There are plenty of opportunities for MLB DFS value plays on today’s baseball schedule, which is packed with games. We’ll evaluate each game in this breakdown and identify the players who offer the best value for your daily fantasy lineups. Let’s start by looking at some potential MLB DFS value picks.
MLB DFS Value and Advice | April 26
Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh Pirates
Tony Gonsolin is expected to be on the mound for the Dodgers, but he may be limited in his return from the injured list. However, Gonsolin has a good matchup, making him a viable option for DFS. Roansy Contreras is only $5,700 on DraftKings, and despite a dangerous matchup against the Dodgers, he offers upside as an SP2. The Dodgers bats have plenty of upside despite a somewhat watered-down lineup.
Seattle Mariners at Philadelphia Phillies
Logan Gilbert is expected to start after being skipped last night due to a muscle spasm he experienced while working out on Sunday. Gilbert still looks like one of the best pitchers on a slate that doesn’t have any true aces, and the muscle spasm shouldn’t be a concern for DFS. Taijuan Walker isn’t pulling much ownership in GPPs, so he is a viable contrarian play. Neither offense is in a great matchup, but this is one of the only games on the slate that is in a hitter-friendly park, so that does help the upside a bit.
Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays
Hunter Brown is a highly regarded pitching prospect with good strikeout stuff who has also been very good at limiting power in his limited time in the big leagues. This park also helps to limit offensive production, so taking some shots at a low-owned Brown in GPPs has some appeal despite the dangerous matchup. Both offenses have plenty of upside, but neither has an appealing matchup and the park limits offense. They are fine stacks in large-field tournaments at low ownership, but neither stands out as particularly likely to succeed.
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Washington Nationals at New York Mets
MacKenzie Gore is a promising prospect who has shown improved strikeout stuff through his first few starts this season. However, he does have an issue with walks, which can elevate his pitch count and put him in danger as he falls behind hitters. The Mets have a very dangerous lineup that will be able to take advantage if he is working behind in counts. There is upside for Gore, but Mets stacks are also an appealing option on this slate. Kodai Senga has shown good strikeout stuff in his rookie season, but he has also had power issues and has walked too many hitters. The Nationals don’t have a lot of power in their lineup, but they also don’t have a ton of strikeouts. Senga is projected for about 12% ownership and a 25% chance of being a top-2 pitcher on DraftKings, so paying up to be contrarian is a good idea.
Miami Marlins at Atlanta Braves
Sandy Alcantara is playable but not as strong a play as normal because there is reason to be concerned about his pitch count. He’s thrown 100 pitches in only one of his four starts so far this season, and he was scratched from his scheduled start last weekend. On top of that, he has a dangerous matchup against the Braves. Bryce Elder is a solid young pitcher with an average strikeout percentage who has been good at limiting power and runs. On a slate without top-tier pitching, he is a perfectly fine option. Braves stacks are always interesting at low ownership, and there is some added volatility since it could be a shorter-than-usual start from Alcantara.
San Diego Padres at Chicago Cubs
This game has two average pitchers in favorable pitching conditions, as it’s supposed to be in the 40s tonight with the wind blowing in slightly. Michael Wacha is pulling more ownership, as he should since the Cubs lineup isn’t as imposing as the Padres’. Drew Smyly is a viable contrarian option in GPPs, however. Neither offense looks great thanks to the weather, but there is plenty of power on both sides.
Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Angels
Sandoval is projected to be the highest owned pitcher on DraftKings, as he is just $6,500 against one of the weakest offenses in baseball. This is a favorable park for hitters, but Patrick Sandoval is very good at limiting power and has about a 23% strikeout percentage since the start of last season as well. The Angels are the only team on the slate who is 1) in a favorable park for hitters and 2) not facing a proven, quality, major league pitcher. Naturally, they are going to project as one of the best offenses to roster.
St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants
It’s surprising how well both offenses project. This park is neutral for run scoring but well below average for home runs. Both pitchers are competent as well. Steven Matz is projected to be the second-highest-owned pitcher on DraftKings since he costs just $6,000. Anthony DeSclafani is more correctly priced at $8,600, so he’s simply a contrarian pivot in GPPs and nothing more. Going to the offenses is just betting on their talent winning out because there’s nothing that stands out as being particularly favorable from a matchup or park standpoint.
