Wednesday’s MLB DFS action brings the first “getaway day,” with most teams playing in the early afternoon. The featured slates lock at 1:05 p.m. ET on DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo. Before you lock in lineups, there are several Stokastic tools that can help identify daily MLB DFS Top Stacks, key pitchers and MLB DFS picks player projections and popularity for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups, including Shane McClanahan and the Tampa Bay offense against the hapless Nationals and southpaw Patrick Corbin. Now onto our MLB DFS picks.
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks
Spotlight Pitchers
Main Slate Pitching Target: LHP Shane McClanahan at Washington Nationals — 3.1 implied runs
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $8,800 | FanDuel $10,300 | Yahoo $47
Today we are seeing a lot of pitching rotations turning over back to the frontline starters. Shane McClanahan is today’s winner in the “Who is facing the Washington Nationals” sweepstakes. The soon-to-be 26-year-old has impressed across 295.2 career innings, with strikeouts being his calling card at a clip of 10.38 per nine innings. He also limits power, ceding just 1.01 home runs per nine innings, which has enabled him to produce a pristine 2.86 ERA and 2.8 xFIP.
The Nationals will do their best to get as many right-handed batsmen in today’s lineup as possible, though lefties Dom Smith and C.J. Abrams are likely to be in the mix and each is a strikeout target. McClanahan has struck out 31.0% of the last 575 opposite-handed hitters he has faced, so look to him in the player prop market as well, with the over on the currently available 5.5 on most sportsbooks before it is bet up to the next level.
Late Slate Pitching Target: RHP Shohei Ohtani at Seattle Mariners — 3.0 implied runs
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $9,600 | FanDuel $10,400 | Yahoo $52
Clearly Shohei Ohtani is the pitcher to ride with on the short, two-game afternoon slate. The weather remains cool in Seattle and game-time temperatures are forecast for the upper-40s, which is a boost to offense. The Mariners lineup is plucky, though only second-year phenom Julio Rodriguez is going to be an everyday threat. The projected M’s lineup has a 27.2% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching since the beginning of last season, which plays into the strength of Ohtani, who has a 35.0% strikeout rate against same-handed hitters in that timeframe.
Secondary Targets (SP2s on DraftKings and Lottery Tickets on FanDuel)
RHP Cristian Javier vs. Detroit Tigers: In his first start of the season, Javier was a little unlucky with nine baserunners in 5.0 innings, though he did strike out half a dozen White Sox batters. The going will be far easier today, and the Astros are healthy -275 favorites at home, which gives Javier a strong chance at the win.
RHP Dylan Cease vs. San Francisco Giants: In his first start, Cease cruised through the Astros, racking up 10 strikeouts in 6.1 innings on an economical 86 pitches. Today the Giants will look to gain the platoon advantage with as many lefties as possible, but that should not be of too much concern, as Cease has a 27.2% strikeout rate in his last 372 opposite-handed matchups.
RHP Pablo Lopez at Miami Marlins: This is a homecoming of sorts for Lopez, who spent his entire MLB career with the Marlins, serving as one of their key starters over the last five seasons. In the season opener, he blanked the Royals in Kansas City for 5.1 innings, with eight strikeouts on 85 pitches. Look to him as a strong SP2 option on DraftKings ($7,400) and Yahoo ($39).
Top Stacks
Main Slate Target: Tampa Bay Rays at LHP Patrick Corbin — 5.4 implied runs
It is going to be a warm one in Washington today, with game-time temperatures in the mid-80s and a 10 to 15 mph breeze out to left-center field. The hard-luck Nationals have managed only one victory so far on the season, and they are at risk of being swept by Tampa Bay.
In the opener, Patrick Corbin managed to not allow any longballs, but he still suffered 10 baserunners in just three innings, with four coming around to score. The Rays will roll out a lineup ready to capitalize on the venerable lefty, and they are teeming with power. Randy Arozarena (.252 ISO) and Isaac Paredes (.263 ISO) have hammered lefties over the last year. Jose Siri launched one out of the park last night, and he should be in the lineup again this afternoon, along with Manny Margot, and both provide cheap access to this matchup.
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Finally, Wander Franco and Yandy Diaz are the budding stars for the Rays, and they should be in their customary lineup slots at the top of the order. Tampa Bay should be a popular stack, but there are many ways to differentiate rosters.
Late Slate Target: Cleveland Guardians at LHP Kyle Muller — 4.3 implied runs
For the second consecutive day, Cleveland is the recommended late stack against an Oakland lefty. Yesterday the Guardians were able to post three runs against JP Sears in the first five innings, though that is where their offense ran out, as Oakland rallied with a run in the bottom of the ninth to steal the homefield win.
Today will be the 14th appearance in The Show for 25-year-old Kyle Muller. Oakland traded Sean Murphy and received Muller from Atlanta this December as part of a three-team trade that also included Milwaukee. Last year in three starts for Atlanta, Muller was shellacked for 11 runs in 12.1 innings, mostly due to four extra-base hits and a whopping eight walks.
Muller has shown promise with Triple-A Gwinnett the last two seasons, so there is still time for the 25-year-old to turn things around. However, until we see that, target away with Jose Ramirez, Josh Bell, Oscar Gonzalez and Ahmed Rosario. Myles Straw has stolen base upside at the bottom of the order, and catcher Mike Zunino is an all-or-nothing power bat that can pay off in tournaments.
Final Thoughts for Wednesday, April 5
Today is the first major midweek travel day, and as such, the bulk of the action will be this afternoon. There are a couple weathers spots in the Midwest, including Chicago and St. Louis, along with some rain on the East Coast in Boston and New York. There will be plenty of pivots, so if things look dicey closer to first pitch, we have alternatives.
Be sure to get all the updated information for MLB DFS picks on the Stokastic MLB Live Before Lock Show, starting at 12 p.m. ET and brought to you by Bet365.
