Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: Best MLB Pitcher Stats, Picks for Sunday, April 26 – Bleacher Report

Sunday is the busiest day in daily fantasy baseball, and there appears to be a mess to straighten out for grinders trying to select their starting pitchers at DraftKings. There are just too many intriguing options at reasonable prices on the board. We found five premium plays and warn you off two risky ones as we present the best MLB pitcher stats and picks for April 26.

Premium Aces

Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds ($6,100)

He is arguably the hottest name in daily fantasy baseball right now—nailing that last name could win you an MLB spelling bee. His price is a beautiful thing, especially when you consider how untouchable he has been in three starts. The last time he faced the Chicago Cubs, he blanked them through seven innings, allowing just two hits. He went one better last time out, with eight shutout innings on just two hits.

Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs ($9,000)

For those believing Jake Arrieta‘s 2014 breakthrough was a flash in the pan, Arrieta has something for you. How about a 1.74 ERA and almost a strikeout per inning? The Cincinnati Reds are in the top half of teams that strike out most frequently, per MLB.com, and their .221 team average ranks 26th. Arrieta‘s price might be lower because he is pitching in a hitter’s park, but we will take the talent over the circumstances at this price.

Lance Lynn, St. Louis Cardinals ($8,800)

Sticking with the NL Central here, Lance Lynn draws the lowly Milwaukee Brewers, against which he is 6-2 with a 2.23 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 72.2 innings in his career, per Baseball-Reference.com. This is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball, if not DFS. He has not allowed more than one earned run in any of his starts thus far.

Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays ($8,900)

Third on our list is a strikeout machine that fanned 11 Toronto Blue Jays in their last matchup earlier this month. That is not necessarily an easy team to strike out, either. He is the heaviest favorite of the early starts Sunday.

Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals ($8,700)

Not only is Gonzalez a quality pitcher working in a pitcher’s park, but he is facing a Miami Marlins team that is second in baseball with 151 strikeouts. Only the Houston Astros (157) have been easier to set down on strikes. The Nats should be able to get to Dan Haren ($7,000) and make Gonzalez a quality start winner with a strikeout per inning.

Risky Picks

Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians ($9,000)

He has the Detroit Tigers’ pitcher’s park raising his price along with his incredible 18 strikeouts in 11.1 inning. Carrasco, though, has already left two starts this season with injury concerns. That has to be disconcerting. Also, the Tigers are favored against him, and many of the Tigers regulars have hit him fairly well in their careers, per DailyBaseballData.com.

Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants ($6,900)

Some casual daily fantasy baseball players might look at Lincecum’s 2.30 ERA and think he is the Cy Young version of years ago. They also might like the price tag. Those that watch Giants games know otherwise. Also, you don’t want any part of a wild Lincecum (seven walks in 18 innings to date) throwing 89 mph “fastballs” in Coors Field.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

Follow @EricMackFantasy

Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.