty SP, with Edman and Carlson moving to the top of the order, along with Brosseau for MIL.
- Michael Harris landed on the IL yesterday, so look for Hilliard to keep starting for him against righties (if this game even plays).
- Rojas remains out for the Dodgers with Chris Taylor at SS, and James Outman is up to 6th in the order as Peralta is out of the lineup today.
- The Nationals will go with their righty heavy lineup against Gomber, and with Luis Garcia dealing with hamstring tightness we’ll see Michael Chavis in the lineup today hitting 6th, while Stone Garrett is up to 2nd in the order.
- The Rockies will give Profar and Montero days off along with catcher Diaz, with Castro, Moustakas, and Serven starting for them. McMahon will move up to 3rd and is a top play today.
- Varsho should be back in there for TOR after getting a day off yesterday, and I’d expect Jansen to catch today although it could still be Kirk. Newly added Jordan Luplow will likely crack the lineup again against another lefty.
- Anthony Rendon is back from his suspension in the clean-up spot, and Brandon Drury is getting a day off along with catcher O’Hoppe.
- My favorite stacks are the Rockies and Dodgers, followed closely by the Nationals and Yankees.
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 some insight into how one of the best MLB DFS players uses LineupHQ, be sure to 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.
- We’ll likely see a pretty wide variation in ownership at SP today, as guys like Jordan Montgomery ($9,200), Noah Syndergaard ($9,000), and even Tyler Anderson ($9,500) should draw some decent exposure. For the price and upside I’m actually leaning towards Jhony Brito ($7,100) as my cash game pitcher, as I think he can match the higher-priced options as evidenced by his great first start of 5 IP / 0 ER / 6 Ks. His opponent Baltimore has the 2nd lowest projected run total of the slate, I’m expecting the Yankees to give him solid run support, and even if Brito is average his salary can really help you fit in more big bats compared to the $9k+ SPs.
- Corbin Carroll ($2,800) is standing out to me as top value bat, as someone with his HR and SB upside should be closer to $3,500. He’s already had a 3 SB game this year and has hit two HR’s in his last four games, and with the platoon advantage on Syndergaard and likely hitting 5th, I think he’s just too cheap when you combine all the factors that give him a huge ceiling. Jake McCarthy ($2,600) is a fine value bat to pair with him, as he should hit 6th and also has huge SB upside along with some pop in his bat.
- The Dodgers are an offense I love today, and Max Muncy ($3,100) is a solid source of salary relief hitting cleanup. James Outman ($2,900) is a fine value option as well, as he’s gone for 12+ FP in four of his last five games, while Freddie Freeman ($3,700) is where I’d spend up from LAD today.
- From the Coors Field game, a lot of bats I’d normally love are just a bit overpriced, but Ryan McMahon ($3,400) remains at a phenomenal salary and should be easy to fit in at either 2B or 3B. Mike Moustakas ($2,900) is another strong value option for COL, and from Washington, I like the prices of Alex Call ($3,000) and Jeimer Candelario ($3,100) the most, likely hitting 2nd and 3rd.
- Giancarlo Stanton ($3,200) is a notorious lefty masher and is just too cheap for this matchup with Irvin. Oswaldo Cabrera ($2,200) is also close to a must play for me at that price, as he’s coming off a 3-hit game, has SB upside, and could hit as high as 5th today.
- Jhony Brito ($7,000) remains a very strong p/$ play, while Jordan Montgomery ($8,300) will likely be my SP2 in cash games. Montgomery has the highest projected ceiling of the slate and the Brewers are worse against lefties than righties.
- Corbin Carroll ($3,000) remains a must play for me at that price, and Jake McCarthy ($3,300) is still a fine value option to pair with him.
- Oswaldo Cabrera ($2,400) is just way too cheap and should be easy to find a place in your cash game lineup at either 3B or OF. At the same price of $2,400 is Michael Chavis, who should crack the lineup for Washington today and is a great value option at 1B or 2B with big HR upside in Coors.
- Alex Call ($3,000) remains too cheap for a Coors bat with the platoon advantage likely hitting second, while Jeimer Candelario ($3,400) and Lane Thomas ($3,700) make for a great cheap stack to pair with him.
- Other cheap bats to consider in cash game are Mike Moustakas ($2,500), James Outman ($3,400), Jordan Walker ($2,700), Victor Robles ($2,300), and CJ Abrams ($2,600).
MLB Premium subscribers will have access to all of this data in LineupHQ, so be sure to keep checking there as we start getting the confirmed lineups and projections update. The very best P/$ 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!