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DraftKings MLB Lineup Advice: Saturday (4/30)

DraftKings MLB Lineup Advice: Saturday (4/30)
Francisco Liriano

Francisco Liriano has a nice chance to bounce back Saturday night at home in a favorable matchup

Tonight’s nine-game night slate presents an interesting dilemma when setting a cash lineup due to the fact that there is a lack of quality pitching options. The top starters tonight, Francisco Liriano and Zack Greinke, have struggled this season and the rest of the options seem mediocre at best. For a situation like this, especially in cash games, I like to use Vegas lines to help me determine who to select for my starters. As of Friday night, Pittsburgh was a -205 favorite and Baltimore was a -140 favorite. While they are not a given by any means, Vegas lines can be a nice tool to help start your preparation when setting your lineups.

Teams that I like this week for you to build your hitters around include Pittsburgh, Los Angeles Angels, Texas, Boston, New York Yankees, Arizona and Colorado.

Pitcher

Francisco Liriano (PIT): $9,900 vs. CIN
Liriano has struggled in his last three starts, all of which were on the road. In his lone start at home, he posted 10 strikeouts and 32.7 fantasy points against the Cardinals in early April. I like his matchup against the Reds and his opportunity for a win.

Kevin Gausman (BAL): $7,500 vs. CWS
His ability to strike out batters is why I like him tonight, even against the White Sox who are off to a great start this season. He posted an 8.25 K/9 ratio last season and appears healthy after being activated from the disabled list prior to his last start. In that appearance, he struck out seven against Tampa Bay, good for 19.7 fantasy points.

Catcher

Welington Castillo (ARI): $3,800 vs. COL
In his last 10 games, Castillo has six home runs and an OPS of 1.169. He was given the night off on Thursday so he should be in the lineup Saturday night as he typically plays at least five games a week.

First Base

Hanley Ramirez (BOS): $3,900 vs. NYY
Whenever the Red Sox and Yankees play there are usually plenty of runs scored on both sides. Ramirez had seven hits in a four-game span which is good for a total of 49 fantasy points. He makes a reliable cash play as I look to place several hitters from this game in my lineup tonight.

Second Base

Dustin Pedroia (BOS): $4,300 vs. NYY
Pedroia has been playing like it is 2008, batting .337 this season with an OPS of .908. In four games against Atlanta this week he had seven hits and seven RBI, good for 67 fantasy points. He likely will be involved in any scoring for the Red Sox against the Yankees tonight as he seems to thrive in games like this.

Third Base

Alex Rodriguez (NYY): $3,600 @ BOS
Rodriguez homered against the Red Sox on Friday night, which gives me another reason to get this Yankee in my lineup for tonight’s fantasy slate. Against Texas on Thursday night, he went 3-for-3 with a home run and 24 fantasy points. His bat just may be heating up which makes him a good value play tonight in what should be a high-scoring game.

Shortstop

Francisco Lindor (CLE): $3,500 @ PHI
Lindor is a nice player to have in a cash lineup with an average of 8.1 fantasy points per game this season. His price is great for the No. 3 hitter in the Indians’ lineup who is batting .288 this season. He seems to find a way to produce fantasy numbers on a consistent basis.

Outfield

Gregory Polanco (PIT): $4,600 vs. CIN
The Pirates bats should feast on the Reds starter Alfredo Simon tonight. Polanco is red hot right now with 12 hits in his last seven games for a total of 94 fantasy points in that span. 

Nomar Mazara (TEX): $3,800 vs. LAA
This is another game I wanted to get some exposure to, and Mazara is my choice based on his price and the fact that he is batting an impressive .345 this season with an OPS of .906. He is averaging 8.2 fantasy points per game this season.

Andrew McCutchen (PIT): $4,900 vs CIN
McCutchen is one of the first players that I put in my lineup tonight. After struggling early in the season, a recent series in Coors Field seemed to be just what he needed after posting a three-home run game on Tuesday. He is too good of a talent and this is the time of the season where he could get on a roll, especially with Reds pitcher Alfredo Simon on the mound.

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Make sure to double check starting lineups and weather forecasts prior to the first pitch so that you have time for any late swaps as needed. Note all stats used may not include Friday night games.

Rob Klein is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Rob, check out his archive and follow him @RobK37.

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