This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
The weather in April has been less than beautiful, which has complicated matters for baseball fans and daily fantasy players. Games are being rained out left and right. In fact, Sunday's game between the White Sox and Twins has already been postponed. As such, you'd be wise to keep an eye on the forecast for all these games, especially the ones in the Midwest. So, with fingers crossed, here are my lineup recommendations.
PITCHER
Shohei Ohtani, LAA at KAN ($10,500): All we know about Ohtani, at least outside his tremendous Japanese career, is that he has a 2.08 ERA and 0.46 ERA through two starts, both wins. Also, he's struck out 18 batters in 13.0 innings. Though the season is young, the Royals are last in runs per game, and with all the players they've lost to free agency and injuries, that's not surprising.
GPP Fade: Carlos Martinez, STL at CIN ($8,700): The best pitchers going Sunday are largely at home, and other fade options are under the threat of another weather-related postponement. Martinez is a good pitcher, but he had a 3.95 FIP last year that has carried into this season. He also had a 4.02 ERA and 1.30 WHIP on the road last year. The Reds are off to a somewhat slow start offensively, but they ranked 11th in runs scored at home last season.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Joey Lucchesi, SDP vs. SFG ($8,100): Lucchesi has surprised us all by posting a 1.72 ERA through three starts, and even if you don't believe in that, his 2.75 FIP is also impressive. One of those starts came at Coors Field too! Pitching at Petco will be much easier. Plus, after finishing 29th in runs scored last season, the Giants are in the bottom five once again.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jose Martinez, STL at CIN ($3,500): Martinez broke onto the scene last season with a .309/.379/.518 slash line, and he's been even better to start this year. Cincinnati's Homer Bailey hasn't pitched a full season since 2014, but over the last three years he has a 6.25 ERA. This season he has a 3.24 ERA, but his FIP is 3.80 on account of the fact he has a .255 BABIP.
SECOND BASE
Ian Kinsler, LAA at KAN ($3,700): Kinsler sat out Saturday, but it was only to rest. It certainly wasn't based on performance, as he's averaged 11.4 fantasy points per game this season. Yes, it's early, but he's still a player who has averaged 20 homers and 12 stolen bases over the last three years. He will certainly be itching to get a chance to hit against Kansas City's Eric Skoglund. We're talking about a guy with a career ERA of 9.53 and career WHIP of 2.21.
THIRD BASE
Kyle Seager, SEA vs. OAK ($3,400): After struggling against lefties in 2016, in 2017 he hit lefties and righties equally well, and he's been fine against southpaws so far. Oakland's Sean Manaea, a lefty, has a 1.74 ERA, but his 3.97 FIP is in line with his career 4.02 FIP. Additionally, even with the impressive numbers to start the season, he has allowed three homers in 20.7 innings.
SHORT STOP
Francisco Lindor, CLE vs. TOR ($4,600): Cast Lindor's slow-ish start to the season aside and look at his career slash line of .291/.347/.471. Plus, he's always hit better at home, and his small-sample size numbers in Cleveland (.855 OPS) are still strong this year. Due to the rain, Jaime Garcia's start has been pushed to Sunday. Garcia has FIPs of 4.54 and 4.31 over the last two seasons.
OUTFIELD
Bryce Harper, WAS vs. COL ($5,000): Rockies starter Tyler Anderson has a career ERA of 4.19 and career FIP of 4.07. Also, strangely for a pitcher who calls Coors Field home, he's pitched considerably worse on the road. Harper is, obviously, a great hitter when healthy, and he already has six homers in 15 games. He's a reliable hitter in a favorable matchup, and since the Nationals and Rockies didn't see their game rained out Saturday there is at least some level of confidence that they will be able to play Sunday.
Corey Dickerson, PIT at MIA ($4,000): In his last three full seasons, Dickerson has hit at least 24 homers. That includes 27 last season in 150 games with the Rays. The 28-year-old has hit quite well since joining the Pirates, even if the sample size is small. Lasts season Jose Urena had his lowest ERA (3.82) but his highest FIP (5.24) which is probably more telling. On top of that, Urena has allowed 1.20 home runs per nine innings in his career.
Josh Reddick, HOU vs. TEX ($3,700): Reddick sat Friday with a lefty on the mound, and he struggled with another southpaw pitching Saturday. Fortunately, a righty is starting for the Rangers on Sunday, and Reddick hits righties much better. Also, that righty is Bartolo Colon. It's amazing the 44-year-old is still pitching, but he's coming off a season where he had a 6.48 ERA and 5.26 FIP.
