MLB DFS action on Monday, April 5, features 13 games across four slates with giant contests on Yahoo, DraftKings and FanDuel. Before locking in lineups, make sure to check out Awesemo’s daily fantasy baseball top stacks, picks, rankings and projections. Let’s dig into some MLB DFS and daily fantasy baseball stacks including the Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres.
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MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Hitters and Stacks, Monday, April 5th
Yahoo Stack of the Day: Chicago Cubs vs. LHP Brett Anderson — 4.9 implied runs
There are no mysteries surrounding Brett Anderson, who is in his 13th season in The Show. In general he does not allow much power, but he also does not strike out many hitters. Over his last 41 starts spanning 223 innings, he has a paltry 4.92 K/9, a minuscule 2.38 BB/9 and a healthy 55.2 groundball rate. As a groundball pitcher, he often gets help via the double play.
Today there is a light 10 to 12 mph breeze out to left in Wrigley Field. The Cubs all have favorable salaries today, which will allow for working in some of the top-shelf pitching on DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo. Javier Baez is the prime target, and he is just $18. Plus, he already has two stolen bases.
Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras are phenomenal hitters, each with a reasonable $17 salary. Jake Marisnick should be in the lineup with a southpaw on the mound, and at just $11 he is a fine discount dandy. Lastly, Anthony Rizzo is serviceable against same-handed hurlers, but he should get a couple at-bats against right-handed relievers and is a steal for just $14 on Monday.
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Early Slate
Toronto Blue Jays at RHP Mike Foltynewicz — 5.2 implied runs
Last year Mike Foltynewicz was released after one appearance for Atlanta. The Braves decided that they had seen enough of Foltynewicz’s decline, and the 3.1-inning outing against Tampa Bay in which he allowed three home runs was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Generally gamers have enjoyed the success of left-handed batsmen against Foltynewicz, but he has been horrible against righties as well. Across his last 234 righty/lefty matchups, he is ceding a 47.9% flyball rate, a 15.0% HR/FB and a 1.92 HR/9. In that same timeframe, he faced 273 same-handed hitters and allowed a 33.9% flyball rate, a 23.0% HR/FB and a 1.97 HR/9.
The roof will be open today in Texas, and as was shown last year in the abbreviated season, the new ballpark seems to be very pitcher friendly. The Blue Jays have power throughout their entire batting order, so feel free to mix and match various combinations for MLB DFS picks on DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo.
Late Slate
San Diego Padres vs. RHP Anthony DeSclafani — 4.7 implied runs
Fantasy gamers will be flocking to target batters swinging the stick from the left side of the plate against Anthony DeSclafani. DeSclafani has struggled mightily against opposite-handed hitters throughout his career. In his last 459 righty/lefty matchups, he has allowed a 45.4% flyball rate, a 15.2% HR/FB and a 1.87 HR/9. While he has an above-average 24.8% strikeout rate in that same period against 395 righties, they are still knocking the cover off the ball when they connect, with a 1.36 HR/9.
The key Padres are all batting from the right side of the plate, with Eric Hosmer being the lone lefty, along with switch-hitters Jurickson Profar and Victor Caratini. Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Wil Myers all have light-tower power, and Tommy Pham is all but assured five plate appearances as the leadoff man. This group is a must-play on the late slate and in prime spot for the main slate.
Final Thoughts for the Monday, April 5th MLB DFS Slate
There is plenty of baseball on Monday to keep distracted. There are several short slates as well as a nice seven game main slate. Keep in mind that salaries and scoring formats differ across the various fantasy sites, and a home run play on Yahoo may be a below-average MLB DFS pick on DraftKings or FanDuel.
