MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/29/2019

Baseball starts off the week with nine games on the schedule Monday. There are some exciting series set to begin with the Cardinals facing the Nationals and the Red Sox taking on the A’s. We also have another opportunity to win some money in DFS, so let’s break down some pitchers and hitters to target. 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

Mike Soroka vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $9,200
DraftKings = $8,600

The Braves have several young pitchings prospects who could make a splash in the majors, with Soroka being one of them. Still just 21-years-old, he has a shot at sticking in the Braves rotation if he can string together a few quality outings. So far, so good. He’s made two starts against the Diamondbacks and Reds, allowing two runs and recording 13 strikeouts across 10.2 innings. The Padres have made some improvements to their lineup, but they still don’t score a ton of runs and have struck out the sixth-most times (268) in baseball. Look for Soroka to keep things rolling in this matchup.

Zack Wheeler vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $9,300

Wheeler had a couple of shaky starts against the Nationals to begin the season, but he’s settled down to allow five runs and record 24 strikeouts over his last 20 innings. That’s impressive considering he faced the Braves and Phillies (twice) during that stretch. This will be by far his easiest opponent so far with the Reds scoring the fifth-fewest runs (101). While he’s not all that cheap on DraftKings, his price on FanDuel is especially appealing.

CATCHER

Welington Castillo vs. John Means, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,200
DraftKings = $3,600

After a slow start, Castillo has started to turn things around by hitting 8-for-25 (.320) with two home runs and two doubles across his last seven games. With his career .356 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he could provide significant value. If for some reason he sits this one out, his teammate James McCann would also be a great option.

Others to consider: Tyler Flowers

FIRST BASE

Jose Abreu vs. John Means, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,000

As hot as Castillo is, Abreu is playing out of his mind right now. He’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak that has seen him hit 15-for-30 with two home runs, four doubles and 14 RBI. His strikeout rate has increased this year, but he also has a career-high 9.8 percent walk rate. With his career 146 wRC+ against lefties, he’s the top target for anyone planning to stack White Sox against Means.

Others to consider: Pete Alonso and Daniel Murphy

SECOND BASE

Ozzie Albies vs. Nick Margevicius, San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,500

Albies continues to show a good eye at the plate, recording just a 16.9 percent strikeout rate. His walk rate also checks in at 8.1 percent, which is almost three percentage points higher than last season. He’s someone to have on your radar whenever a left-hander is on the mound considering he finished with a robust .384 wOBA against them last year.

Others to consider: Jonathan Villar and Ryan McMahon

THIRD BASE

Renato Nunez vs. Manny Banuelos, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,500

Nunez has been one of the few bright spots for the Orioles so far with his .345 wOBA and .219 ISO. With a severe lack of talent on their roster, he’s locked into a starting role moving forward. Despite Banuelos holding the Orioles scoreless across four innings in his last outing, he’s not an overwhelming pitcher who has struggled while bouncing around the minor leagues. This is a prime opportunity to deploy Nunez. Of note, he is only eligible at third base on FanDuel since he is listed at first base on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Josh Donaldson

SHORTSTOP

Tim Anderson vs. John Means, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,600

If you play in a season-long fantasy league, Anderson stands out as a sell high candidate. His .385 batting average has been helped greatly by his .448 BABIP. It is encouraging to see his strikeout rate decline, but he also has just two walks across 94 plate appearances. However, with a lefty on the mound, it might be worth riding his hot start Monday. Means has a 1.74 ERA, but his 4.18 xFIP indicates he hasn’t pitched nearly that well.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELD

Michael Conforto vs. Tanner Roark, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Roark provides the Reds with veteran depth for their rotation, but he’s not someone to strike fear in the hearts of his opponents. He only has a 19 percent strikeout rate for his career and has finished with an xFIP of at least 4.17 in four straight seasons. With his career .369 wOBA versus righties, Conforto is one of the high-priced options worth targeting for this slate. Don’t be surprised if the Mets put up a crooked number in this game.

Josh Reddick vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200

Although Reddick had a down season last year with a .311 wOBA, he was somewhat victimized by a .258 BABIP that was thirty percentage points lower than his career mark. With improved luck this season, he’s off to a great start with a .379 wOBA. He entered this year having recorded a wRC+ of at least 128 against righties in four of the last five seasons, making him worth considering at his reasonable price tag.

Johan Camargo vs. Nick Margevicius, San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,900

Although Camargo doesn’t always have a spot in the Braves starting lineup, he’s in there more often than not whenever a lefty is on the mound. After recording a .347 wOBA against them last year, he’s off to an even better start with a .450 wOBA versus lefties this year.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Jeff McNeil

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.