Strategy and Stats for 04/29/24 Daily Fantasy MLB Slate: Optimize Your Lineup

As the clocks strike 6:35 PM EST today, the fantasy baseball world turns its eager eyes towards a thrilling 12-game MLB slate, culminating in a high-stakes face-off at Chase Field where the Los Angeles Dodgers clash with the Arizona Diamondbacks at 9:40 PM EST. With an enticing Over/Under of 9.5, this game promises a festival of hits, making players from this matchup particularly valuable in today’s fantasy lineups. Across the board, we’ll dive deep into the top projected players at each position, spotlighting those poised to rack up points with their bats and arms. Stay tuned as we break down each game, providing you with the insights needed to dominate your daily fantasy contests.

Top 1B Picks for Today’s MLB Daily Fantasy Slate

Freddie Freeman ($5600), Dodgers – Projected 14.9 pts

Freddie Freeman’s recent surge in performance makes him a tantalizing pick for today’s DFS lineups. Over his last 10 games, Freeman has nearly tripled his fantasy output compared to the previous 10-game stretch, boasting a 129.9% increase in DraftKings points per game. His consistency at the plate is evident, with a 34.8% rise in hits per game and a staggering 718.2% increase in walks per game. Facing a pitcher from the Diamondbacks who ranks third in hits allowed only sweetens the pot. With a DFS value score of 2.7, Freeman stands out as a strong value pick at first base.

Bryce Harper ($6000), Phillies – Projected 14.9 pts

Bryce Harper also presents a compelling case for inclusion in today’s fantasy rosters. Harper has shown significant improvement in his recent performances, with a 117.6% increase in DraftKings points per game over his last 10 outings. His ability to convert at-bats into scoring opportunities is highlighted by a 41.0% increase in hits per game and a notable 172.7% rise in runs per game. Facing Griffin Canning of the Angels, who is second in hits allowed per game, Harper’s matchup is favorable. His DFS value score of 2.5 categorizes him as a strong value, making him a robust choice for today’s games.

Top Second Basemen Picks for Today’s DFS Slate

Ozzie Albies ($5300), Braves – Projected 12.1 pts

Ozzie Albies has been a consistent performer for the Braves, and his recent stats suggest a promising outlook for today’s game. Over the last 10 games, Albies has averaged 10.9 DraftKings points per game, showing a slight decrease from his previous 10-game average of 11.33. Despite this minor dip, his hitting has improved, with a significant increase in doubles per game, up by 445.5%. Facing Bryce Miller, who ranks #22 in hits allowed per game, Albies’ matchup looks favorable. His DFS value score is 2.3, positioning him as a core value pick for today’s slate.

Ketel Marte ($5600), Diamondbacks – Projected 11.4 pts

Ketel Marte’s recent performance has shown some variability, averaging 5.8 DraftKings points in his last 10 games, a decrease from 7.33 in the games prior. His consistency in hits per game remains stable, but a notable decline in runs per game by -66.3% could be a concern. Marte is set to face James Paxton of the Dodgers, who ranks #18 in hits allowed per game. With a DFS value score of 2.0, Marte is considered a core value player, though his recent downturn in some performance metrics suggests a cautious approach might be warranted.

In-Depth Analysis: Top Third Basemen for Today’s DFS Slate

Nolan Arenado ($4900), Cardinals – Projected 10.7 pts

Nolan Arenado’s recent performance shows a slight dip compared to his previous ten games, with a 2.2 DFS value score, placing him in the core value category. Despite a decrease in hits and power stats, Arenado’s ability to draw walks has significantly improved, suggesting a potential for high on-base percentage which could translate into runs. Facing Kenta Maeda, who ranks high in hits allowed, Arenado might just find the gaps needed to boost his fantasy output. His DraftKings salary of $4900 reflects a reasonable investment for a player of his caliber, especially given his projected points.

Isaac Paredes ($4800), Rays – Projected 10.6 pts

Isaac Paredes, with a DFS value score of 2.2, also falls into the core value range. His performance has been relatively stable, showing a slight increase in singles and runs compared to his earlier games. Paredes’ ability to maintain a decent hitting rate, coupled with a modest increase in runs, makes him a solid pick against Bryse Wilson of the Brewers. His current salary of $4800 on DraftKings, paired with a projected point total close to Arenado’s, makes Paredes a viable option for today’s fantasy line-up, especially considering his consistent scoring potential.

