Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

After a quiet day Thursday, Major League Baseball is back in full swing Friday, leaving plenty of options to choose from in DFS.  Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

Justin Verlander vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $11,100
DraftKings = $12,000

Verlander was a different pitcher after joining the Astros down the stretch last year and has carried that success into 2018, posting a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 11.5 K/9 through four starts. One of the main reasons why he improved so much with the Astros last year is that he cut his BB/9 down to 1.3 after it was 3.5 with the Tigers. He’s continued that improved control this year with a 1.7 BB/9. He’s done an excellent job inducing weak contact with only a 25% hard-hit rate this season, which is not far off from his career mark of 27.2% either. The White Sox are in the bottom-10 in baseball in terms of runs scored this season, making Verlander an excellent option for your entry on a night filled with aces taking the mound.

Felix Hernandez vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $6,800

Hernandez’s numbers aren’t great overall, posting a 5.48 ERA and 6.15 FIP through four starts. He only has a 6.3 K/9, which would be the lowest mark of his career. A lot of his ERA woes can be attributed to his second start of the season where he allowed eight runs in four innings against the Giants. In his other three outings, he allowed a total of five runs across 17.1 innings. The Rangers are not a great offensive team, currently in the bottom-10 in the league in OPS. Hernandez might not have a high strikeout upside, but he at least has the potential to throw a quality start, making him someone to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Jose Martinez vs. Brandon Finnegan, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700

If the Cardinals are facing a lefty, Martinez should immediately come to mind as someone you want to target in DFS. He destroys left-handed pitching, finishing with the highest wRC+ (240) against them in baseball last season. Finnegan only pitched 13 innings last year due to injury but hasn’t been good in his career with a 1.36 WHIP. He allowed five runs in 4.1 innings to these same Cardinals in his only start this year, leaving Martinez as an excellent option for your lineup.

Victor Martinez vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,300

Martinez had one of the worst seasons of his career in 2017, hitting .255 with 10 home runs in 107 games. His .280 BABIP was significantly below his career mark of .309, but his hard-hit rate was still excellent at 39.9%. He’s turned things around at the start of this season, batting .314 through his first 14 games. The switch-hitting Martinez has a career .351 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, making him a cost-effective option to consider Friday.

Others to consider: Hanley Ramirez (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

Jed Lowrie vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,500

There are few hitters in baseball who are off to a better start than Lowrie, who is batting .346 with six home runs and 21 RBI. His .373 BABIP seems unsustainable, but a lot of that is due to his career-high 41.5% hard-hit rate. He has a career .340 wOBA against left-handed pitching, so you may want to continue to try and ride his hot streak Friday against Pomeranz.

Brock Holt vs. Kendall Graveman, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $2,900

Graveman is off to a terrible start with a 9.87 ERA and 2.02 WHIP. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff with a 5.2 K/9 this season, which is close to his career mark of 5.6 K/9. He has also given up at least one home run in all four of his starts, which is certainly not good news considering he will be facing the red-hot Red Sox lineup. Holt is 7-for-17 with a home run and two doubles in his last four games, so he could be an option if you are looking to save money at second base.

Others to consider: Asdrubal Cabrera and Starlin Castro

THIRD BASE

Rafael Devers vs. Kendall Graveman, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000

As we continue to discuss Red Sox players to stack against Graveman, Devers enters Friday hitting 7-for-14 with two home runs and seven RBI in his last three games. He has a 131 wRC+ against right-handers in the early going and with plenty of men likely on base in this game, Devers could be in for another big performance.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,300

Despite still having Martinez and Miguel Cabrera on their roster, the Tigers are clearly in the middle of a rebuilding process. They may already have their third baseman of the future in Candelario, who is 12-for-28 with three home runs and seven RBI in his last seven games. Junis has a sparkling 1.93 ERA this year, but his 4.63 FIP indicates that he has not pitched nearly as well. Candelario might be worth the risk at this price.

Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Travis Shaw

SHORTSTOP

Didi Gregorius vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,200

On a team filled with star right-handed hitters including Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez, Gregorius provides a desperately needed left-handed compliment. He had the best season of his career last year and has followed that up by batting .327 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 2018. He has hit just .237 against Estrada in 39 career plate appearances but has done damage with three doubles and three home runs.

Paul DeJong vs. Brandon Finnegan, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

DeJong had a breakout campaign for the Cardinals last year, hitting .285 with 25 home runs in just 108 games. A career .283 hitter in the minors, DeJong is off to a slow start this year with a .231 average and a 42.9% strikeout rate. He did hit lefties very well last year though with a .392 wOBA, so facing Finnegan might be just what he needs to break out of his slump.

Others to consider: Marcus Semien and Eduardo Nunez

OUTFIELD

Aaron Judge vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,300

Judge has done his best to set aside any worries of a sophomore slump, batting .339 with five home runs this season. He does have 19 strikeouts in 17 games, but he’s shown an excellent ability to get on base with 16 walks. He was lethal at home last year, batting .312 with 33 home runs compared to .256 with 19 home runs on the road. Estrada has had major issues trying to get him out with Judge batting 7-for-17 with two doubles and two home runs against him in his career. He doesn’t have strikeout stuff, so Judge very well might hit him hard again Friday.

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

Peralta is hitting .349 so far this season, but his abnormally high .444 BABIP indicates he is a prime regression candidate. The odds of him continuing to swing a hot bat Friday though are in his favor considering Peralta’s .353 wOBA against righties last year. Ross doesn’t have strikeout stuff with just a 7.0 K/9 this season, leaving Peralta as a viable mid-tier priced option.

Mark Canha vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,100

Canha hasn’t done much in his Major League career, batting .237 in 204 games. He has hit for power in the minors though and if off to a great start this season, batting .333 with two home runs in only seven games. The Athletics are in the top-five in the league in runs scored this season, which is only going to help Canha with his counting stats. Against the left-handed Pomeranz, Canha has some upside at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Mallex Smith