Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the FanDuel MLB Lineup advice. This article will focus on the seven-game early slate. Stay tuned for an article focusing on the main slate later this afternoon. As I write this there are two games that we have to keep an eye on for weather purposes (ATL/NYM and SF/CIN). Also, be sure to check the team lineups before locking in any of these players since it is a travel day which usually results in a day off for some of the regular starters, especially catchers. Let’s go ahead and take a look at my lineup for the early slate today.
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Pitcher
Steven Matz (NYM): $9,000 vs. ATL
Matz has pitched well through four starts this season, accumulating a 9.43 K/9 and a 2.74 FIP. Today he has a great matchup against the Braves who are the worst team in baseball. The Braves rank 29th in wRC+, 30th in wOBA and 2nd in K% against left-handed pitchers this season.
Other Notables
- Felix Hernandez (SEA): $11,500 vs. OAK
Catcher
Chris Iannetta (SEA): $2,400 at OAK
Iannetta has absolutely raked against left-handed pitchers this season with a .506 wOBA and a .190 ISO. Although I believe that Sean Manaea will be a great pitcher, he got roughed up in his first Major League start against the Astros with four walks and four earned runs in only five innings of work.
Other Notables
- Wilson Ramos (WAS): $2,800 at KC
- David Ross (CHC): $2,500 at PIT
First Base
Joey Votto (CIN): $3,600 vs. SF
Votto didn’t hit too well in April. However, he has crushed right-handed pitching during his career with a .415 wOBA and a .229 ISO. Today he has a great matchup against Jake Peavy who has allowed a .328 wOBA and a 1.31 HR/9 to left-handed batters since 2013.
Other Notables
- Brandon Belt (SF): $3,900 at CIN
- Chris Carter (MIL): $3,200 vs. LAA
Second Base
Ben Zobrist (CHC): $3,400 at PIT
Juan Nicasio of the Pirates has looked good in a couple of starts this season. However, he has had major control issues at times with a 4.00 BB/9. The Cubs are a patient hitting team with the highest walk rate in all of baseball against right-handed pitchers. Zobrist is one hitter from the Cubs’ lineup you can use. He has a career wOBA of .338 against right-handed pitchers.
Other Notables
- David Murphy (WAS): $3,700 at KC
Third Base
Kris Bryant (CHC): $4,600 at PIT
Bryant is another Cubs’ bat that you can use against Nicasio. Bryant has a .424 wOBA and a .215 ISO against right-handed pitchers this season.
Other Notables
- Anthony Rendon (WAS): $2,900 at KC
- Matt Duffy (SF): $2,800 at CIN
Shortstop
Jonathan Villar (MIL): $3,200 vs. LAA
Villar has been great so far this season against left-handed pitching with a.378 wOBA and a .207 ISO. He’s also a threat to steal multiple bases in a game. Although Hector Santiago is off to a good start this season, he hasn’t been too great against right-handed hitters during his career, allowing a .327 wOBA and 1.50 HR/9.
Other Notables
- Javier Baez (CHC): $2,500 at PIT
- Brandon Crawford (SF): $3,100 at CIN
Outfielders
Nelson Cruz (SEA): $3,700 at OAK
Cruz is a certified lefty smasher with a .391 wOBA and a .249 ISO during his career. He is my top bat on the early slate, so lock him into your lineup!
Jorge Soler (CHC): $2,100 at PIT
I’m not quite sure what Joe Maddon is going to do with his lineup today since Jason Heyward is day-to-day and Matt Szczur recently was sent to the DL. If Jorge Soler is in the lineup he will make a great punt play at only $2,100. If he’s not in the lineup then pivot to Franklin Guiterrez of the Mariners, who has hit left-handed pitching well during his career.
Domingo Santana (MIL): $2,900 vs. LAA
Santana is another Brewers’ player who has been raking against left-handed pitching this season. Santana currently has a .443 wOBA and a .200 ISO against left-handed pitchers this season and should once against be hitting in the lead-off spot.
Other Notables
- Jay Bruce (CIN): $3,700 vs. SF
- Denard Span (SF): $3,300 at CIN
- Franklin Gutierrez (SEA): $2,000 at OAK
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Kaz Kalita is a correspondent at FantasyPros. You can find more of Kaz’s work at DraftStars.net, and you can follow him @draftstars_kaz.