Hey, everyone. Jared from Fantasy Cruncher here. I’ll be writing the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday FanDuel MLB Lineup Advice articles every week for FantasyPros this year. Really excited to share my thoughts and recommended plays with you throughout the season!
We have a full 15 game slate to work with on Friday night, and lineups lock just after 7 pm EST.
For reference throughout the season, be sure to bookmark our overview of MLB Park Factors and how to Use Weather to Your Advantage in MLB DFS. Also, check out our GPP and Cash Games Primers to learn more about different daily fantasy game types specific to MLB.
Create Optimal FanDuel lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool 
Weather
There are some threats of rain in Washington today, which could make it a risky game to have exposure to. Thunderstorms are not in the picture, but consistent rain could cause a delay – so I would avoid Nick Pivetta and Tanner Roark in that one altogether. The bats are appealing, though, and are fine for GPP exposure as a result.
Overall Thoughts
This is the second time we’ve had Kershaw in Coors this season, and the price is awfully attractive on FanDuel. Hard to say no to a guy that is as skilled as he is, even though the hitting environment and team numbers vs LHP are very strong to start the year. That said, there are holes in that lineup and I feel the value is just too strong to ignore in DFS tonight. My lineup has Kershaw as an anchor, and some Dodgers bats to back it up, too.
Pitcher
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) (LAD): $9,800 @ COL
It’s always fun when we have an opportunity to play Kershaw at a discount. If he was over $11,000 today, I would be saying to fade him – however at under $10,000 on FanDuel I have no problem with a play here. He did have trouble the last time he was in Coors, but the strikeout potential and split advantage for his Dodgers vs Chatwood (RHP) is too good to pass up. I have no problem giving him run today, especially since it allows you to pay up for 1-2 LAD bats as well as other key games for hitting.
Other Notables
Catcher
Jonathan Lucroy (TEX) : $2,800 vs OAK
I’m not in love with many C options today, so for “bang for your buck” I think Lucroy is a fine play. He is under $3,000, hits in the middle of the Rangers offense, and has 5 hits over his last 2 games. There is a good chance he goes 1 or 2 for 4 with 1-2 R+RBI today against Jesse Hahn, who has been outproducing his peripherals so far this year by a very high margin (4.23 SIERA vs 3.03 ERA).
Other Notables
First Base
Albert Pujols (LAA) : $2,800 vs DET
I want at least one share of the Angels in this lineup, and even though there are some elite 1B options on the slate today, I don’t think you can go wrong with Pujols at the price. He’s making hard contact at a high clip these days and faces one of the most significant fly ball pitchers on the night (49.5% for Zimmermann so far in 2017). The Angels make for a sneaky stack, and Pujols is excellent value for a guy with his power potential.
Other Notables
Second Base
Devon Travis (TOR) : $2,200 vs SEA
I’m punting the 2B spot tonight with Travis, who is looking like a steal at only $2,200 on a Toronto team that is going to have no problem scoring runs today. Even though Ryan Goins has been outplaying him lately, I have no problem going with a guy that has strong contact skills and a .325 wOBA vs RHP over the last year’s worth of at bats.
Other Notables
- Jed Lowrie
- Daniel Murphy
- Chase Utley
- Ryan Goins (GPP only)
Third Base
Justin Turner (LAD): $4,200 @ COL
It’s important for me to double-down on my Kershaw recommendation tonight with a couple key LAD bats that I feel are in great spots. Turner’s price is not cheap by any means, but he’s produced at a very consistent clip lately and is a reverse-split hitter that faces a contact-oriented RHP in Coors. He has one of the highest exit velocities on the board over the last month, and has tremendous HR potential in this match-up.
Other Notables
Shortstop
Corey Seager (LAD): $4,300 @ COL
I talked about this with Bobby Sylvester on our podcast earlier this week, and we really shouldn’t be surprised to see Seager back in this spot today. In a plus match-up at Coors, and for a price that I think Seager should be at even during non-Coors games, he’s a bit of an auto-play for me tonight at a thin position. He has tremendous raw power and a .413 wOBA / .232 ISO split vs RHP over the last year, too.
Other Notables
Outfield
Nomar Mazara (TEX): $3,300 vs OAK
Jesse Hahn is a susceptible SP to pick on today, especially with this game taking place in Texas. Hahn’s splits vs LHB are very poor, with hitters checking in with a .338 wOBA split against him over the last couple seasons. The Rangers are going to put some runs on the board in this one, and I like Mazara’s projection of being at the heart of the action tonight.
Tommy Pham (STL): $2,800 vs CHC
Eddie Butler is one of the most hittable SPs outside of Coors tonight, and I really like the value of Cardinals OF right now. Pham has been playing very well for the Cards in the absence of Stephen Piscotty and Dexter Fowler, and for the price, I don’t see why we should shy away on Friday. He has hits in 4 straight and has shown good power along the way, too. This is a prime game for hitting exposure as the 4.6 run total suggests, too.
Randal Grichuk (STL): $2,700 vs CHC
We can go a few different directions for this last spot. Kole Calhoun, Steve Pearce and Grichuk are all on my shortlist for the OF3 slot, and Grichuk is getting highlighted considering he is a powerful bat in a match-up that I feel is highly exploitable. He has the best ISO split of the bunch – and even though he’s superior against LHP than RHP – he’s no slouch and can leave the yard on any given night. Feel free to make the pivot to either Calhoun or Pearce if you prefer, though.
Other Notables
- Kole Calhoun
- Steve Pearce
- Mookie Betts
- Andrew Benintendi
- Joc Pederson
- Jose Bautista
- Bryce Harper (but so expensive)
- Mike Trout (also super pricey)
- Jay Bruce
- Michael Conforto
- Khris Davis
My Lineup
- SP – Clayton Kershaw (LAD): $9,800 @ COL
- C – Jonathan Lucroy (TEX): $2,800 vs OAK
- 1B – Albert Pujols (LAA): $2,800 vs DET
- 2B – Devon Travis (TOR): $2,200 vs SEA
- 3B – Justin Turner (LAD): $4,200 @ COL
- SS – Corey Seager (LAD): $4,300 @ COL
- OF – Nomar Mazara (TEX): $3,300 vs OAK
- OF – Tommy Pham (STL): $2,800 vs CHC
- OF – Randal Grichuk (STL): $2,700 vs CHC
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Jared Kwart is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jared, find his work at FantasyCruncher.com and follow him @FCJaredK.