Daily Fantasy Sports: Shortstop Analysis

Elly De La Cruz ($5900), Reds – Projected 15.0 pts

Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds shows a promising uptick in his recent performances, making him a noteworthy consideration for today’s DFS lineup. Over his last ten games, De La Cruz has averaged 15.0 DraftKings points per game, a 13.5% increase from his previous set of ten games. Particularly impressive are his walks per game, which have surged by 78.6%. Despite a slight decrease in total bases and home runs, his consistent ability to get on base and score runs, which have slightly increased by 1.1%, positions him as a strong value player with a DFS value score of 2.5. Facing Matt Waldron, who ranks 11th in hits allowed per game, De La Cruz’s potential for high fantasy points today is significant.

Trea Turner ($6200), Phillies – Projected 13.6 pts

Trea Turner of the Philadelphia Phillies, though facing a challenging season, offers a solid DFS option against Griffin Canning of the LAA, who is notably generous in allowing hits. Turner’s recent performance shows a 12.5% improvement in DraftKings points per game, now averaging 10.5. His consistency in hitting, with a slight increase of 2.6% in hits per game, and a significant jump in runs per game by 96.4%, underscores his potential to exploit Canning’s weaknesses. However, his overall reduction in power hitting and walks, with home runs dropping by 100.0% and walks by 54.5%, tempers his appeal slightly, positioning him as a core value player with a DFS value score of 2.2.

Top Catcher Picks for Today’s MLB Daily Fantasy Slate

Ryan Jeffers ($4200), Twins – Projected 12.6 pts

Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins shows promising potential in today’s DFS lineup. Over his last ten games, Jeffers has maintained a steady performance with an average of 9.1 DraftKings points per game, slightly down from his previous 9.56. Despite a minor decrease in hits and doubles, his increased walk rate, up by a staggering 263.6%, highlights his improved plate discipline. Facing Garrett Crochet of the CWS, who ranks #15 in hits allowed per game, Jeffers could exploit this matchup, especially given Crochet’s 8.19 hits allowed per game. With a DraftKings salary of $4200 and a projected point total of 12.6, Jeffers represents an 3.0 DFS value score, categorizing him as an elite value pick for today.

J.T. Realmuto ($5000), Phillies – Projected 12.6 pts

J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies comes into today’s game with a notable uptick in his performance metrics over the last ten games. Realmuto has increased his DraftKings points per game by 43.3% to 8.6, compared to his previous ten-game stretch. This surge is supported by a significant improvement in home runs and total bases, showing his potential for power-hitting. Facing Griffin Canning of the LAA, who is notably generous with hits, allowing 11.25 per game and ranking #2 in this category, Realmuto’s chances of capitalizing are high. Despite a higher salary of $5000, his projected points stand at 12.6, giving him a 2.5 DFS value score, making him a strong value pick for today’s slate.

Top Outfielder Picks for Today’s MLB Daily Fantasy Slate

Kyle Schwarber ($5500), Phillies – Projected 15.5 pts

Kyle Schwarber has been showing a noticeable uptick in his performance, making him a compelling choice for today’s fantasy lineup. Over his last ten games, Schwarber has averaged 7.5 points on DraftKings, a significant improvement from his previous set of games where he averaged 5.22 points. This 43.7% increase is particularly impressive considering his power hitting, with home runs per game increasing by 81.8%. Facing Griffin Canning, who ranks second in the league for hits allowed per game, Schwarber’s potential for high fantasy scoring is enhanced. His projected DFS value score stands at 2.8, categorizing him as a strong value pick today.

Byron Buxton ($4300), Twins – Projected 14.4 pts

Byron Buxton is another outfielder who should be on every fantasy manager’s radar. With an average of 8.2 DraftKings points over his last ten games—a staggering 333.9% increase from his earlier performances—Buxton’s recent form is hard to ignore. His matchup against Garrett Crochet, who is 15th in hits allowed per game, positions him well to exploit those numbers further. Notably, his total bases per game have skyrocketed by 475.8%, and his runs per game have increased by 445.5%, highlighting his explosive potential at the plate. With a DFS value score of 3.3, Buxton stands out as an elite value pick for today’s games.