MLB DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (4/22)

Friday is providing a marquee main slate. It has a whopping 13 games on DraftKings and FanDuel, starting at 7:05 pm ET. In addition, it has a bit of everything for everyone. Top pitchers are getting the ball, and elite offenses have good matchups. As a result, there are many ways to attack the slate.

Friday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
The middle and upper-middle-tier pitchers are attractive on DraftKings. Additionally, one ace stands out against a pretty top-heavy lineup. Further, one of the starters on the table is priced extremely cheaply on FanDuel, allowing gamers to load up on star hitters.

Check out all of the day's probable starting pitchers

Cash Game Recommendations:

Kyle Wright (ATL) vs. MIA
Wright took his lumps to get to this point, but he's pitching like the blossoming superstar the Braves hoped they'd get when they picked him fifth in the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft. According to FanGraphs, in two starts totaling 11.0 innings this year, he has had a 1.64 ERA, 1.38 xERA, 1.76 SIERA, 0.73 WHIP, 2.4 BB%, 35.7 K%, and 33.9 CSW%.

Thankfully, it's easy to spot tangible changes fueling his heater to start the year. First, he's throwing harder. Second, he's using his curve 19% more than in 2021. Third, he's cut back on his fastball usage. The changes have been working, suffice to say. Finally, Betting Pros lists the Braves as -145 favorites, and the game's total is a ho-hum 8.5 runs. So, I love the upside and value Wright offers tonight.

Ranger Suarez (PHI) vs. MIL
Suarez is an affordable SP2 in all game types on DraftKings and a GPP pick for hitter-heavy lineup builds on FanDuel. Sadly, Suarez hasn't lit the world on fire to start the year. Regardless, he's coming off a rock-solid start in which he was stretched out to 78 pitches. Therefore, he should be built up to a complete workload now.

The young lefty was lights out in Philadelphia's bullpen before becoming a revelation when transitioning to starting mid-2021. Suarez doesn't have elite bat-missing stuff, but his 23.5 K% in 14 starts is respectable. In addition, there isn't a reason to sweat the homer-friendly nature of Citizens Bank Park, thanks to Suarez's 57.8 GB% in his starts. Finally, the host Phillies are -125 favorites in a game with an over/under of just 8.0 runs.

GPP Recommendations:

Justin Verlander (HOU) vs. TOR
Verlander made only one start in 2020 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, missed all of 2021 rehabbing, and hasn't skipped a beat in his return to the hill. Through two starts this year lasting 13.0 innings, he's twirled a 0.69 ERA, 2.54 xERA, 2.61 SIERA, 0.61 WHIP, 6.4 BB%, 31.9 K%, and 28.1 CSW%. Simply, Verlander has clowned the Angels and Mariners.

Tonight should be his biggest challenge to date against the high-octane Blue Jays, right? It might not be. Toronto's lineup was already missing injured Teoscar Hernandez, then George Springer exited Wednesday's game after getting hit by a pitch on the forearm. Springer was held out of Thursday's lineup, and he's listed as day to day. If he's out, Toronto's remaining healthy offensive players are a top-heavy group. Thus, I love Verlander's cathedral-high ceiling tonight. However, since Wright is significantly cheaper, and big boppers are essential to cash-game lineup building, Verlander's best reserved for GPPs.

Freddy Peralta (MIL) at PHI
Philadelphia's lineup looks terrifying on paper. However, they've had only a 99 wRC+ and .143 ISO versus right-handed pitchers this season. Ultimately, the offense should erupt at some point. Moreover, Peralta's control has escaped him through two starts.

Peralta has walked six batters and hit another in seven innings. However, despite his control struggles, Peralta has struck out 27.0% of the batters he's faced with an outstanding 30.3 CSW%. As a result, I'm chalking up his early-season struggles as a hiccup and suggesting chasing his immense upside in GPPs.

Top Lineup Stacks

Get all of our projected lineups for today

• Home (Truist Park)
• Value: Low(FD)/High(DK)
• Risk: Medium
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/ATL -145

The pricing difference between DraftKings and FanDuel for Atlanta's hitters is stark. The Braves are grossly underpriced on DraftKings and reasonably priced on FanDuel. Lefty Trevor Rogers broke out for the Marlins last year, but he was considerably better in the early season than down the stretch. Now, he's scuffling through two starts. Thus, I'm happy to attack him with the Braves.

• Road (PETCO Park)
• Value: Low
• Risk: Low
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.0 Runs/LAD -170

The Dodgers are stomping right-handed pitchers this year. They're second in MLB with a 138 wRC+ against righties. Conversely, Nick Martinez hasn't been off to a smooth start returning from a successful stint in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) the previous few years. The veteran righty has allowed three homers, walked five batters, and hit another in just 10 innings. The Dodgers are the polar opposite of a get-right matchup for Martinez.

• Road (Chase Field)
• Value: Low
• Risk: Low
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/NYM -135

One spot behind the Dodgers in wRC+ against righties is the Mets, sporting a 134 wRC+. The betting odds suggest the linemakers and bettors expect the Mets to keep rolling. I agree. In his only start this year, opposing pitcher Zac Gallen spun four scoreless innings against these Mets. However, he was a solid-if-unspectacular pitcher last year, evidenced by his 4.30 ERA, 3.95 xERA, 4.04 SIERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 1.41 HR/9. Gallen was also limited to just 66 pitches in his first start. So, he's unlikely to handle more than approximately 80 pitches. When Gallen exits, he'll hand the ball off to Arizona's basement-dwelling (4.88 xFIP) bullpen.

• Ozzie Albies has smacked five homers in 63 plate appearances this year. And he has a track record of dominance against left-handed pitchers.
• Matt Olson facing lefty Rogers might be a match made in heaven. Rogers has been more giving to lefties than righties since last year, and Olson has had a .286 ISO against southpaws since 2019.
• Trea Turner is one of two shortstops on the table above. But, honestly, I'm splitting my exposure to Turner and the upcoming stud. The speedy shortstop has swiped three bases to bolster his stellar 115 wRC+ in 2022. And, of course, he hits third in the Dodgers' star-studded lineup.
• Do you remember when Francisco Lindor had a slow start for the Mets in 2021? That feels like a distant memory. This year he's been a do-it-all stud out of the gate, blowing up for a .419 OBP, .308 ISO, 201 wRC+, four homers, and three stolen bases.

• Marcell Ozuna has lit up the Statcast leaderboard, tallying a .320 xBA, .682 xSLG, and .418 xwOBA. He's smashing the ball on par with his elite 2020 campaign.
• I was entirely off Cody Bellinger after his spring training struggles. Now, he's making those who doubted him look foolish. Bellinger has a .354 OBP, .256 ISO, 156 wRC+, and three stolen bases to boot through 48 plate appearances. Bellinger's salary lags behind his resurgence on DraftKings, making him a steal.
• Jesse Winker is hitting below the Medoza Line. Still, his walk rate has been elite, and his batted-ball data indicates he's been incredibly unlucky. As a result, I'm buying into Winker shaking out of his funk.
• Darin Ruf is also hitting under .200. But thankfully, his plate discipline hasn't wavered, and he's hitting the ball hard. Since last year, Patrick Corbin has coughed up a .553 SLG and .387 wOBA to right-handed batters. Thus, maybe he is just what the doctor ordered to cure what ails Ruf.

Friday's Hitter Strategy
The Braves and Dodgers are the backbones of my daily baseball offenses tonight. I'm also investing in the Mets. At FanDuel, Winker and Ruf are value options that open the requisite cap space for the high-priced hitters on the Braves, Dodgers, and Mets.

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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.