MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/2019

With plenty of day games on the schedule Thursday, only five contests will make up the main evening slate in DFS. The starting pitching options aren’t great, so choosing the right hitters could be the key to coming in the money. Let’s discuss some players who stand out as viable targets. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our MLB Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

Joe Musgrove vs. Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $9,000

Musgrove split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen in 2017 but made all 19 of his appearances last year as a starter. He showed plenty of promise, finishing with a 3.92 xFIP and a 1.18 WHIP. He dominated the Reds in his first start this year, recording eight strikeouts across seven scoreless innings. The Cubs might seem like a tough matchup, but their lineup has some holes. On a night with so few quality pitchers set to take the mound, Musgrove is worth considering.

Jon Gray vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Oracle Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings =$9,300

If you play season-long fantasy baseball, you know how frustrating Gray can be. He’s shown excellent strikeout upside during his career, but he takes you on a rollercoaster ride with his inconsistent overall production. The good news for this game is that he’ll get to avoid Coors Field. The Giants also have a weak lineup, which has resulted in them posting the second-lowest OPS (.585) in baseball. If you are playing on FanDuel, I prefer him over Musgrove. He has the potential to provide more strikeouts and is cheaper. Even though he’s more expensive on DraftKings, this matchup might be too good to pass up.

CATCHER

Francisco Cervelli vs. Jose Quintana, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200

Quintana was very average in his first full season with the Cubs, recording a 4.18 xFIP and a 1.32 WHIP. While he had some great seasons with the White Sox, he’s not someone to avoid stacking against in DFS. He’s also off to a horrible start this year, allowing 10 runs (eight earned) and three home runs over his first two outings. Cervelli has recorded a wOBA of at least .354 against left-handed pitchers in three of the last four seasons, so he stands out among a weak group of catchers.

Others to consider: Wilson Ramos

FIRST BASE

Eric Hosmer vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000

The Padres might not have the most impressive lineup, but this is a matchup to take advantage of. Godley has trouble keeping runners off base and finished last season with a 1.45 WHIP. For those looking to roll with a Padres stack, Hosmer is someone to consider at a cost-effective price. Even though left-handed pitchers held him to a .234 wOBA last year, he was much better with a .353 wOBA against righties.

Others to consider: Mitch Moreland and Josh Bell

SECOND BASE

Robinson Cano vs. Kevin Gausman, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

Second base is a weak position Thursday. Even in the games that present favorable stacks, their second baseman might not provide much value. That brings me to Cano, who isn’t exactly off to a good start with his .271 wOBA. However, he has been a bit unlucky considering his .212 BABIP. He has a career .377 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, making him someone to at least consider against Gausman.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

THIRD BASE

Eduardo Escobar vs. Pedro Avila, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800

The Diamondbacks are in a favorable spot here against Avila, who is being recalled from Double-A. He spent all of last season pitching at High-A, so this is going to be a big leap in competition. Even at that level, he wasn’t great with a 1.45 WHIP and 4.13 xFIP. Escobar recorded a .351 wOBA against right-handed pitchers last year, making him one of the top targets for the evening at his position.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

Fernando Tatis Jr. vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000

With so many teams looking to manage the service time of their young players, it’s refreshing to see the Padres roll with Tatis at shortstop right out of the gate. He’s only 9-for-42, but he has launched three home runs and two doubles. He has a great combination of speed and power, leaving him with plenty of upside in this matchup against Godley.

Others to consider: Trevor Story and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

Mookie Betts vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings =$5,400

The Red Sox getting off to a slow start could end now that they are finally back at Fenway Park. They scored five runs in the first game of this series Tuesday, one of which came on a Betts home run. It should come as no surprise that he was productive considering he recorded an insane .463 wOBA at home last season. Aaron Sanchez is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which he posted a 1.56 WHIP, so this is the night to pay up for Betts.

David Peralta vs. Pedro Avila, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300

If you’re stacking Diamondbacks, Peralta has to be included. He’s off to an excellent start with nine doubles across 12 games, although he does have just one home run. He destroyed right-handed pitching last year, posting a .398 wOBA against them. Even though his ownership will be high in tournament play, this is a matchup that’s almost too good to pass up.

Jarrod Dyson vs. Pedro Avila, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,300

Sticking with the Diamondbacks, Dyson has been forced into an expanded role with Steven Souza Jr. (knee) out for the season. The addition of Adam Jones did somewhat cushion the blow, but Dyson has been leading off for them against right-handed pitching. He has a robust .393 OBP so far, so it seems likely that’s where he’ll be hitting again Thursday. Although his price on DraftKings isn’t all that great, he stands out as someone to target on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Andrew Benintendi and Starling Marte

Author Bio:

Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.