4/3 Fanduel MLB Lineup Advice – Cash and Tournament Game Picks

Hello all, took a few days off from Opening Day but I’m back and ready to help make you some cash on this first Tuesday of the MLB season! Even though there are several games in the afternoon (if you’re playing an early slate and have any questions, please hit me up on Twitter), we will be focusing on the 7:07 pm Main Slate.

Cash Game Plays

Pitchers

Justin Verlander (HOU) – $10,300

I recommended him on Opening Day, and his next turn in the rotation comes at home with a good matchup against the Orioles. JV went six scoreless innings on Thursday compiling five strikeouts, and I think he has an opportunity to top that in his second start. The Orioles have struggled offensively to start the year, highlighted by a complete game shutout at the hands of Jose Berrios on Sunday. The current Baltimore roster is a collective .219 batting against Verlander, so the former Cy Young winner seems to be in a great, safe spot for cash games.

J.A. Happ (TOR) – $7,100

Happ has had a quietly nice past few seasons, pitching to a 3.43 ERA from 2015-2017. He is even better than his average at home with a stellar 2.93 mark, which is very impressive since Rogers Centre in Toronto is considered a hitters’ park. The veteran lefty finds himself in a good matchup on Tuesday, facing the rebuilding White Sox. Using similar logic as we did with Duffy on Opening Day (didn’t work out great… but), Happ needs to navigate around fearsome righties Avisail Garcia and Jose Abreu and he should be fine. The strikeout potential is certainly there also, with Chicago youngsters Moncada and Tim Anderson being free-swingers.

Other considerations: Garrett Richards (LAA), Kendall Graveman (OAK)

Hitters

Mike Trout – OF (LAA) – $4,700

Now it certainly doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell you to insert Trout into your DFS lineup, but Tuesday night makes a lot of sense. He’s at home and will be facing the Indians’ Josh Tomlin, a pitch-to-contact right-hander who is nothing special. Find some value hitters elsewhere in your lineup, because Trout needs to be locked in!

Yangervis Solarte – 2B (TOR) – $2,700

Tuesday seems like a good spot for the new Blue Jay to help contribute toward a win against the aforementioned Chicago White Sox. Solarte has historically hit better against right-handed pitching (.280 vs .238 over the last three years) and he faces resident innings eater Miguel Gonzalez on Tuesday, who is just keeping the mound warm for Chicago’s young guns of the future. The former Yankee and Padre has hit 39 of his 47 career home runs from the right side of the plate, so look for some power to be on display in Toronto.

Stephen Piscotty – OF (OAK) – $2,600

If you’re looking for some value tonight to fit in an ace or Trout, look no further than the new Athletics outfielder. In the feel good story of the offseason, Piscotty was traded from St. Louis to Oakland so that he could be closer to his ailing mother. He has a career .883 OPS versus left-handed pitching, and going up against a quickly declining Cole Hamels isn’t necessarily a daunting task. Along with Piscotty, look to stack some of the other Oakland righty bats such as Semien, Khris Davis, and Matt Chapman.

Other options: Freddie Freeman – 1B (ATL), Carlos Correa – SS (HOU), Ian Desmond – 1B (COL), Wil Myers – OF (SDP)

Tournament/GPP Plays

Remember for GPPs or tournament games, you want to target players who are going to have low ownership on the slate (not many other players are rostering them) or maybe a stud in a tougher matchup.

Pitchers: Clayton Kershaw (LAD) – $11,500, Matt Harvey (NYM) – $7,000, Jack Flaherty (STL) – $6,000, Tyson Ross (SDP) – $5,500

Hitters: Evan Gattis – C (HOU) – $3,400, Ozzie Albies – 2B (ATL) – $3,200, Jose Ramirez – 3B (CLE) – $3,100, Yoenis Cespedes – OF (NYM) – $3,500

Good luck!

ATTN Dynasty Commissioners: Do you want to do something cool for your league? How about a 1-hour live show dedicated to YOUR league? Team-by-team breakdowns, rankings, and more. For details and to book a show, visit: GoingFor2.com/plp.