Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: MLB DraftKings Strategy, Primer for April 25 – Bleacher Report

With few aces in action on Saturday, we could be in for some high-scoring baseball games and a wild day in daily fantasy.

This type of schedule creates an even bigger necessity of picking the right pitcher, while there are also plenty of opportunities to stack your lineup against a weaker one. Here is a complete look at advice of who to pick and who to avoid for April 24.

Pitchers to Draft

Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians ($7,800)

Although Trevor Bauer had a few disappointing seasons after coming into the league as a highly regarded prospect, he is finally showing that potential this season, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted:

It appears that @BauerOutage sure is figuring it out with the #Indians. He now has a 0.95 ERA, yielding just 8 hits with 26Ks in 19 IP.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 21, 2015

There are still issues with control, but he has been racking up strikeouts at a high rate and keeping runs off the board—two things that lead to a big fantasy day.

With the Detroit Tigers coming back to earth after an impressive start, this is a good chance to get a huge day for a reasonable price.

Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves ($7,300)

It’s easy to gain fans in a new location when you pitch like Shelby Miller. The former St. Louis Cardinals starter has allowed three runs in his first three starts for the Braves, earning victories in two of them.

Although his inability to go deep into games remains an issue, he still has an impressive 1.69 ERA and a .211 batting average against. Going up against the hapless Philadelphia Phillies lineup should allow him to continue his recent success.

Pitchers to Avoid

CC Sabathia, New York Yankees ($8,400)

Although CC Sabathia might not deserve his 0-3 record, he hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in his first three starts. Even his most recent performance where he allowed just two runs in eight innings still featured seven hits and three walks allowed.

His ability to pitch deep into games allows him to remain a safe bet in fantasy lineups, although he is unlikely to put together huge efforts anymore. This is especially true against the red-hot New York Mets.

For his price, it might be best to avoid the former All-Star.

Ian Kennedy, San Diego Padres ($8,000)

After missing the past couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, Ian Kennedy will return to the Padres rotation against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The problem is he will be difficult to trust right out of the gate, especially against a quality team like the Dodgers.

Look for Kennedy to be on a limited pitch count and struggle to put up big fantasy numbers in a shortened outing.

Hitters to Draft

Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants ($4,600)

Jorge De La Rosa has only made one start this year for the Colorado Rockies, and it was simply awful. He allowed nine runs (seven earned) in just two innings before being removed. Whether his groin injury is still an issue or not, it’s clear he is not quite ready to compete at a high level.

With Buster Posey just getting out of his mediocre start, he could be in for a big day against the left-handed starter, especially in the batter-friendly Coors Field.

Devon Travis, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays ($3,600)

The price hasn’t gone up too much for Devon Travis, but it’s time to get on the bandwagon. The second baseman has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season and should continue to rake over the weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays’ shuffled rotation.

While some might question Travis’ start as a fluke, ESPN’s Mark Simon notes the balls he is hitting into play have been hit hard:

Blue Jays Devon Travis ranks 2nd in MLB in hard-hit rate. https://t.co/B8w7PGhZiM pic.twitter.com/U3Mthr8ApC

— Mark Simon (@msimonespn) April 24, 2015

He isn’t likely to flirt with a .400 batting average all season, but there is no reason to expect an immediate decline anytime soon.

Hitters to Avoid

Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers ($4,400)

The Milwaukee Brewers did finally snap the eight-game losing streak, and Ryan Braun has had a few multi-hit games this year. However, the all-around struggles of the lineup will limit opportunities for both runs and RBI, especially without hitting many home runs this year.

Most importantly, betting against Adam Wainwright is usually not a smart move.

Ian Desmond, SS, Washington Nationals ($4,700)

His work at the plate has been much better than in the field this year, and he remains one of the more consistent hitters in the league. The problem is the cost as the most expensive shortstop in the early contests.

Fantasy owners could use this position to save in their budget and grab some players who have been even more successful this year like Zack Cozart or Jose Iglesias.

Team to Stack

Atlanta Braves

David Buchanan has improved each start this season, but that is a low bar considering he currently has a 9.22 ERA through three games. He is yet to make it out of the sixth inning and is simply struggling to keep runners off the bases.

This is good news for the Atlanta Braves, who have the opportunity to put up big numbers in a hitter’s ballpark.

Fantasy owners can have a big day if they especially focus on lefties like Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, A.J. Pierzynski and others.

Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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