Today's MLB DFS Picks: Advice, strategy for Monday's DraftKings, FanDuel daily fantasy baseball contests

Howard Bender

Today's MLB DFS Picks: Advice, strategy for Monday's DraftKings, FanDuel daily fantasy baseball contests image

Happy Tax Day! (Is there such a thing?) Probably not, but either way, if you're not getting a baig return, let's find some MLB DFS picks on Monday that will, if nothing else, make you feel like you're getting a return.

It looks like another day to pay down for pitching, even with Clayton Kershaw back in the fold. I'm fading him because I'm not sure how effective will he be in his first start back. Also, how many innings will he actually pitch given the way Dave Roberts has been babying his pitching staff this season? And have you actually looked at the Reds numbers against lefthanded pitching this season? There is nothing about Kershaw or this matchup that makes me think it's worth spending up the way the DFS sites have him priced. I'm having a hard enough time thinking about paying up for Trevor Bauer against the Mariners. There's no way I'm doing it for Kershaw.

That being said, let's take a look at who I do want to use for tonight's contests...

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Today's MLB DFS Picks: DraftKings, FanDuel advice for Monday, April 15                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Pos  Player Matchup Opp. SP DK FD Y! BreakDown
SP T. Bauer (R) CLE@SEA
Mon 10:10
Y. Kikuchi (L) $10400 $11200 $55  
SP A. Nola (R) NYM@PHI
Mon 7:05
N. Syndergaard (R) $9600 $9300 $53  
SP UPGRADE        
SP UPGRADE        
SP UPGRADE        
RP UPGRADE        
C Y. Grandal (B) STL@MIL
Mon 7:40
D. Hudson (R) $4500 $4000 $18  
C W. Contreras (R) CHI@MIA
Mon 7:10
T. Richards (R) $4000 $3800 $17  
C UPGRADE        
C UPGRADE        
1B R. Hoskins (R) NYM@PHI
Mon 7:05
N. Syndergaard (R) $4800 $4500 $20  
1B P. Goldschmidt (R) STL@MIL
Mon 7:40
F. Peralta (R) $4300 $3800 $20  
1B UPGRADE        
1B UPGRADE        
1B UPGRADE        
2B M. Moustakas (L) STL@MIL
Mon 7:40
D. Hudson (R) $4300 $3900 $18  
2B UPGRADE        
2B UPGRADE        
3B Y. Moncada (B) KC@CWS
Mon 8:10
H. Fillmyer (R) $4800 $3700 $23  
3B N. Arenado (R) COL@SD
Mon 10:10
J. Lucchesi (L) $4500 $3700 $17  
3B UPGRADE        
3B UPGRADE        
3B UPGRADE        
SS A. Mondesi (B) KC@CWS
Mon 8:10
E. Santana (R) $5100 $4300 $25  
SS T. Anderson (R) KC@CWS
Mon 8:10
H. Fillmyer (R) $4500 $3800 $20  
SS UPGRADE        
SS UPGRADE        
RF C. Yelich (L) STL@MIL
Mon 7:40
D. Hudson (R) $5400 $4800 $28  
RF C. Bellinger (L) CIN@LA
Mon 10:10
L. Castillo (R) $5200 $5100 $26  
LF J. Gallo (L) LAA@TEX
Mon 8:05
T. Cahill (R) $4900 $4100 $22  
RF UPGRADE        
RF UPGRADE        
LF UPGRADE        
LF UPGRADE        
RF UPGRADE        
LF UPGRADE        
LF UPGRADE        

Aaron Nola, SP, Phillies vs. Mets. I'm not buying these early-season struggles and will continue to go back to the well here -- especially against the Mets. Nola has a very strong history of success against the Mets -- 2.15 ERA with 46 strikeouts over 37.2 innings (six starts) -- and can minimize the damage should he allow baserunners. Grabbing the win could be difficult should Noah Syndergaard be on-point with his stuff, but I'm pretty confident Nola can handle this lineup.

Willson Contreras, C, Cubs @ Marlins. He hast four hits, including two solo shots, in his past two games, and he's been tearing up righthanded pitching this season to the tune of a .528 wOBA with a .440 ISO. Obviously, the numbers are unsustainable for the long-term, but you have to ride the wave until it breaks.

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Cardinals @ Brewers. What in the heck is this price tag all about? Big deal, Goldy's off to another slow start. If the sites are going to price him down, I am going to take full advantage of it, especially on DK. Goldy's numbers against righthanders have been rock solid, and he beat the snot out of Freddy Peralta earlier this season. Remember that two-homer game? Yeah, that's the stuff.

Mike Moustakas, 2B, Brewers vs. Cardinals. Moustakas hit one of three home runs allowed by Dakota Hudson the last time they faced, and he makes for a real strong play on both sites. Fantasy Alarm has him projected as the highest-scoring second baseman on the day, and his .390 wOBA against righties helps support that. The position isn't particularly deep today, but his price tag isn't cost-prohibitive either, so he's easily the top choice.

Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox vs. Royals. Anderson flashed some real nice power against the Yankees this weekend and now gets to put it all back on display against Heath Fillmyer and the Royals. Anderson went 20-20 last year and should be well on his way to repeating and possibly building off of those numbers this year. The 1.143 OPS seems to think so.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies vs. Padres. Arenado finally hit his first home run of the season on Sunday, which means the floodgates are officially open now. While I love Joey Lucchesi tonight and will lock him into multiple lineups, I'm not going to be afraid to use Arenado as well in cash games. His numbers against southpaws, save for the power, have been fantastic, and he's still able to be had for a discount, especially on DK.

Joey Gallo, OF, Rangers vs. Angels. While I do like Trevor Cahill and the worm-killing he induces, you can't argue against Gallo taking one of those super-low offerings and parking it right over the fence. Globe Life Stadium plays beautifully for hitters, and Gallo knows very well how to take advantage of the park factors, especially against righthanded pitching.

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Howard Bender