DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Monday 4/17/23

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Pitchers

Jacob deGrom FD 10600 DK 10100
Opponent - KC (Jordan Lyles) Park - KC
FD - 42.45 DK - 24.63

After struggling in his first start with his new team, deGrom bounced back in a big way and returned to elite status. He went six and seven innings allowing three earned runs but more importantly, has struck out 20 and walked just two in those starts with an insane 21% swinging strike rate. He now gets an elite matchup against the Royals' team that ranks 29th in wOBA(.273), 30th in wRC+(65), and 29th in strikeout rate(26%). Everything lines up for a dominant start and he is easily our top starting pitcher in all formats.

Jack Flaherty FD 8300 DK 7800
Opponent - ARI (Merrill Kelly) Park - ARI
FD - 29.24 DK - 15.44

It has been a very interesting start to the season for Flaherty after missing most of last year with an injury. Despite walking an incredible 13 batters over his first two starts, he was able to contain the damage and only allowed two earned runs combined. He now appears to have the control issues figured out as he went into Coors and struck out six while walking one, and allowed just one earned. The price goes up slightly but he also gets a plus home matchup against the Diamondbacks who are 24th in wOBA(.308)and 26th in wRC+(85) on the season. Flaherty is my favourite PTS/$ SP2 on this slate.

Also Consider: Corbin Burnes(MIL) who bounced back in a big way his last start going 8 IP, allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out eight. Tougher matchup against a tough Mariners team but he is massively underpriced on DraftKings 

Catcher/First Base

Nathaniel Lowe FD 3300 DK 4400
Opponent - KC (Jordan Lyles) Park - KC
FD - 11.11 DK - 8.45

The position is loaded with elite, high-upside plays and Cron is likely the chalk at home in Coors but I am going with a more balanced approach to help me get to two top pitchers. Lowe may lack the overall upside of those priced above him but he has been very consistent to start the season and enters tonight with hits in 11 straight games including eight extra-base hits. He now gets a plus matchup against Jordan Lyles who has given up 16 hits and nine earned runs in his last two starts. Lowe is my top PTS/$ play at first base tonight.

Also consider: C.J. Cron(COL) at home in Coors with a 6+ team implied total in an elite matchup against Rich Hill who has given up 12 earned runs and six home runs in his first three starts or Ryan Noda(OAK) who is near min price, gets a plus matchup, and is projected to hit near the top of the lineup for the A's

Second Base

Bryson Stott FD 3000 DK 3600
Opponent - CHW (Lance Lynn) Park - CHW
FD - 8.89 DK - 6.86

There is more than enough value early in the season to load up on pitching and that is where I am looking at second base tonight. Bryson Stott was solid in his rookie season but appears to be taking it to the next level in 2023 as he comes into tonight with hits in all 16 games including a whopping 10 multi-hit efforts. That has helped him work his way up to the leadoff spot which really adds to the PTS/$ value as the price has yet to adjust to the hot start. Despite an average-at-best matchup against Lance Lynn, I will be buying low on Stott in all formats.

Also consider: Marcus Semien(TEX) if paying up or Nolan Gorman(STL) as a value GPP play who hits down in the lineup but like Stott, has started red-hot

Shortstop

Josh H. Smith FD 2200 DK 2600
Opponent - KC (Jordan Lyles) Park - KC
FD - 10.03 DK - 7.66

More value as we move to shortstop with Josh Smith who is filling in for the injured Corey Seager who could be out more than a month. This is more about opportunity and matchup as Smith has struggled with just four hits on the season and just one since taking over. The good news is that he is hitting second, nearly min price on both sites, and the Rangers get one of the best matchups on the board Monday. At a tougher position tonight, he helps us save some salary and load up elsewhere and for this reason, I will have exposure in all formats.

Also Consider: Trea Turner(PHI) in a likely lower-owned Phillies stack but he comes in hot with multi-hit efforts in four of his last seven games and can provide fantasy value in every category

Third Base

Austin Riley FD 3500 DK 5600
Opponent - SD (Ryan Weathers) Park - SD
FD - 12.06 DK - 9.09

All the value we have discussed not only helps us pay up for pitching but also allows us to combine that with a few big bats. One that is at the top of my list is Austin Riley who checks every box starting with his hot start as he enters the night with hits in 14 of his last 16 games with an elite .402 wOBA and 146 wRC+. Speaking of elite, let's talk about how dominant Riley has been against lefty pitching as he has tallied an incredible .461 wOBA, 198 wRC+, and .333 ISO going back to the start of last season. Facing a below-average lefty, I will be loading up on Riley in all formats, especially on FanDuel where he is somehow still in my mid $3K range.

Also Consider: Ke'Bryan Hayes(PIT) who is starting to heat up with hits in four of his last five and is up in the leadoff spot in a plus matchup in Coors

Outfield

Kris Bryant FD 3100 DK 5500
Opponent - PIT (Rich Hill) Park - PIT
FD - 16.19 DK - 12.3
Jurickson Profar FD 2800 DK 3600
Opponent - PIT (Rich Hill) Park - PIT
FD - 14.49 DK - 11.06

The Rockies are off to a brutal start to the season sitting dead last in the NL and bottom three in almost all offensive metrics. If that doesn't syke you up to play them let's dive in further(LOL). It really comes down to the PTS/$ value as they check almost all the other boxes starting with matchup. They face off against Rich Hill who has given up 12 earned runs(7.20 ERA/5.91 xFIP), six long balls and a crazy 19% barrel rate through three starts. My exposure starts with Profar who comes cheap, hits leadoff and has hits in nine of his last 11 games. Next up is Kris Bryant who is still looking for the power to catch up early on but is off to a solid start with hits in 14 of 16 games while hitting .295 along the way. I like Bryant on both sites tonight but his best value easily comes on FanDuel in the low $3K range.

Also Consider: Ronald Acuna Jr(ATL) if spending up and loading up on Braves or Brent Rooker(OAK) who is running hot with hits in six of his last seven games including five multi-hot efforts

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