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 9 game slate to work with on Wednesday evening. Lineups lock at 7:05 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.
Weather
There is a pretty good chance of rain in Chicago today, which could wipe out the Twins and White Sox. That is really the only game with rain risk, and it’s a shame since many bats in that game are highly attractive. We’ll fade that game since there are plenty of other great games to have exposure to as well.
Overall Thoughts
There are a number of attractive SPs today, but I will attack this slate with Kenta Maeda since his price and match-up are excellent on the slate. Danny Salazar is a close second since he’ll be facing an AAA-like Blue Jays order, and is a fantastic play as well. As lineups roll out for the day, you may be able to make 1-2 pivots for cheaper options than what I am recommending to fit Salazar in. Splitting your exposure here is a great idea.
Pitcher
Kenta Maeda (LAD): $8,700 vs PIT
Maeda has thrown very well this year – far better than his numbers indicate. The win probability is elite tonight, as is the run total for the Pirates. His 3.52 SIERA is nearly 2.5 runs lower than his ERA to date, and his whiff rate is near the top of the league at 15.2%. Despite the Pirates doing a good job managing their strikeouts, I do see him as a highly productive option in DFS on the night considering the likelihood of a win. Overall, for the price, I don’t think you can go wrong – particularly with how well the Dodgers crush RHP (and how bad Chad Kuhl is vs LHBs).
Other Notables
Catcher
Victor Martinez (DET): $3,100 @ ARI
I want all kinds of exposure to Zack Godley tonight, so you’ll see pretty solid usage of the higher-end DET bats in this lineup. They aren’t cheap, but I do feel they are certainly worth the price of admission considering Godley is throwing in a hitter’s park and faces the Tigers who lead the league in hard-hit rate vs RHP on the year.
Other Notables
First Base
Cody Bellinger (LAD): $3,500 vs PIT
Chad Kuhl has not been a strong pitcher to start the year, and I love how this shapes up for Dodgers lefties in particular, who he’s had a lot of trouble against so far in his career. Bellinger’s price has been on the rise lately, but that’s the ripple effect from great production. I’m happy to roster him today in a great situation.
Other Notables
Second Base
Jonathan Villar (MIL): $3,100 vs BOS
Editor’s note: Villar is not starting tonight. Pick change to: Brandon Drury: $2,700 (ARI vs DET)
Exposure to Kyle Kendrick is at the top of the priority list for me as well today, and Villar is a fantastic DFS play thanks to his power/speed combination. While he hasn’t been producing at an elite level of late, that has only helped bring his price point down on FanDuel to a point where it’s nearly impossible to pass him up. There is a lot to like here at $3,100 in a game that should feature 10+ runs scored.
Other Notables
Third Base
Nick Castellanos (DET): $3,700 @ ARI
The second piece of my Tigers stack, and one that I am very excited about. He continues to sport elite hard hit rates on the year, and checks in at a reasonable price on a team that should score 5+ runs today with ease. There are other attractive options, and if the Twins game looked like the weather would cooperate I would love to play Miguel Sano, but he’s a great pivot nonetheless.
Other Notables
Shortstop
Corey Seager (LAD): $3,500 vs PIT
Surprise, surprise. Corey Seager is back in my lineup here today! Well, I love the Dodgers lefties against Kuhl, and he continues to be one of the most under-priced names on the slate (and at the position). He’s an elite but chalky play and deserves tons of love tonight.
Other Notables
Outfield
Justin Upton (DET): $3,400 @ ARI
Upton is the third piece of my DET stack, and I am loving him in this spot today. Godley has been equally as soft vs RHBs as LHBs over the course of his career, and this is the kind of situation you have to love in DFS. He has some of the highest hard hit rates against on the slate, and is a fly ball pitcher as well. Lock and load, folks!
Hernan Perez (MIL): $3,100 vs BOS
Perez has really been playing well lately, and despite a bit of a price inflation, he’s a great play tonight against Kendrick. This assumes that he’ll be in the lineup, of course, but as a solid power/speed guy in the heart of the order, I don’t think you can go wrong at $3,100. He has hits in 4 of his last 5 games and should keep the good times rolling against one of the softest SPs in the league tonight.
Joc Pederson (LAD) : $2,900 vs PIT
Kuhl has been destroyed by LHB over the course of his career (.404 wOBA), so I am more than happy to trot out Pederson at the price, considering he is settling in nicely after missing a couple weeks due to injury. He’s a great source of cheap power potential in a fantastic match-up.
Other Notables
- Tyler Collins
- Andrew Benintendi
- Mookie Betts
- Jayson Werth
- Yasmany Tomas
- Ryan Braun
- Nomar Mazara
- A.J. Pollock
- Keon Broxton
My Lineup
- SP – Kenta Maeda (LAD): $8,700 vs PIT
- C – Victor Martinez (DET): $3,100 @ ARI
- 1B – Cody Bellinger (LAD): $3,500 vs PIT
- 2B – Brandon Drury (ARI): $2,700 vs DET
- 3B – Nick Castellanos (DET): $3,700 @ ARI
- SS – Corey Seager (LAD): $3,500 vs PIT
- OF – Justin Upton (DET): $3,400 @ ARI
- OF – Hernan Perez (MIL): $3,100 vs BOS
- OF – Joc Pederson (LAD): $2,900 vs PIT
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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.
