MLB DFS Slate Preview: Thursday, April 6
Erik Wardenburg previews the Thursday, April 6th 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’s another early main slate today, with this one starting at 1:10 PM ET and only containing four games. It’s also our first “Coors Field slate”, as the Rockies have their home opener today. And as expected, that game currently leads the slate with a 10.5 total. Pitching and hitting is probably going to be pretty chalky in cash games with such few games to choose from, but there’s still plenty of under-the-radar MLB DFS picks that can put up big scores at lower ownership in cash games and GPPs.
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.
- All four games are looking pretty similar today, as they are all in the low 50s with no rain to worry about. SF/CHW will have 15mph winds out to left-center, BOS/DET has 12mph winds out to left, TOR/KC has 5mph winds coming in from left, and WSH/COL has 6mph winds coming in from right.
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.
- BOS will have it’s usual lineup against righties, and DET has a pretty standard lineup for them against lefties, with Vierling at leadoff and most of their lefties heading to the bench.
- SF is giving Crawford a day off and starting Flores, and with Eloy Jimenez on the IL and CHW facing a lefty, Andrew Vaughn is up to 3rd in the order and just called up Jake Burger will hit cleanup. Moncanda and Grandal are getting days off, so Alberto will play 3B and hit 6th, while Zavala will catch Lynn.
- TOR is giving Springer and Kirk days off so Bichette will hit leadoff and Jansen will catch Gausman, and KC’s lineup is pretty normal with freshly called up Nick Pratto back in there for Kyle Isbel, who is on the paternity list.
- WSH faces another lefty, but will go with lefty bats Smith and Garcia instead of the righties Chavis and Garrett. COL will roll out it’s usual starting lineup against righties.
- My favorite stack is a mix of WSH & COL bats, as I think both teams can put up a crooked number today. COL gets the slight edge, as Cron and McMahon are two of my favorite bats of the slate with their multi-HR upside. TOR, BOS, and CHW are other stacks I like taking shots on in GPPs or having some exposure to in your main build.
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.
- Kevin Gausman ($10,800) is the most expensive SP, but I will still find a way to fit him in as my cash game pitcher on FD. He just dominated STL on the road and now gets to face KC, and he currently has the highest projected floor and 2nd highest projected ceiling of the slate. Although I personally think he has the highest ceiling.
- Lance Lynn ($9,700) and Chris Sale ($9,000) are the only other SP’s I’d consider for cash games. But just know that most lineups you will be facing will probably have Gausman, who I think is a much safer option than those two.
- We definitely want WSH/COL exposure in cash games, and both teams have a lot of underpriced options to choose from. CJ Cron ($4,200) is the clear top spend-up from this game and probably my favorite bat of the entire slate. Cron is followed closely by Ryan McMahon ($2,900), who is just way too cheap and makes for a fantastic stack with Cron in the heart of Colorado’s batting order. Joey Meneses ($3,500) is the highest upside bat from WSH, and I like using at least one or two value bats between Lane Thomas ($3,000), Alex Call ($2,500), and Jeimer Candelario ($2,600). Jurickson Profar ($2,600) is a fine cheap option for COL likely hitting leadoff.
- Toronto is another offense I like getting some exposure to in your main build. I like using at least one of Daulton Varsho ($3,500) or Matt Chapman ($3,400), both of whom come at pretty cheap prices compared to Bichette and Vlad (who are both $3,800 or higher).
- Triston Casas ($2,900) is my favorite value bat to consider from BOS, while Andrew Vaughn ($3,000), Jake Burger ($2,000), and Hanser Alberto ($2,000) make for a fine value stack if you want some cheap exposure to CHW.
- Kevin Gausman ($9,000) remains my clear SP1 at a price that’s about $1k too cheap for someone of his caliber. Chris Sale ($7,500) is where I’m leaning for SP2, as Detroit has been awful against lefties this season, and Sale’s $900 discount from Lynn will really help fit in some better bats today.
- Alex Call ($2,500) is my favorite p/$ bat as the likely 2-hole hitter for Washington, and I like using at least one of Lane Thomas ($3,300) or Joey Meneses ($4,500) at another OF spot. Keibert Ruiz ($3,100) is my favorite cash game catcher. And from COL, I will be going with Cron ($5,800), McMahon ($4,200), and possibly Profar ($3,600).
- I said possibly on Profar, as I’m currently leaning towards Daulton Varsho ($3,900) as my 3rd OF. Varsho is still underpriced for someone with HR and SB upside, who is 5 for his last 8 with just 1 strikeout, and faces a very mediocre righty in Jordan Lyles.
- Other cheap bats to consider include Triston Casas ($2,600), Andrew Vaughn ($3,700), Jake Burger ($3,400), Hanser Alberto ($2,000), and Jeimer Candelario ($3,100).
MLB Premium subscribers will have access to all of this data in LineupHQ, so be sure to keep checking there as we start getting the confirmed lineups and projections update. The very best P/$ 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!