Penned By: @Ryan_Humphries on Twitter and LineStar Chat.

• Rate LineStarApp on the App store and get a shoutout on Twitter from @LineStarApp official account!

• Have questions? Check out the LineStar Tutorial Wiki.

• LineStar’s 2024 MLB DFS Primer & Strategy Guide ⚾

Top DFS Offers 4/2/23 💸

Our editors found the top deals in sports-books so you don’t have to! Tapping below links will help support LineStar through an affiliate referral.

• Sleeper DFS - Deposit Match up to $100 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Underdog DFS - Deposit Match up to $100 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Chalkboard DFS - Deposit Match up to $300 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Must be 18+ (some states may require 21+) and be present in an eligible state; if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.

OnDeck MLB DFS & Prop Bet Podcasts 🎙️

Like, Subscribe, and Comment @ LineStar YouTube channel! You never know when we’ll shout you out or give you something cool. New episodes drop Mon-Fri feat. hosts Shannon Sommerville & Tyler Wiemann! Every episode is quick, informative, & easy to watch.

Main Slate Rundown 🏟

The first Tuesday MLB slate of the 2024 season arrives! For the uninitiated, Tuesdays will usually provide a large main slate since it’s generally not going to be a travel day for any road teams. That will hold true today as a hefty nine-game main slate makes its way onto the board. Some teams are turning back over to the top of their rotation while others will be deploying their fifth starter, so there’s a good mix in pitching talent today, though the pitcher pool still feels a bit underwhelming overall. Cooler temps in many parts of the country will look to keep any huge offensive outbursts at bay but there are still plenty of offenses in quality spots tonight. Things are going to be a bit tricky today, as most large slates often are, but there are plenty of viable ways to attack this one. Let’s get into it! Best of luck!

Main slate match-ups with implied run totals and moneyline odds:

Main Slate Weather Outlook 💨🌦️☁️

Check LineStar's MLB Daily Dashboard to see an overview of the most up-to-date game forecasts.

DET @ NYM (7:10 ET): Things are looking grim here as rain is expected essentially all day and well into the evening. The rain may clear up briefly around first pitch but that ‘clear’ window may not last long, if it even arrives in the first place. There’s a good chance this one gets postponed or, at the very least, experiences a lengthy delay, so be careful rostering any players from this game. If an early PPD is not announced by around 6:30 ET, then we’ll have to give the forecast another look to see if there’s a chance they could get a full game in. For the purposes of this newsletter, I’ll avoid mentioning any players from this game.

COL @ CHC (7:40 ET): It’s a cold, rainy day in Chicago with temps in the 40s and rain falling throughout the day and into the early evening. Fortunately, things begin to clear up around first pitch so there should be a 3-ish hour window where they can get this game in. It certainly won’t feel like a great day to be at the ballpark for fans or players alike but, for now, while a brief late start may be needed, expect this game to play. Stiff winds will be blowing OUT at 15-20 mph but the cold temps may either neutralize the hitting conditions, or perhaps even favor pitchers.

ATL @ CWS (7:40 ET): As you’d expect, the forecast here will be essentially the same as the Cubs forecast. Cold with rain clearing around first pitch (chance for a late start) and 15-20 mph winds blowing out, and a bit right to left at times.

Pitchers to Consider ⚾

Quick Note on Pitching: During the initial portion of the season, not many starting pitchers are going to be throwing a full workload unless otherwise noted by the team’s manager (and even then, that’s not information we can fully trust). This makes spending up on pitching a bit riskier in the early goings.

Shane Bieber (RHP), CLE | DK: $8.8k, FD: $10.2k | @ SEA

This is going to feel a bit “chase-y” after Shane Bieber posted a huge Opening Day performance against an awful A’s offense, where he pitched six four-hit shutout innings while racking up 11 Ks along the way and securing 36.5 DKFP/61 FDFP. However, the Mariners offense has been racking up the Ks in abundance and their 32.7% kRate vs. RHPs in 159 PA this season currently ranks as the second-worst mark in the MLB. Elsewhere against RHPs, they’re hitting just .181 (ranks 26^th) with a .235 wOBA (29^th), .081 ISO (26^th), and 53 wRC+ (27^th). In 108 PA versus the current Mariners roster, Bieber has held them to a .235 AVG, .238 wOBA, and 29.6% kRate. While Bieber’s Opening Day performance was a moderate surprise, based on the Spring he had, it wasn’t totally unexpected. Across 17.1 IP in Spring Training, Bieber emerged with a superb 1.56 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, .130 opp AVG, and he recorded 19 Ks (9.9 K/9). It’s tough to rely heavily on the data from a one-game sample size, but the velocity on all five of Bieber’s pitch types is up by one-to-two mph when compared to his last couple of seasons and it doesn’t hurt that he’ll be taking the mound in a very pitcher-friendly ballpark tonight (T-Mobile Park: No. 1 pitcher’s park in 2023). A quick regression game may be in order for Bieber, and the Mariners offense won’t be this bad for long, but there isn’t one pitcher on this slate that I feel like I “have” to have in lineups tonight. Even if he’s a little chalky, I’ll take some shots on Bieber for the strikeout upside alone in a game that owns a slate-low 7.0 over/under.

Yu Darvish (RHP), SD | DK: $8.2k, FD: $9.3k | vs. STL

Including the March 20^th game in the Seoul Series, Darvish will be the first pitcher in the MLB to make his third start of the 2024 season, so he has technically had the most time to shake off the off-season rust up to this point. Darvish’s start against the Dodgers in Seoul only lasted 3.2 innings while throwing 72 pitches, but he held their vaunted lineup to just two hits while allowing zero earned runs. His second start against the Giants last Thursday was more productive from a fantasy standpoint, as he threw 78 pitches across five innings and allowed one run on five hits to go along with seven strikeouts -- good for 19.7 DKFP/33 FDFP. If he can get closer to a 90 pitch count in this third start, then he’ll have a chance to flash some more upside. He’ll draw an interesting match-up against a Cardinals team that is off to a sluggish start to their 2024 season. In 172 PA vs. RHPs, the Cardinals are hitting .229 with a .270 wOBA, .096 ISO, 65 wRC+, and 30.2% kRate. St. Louis is another offense that has been underwhelming thus far but will likely improve sooner rather than later, however, I’m not sure this is the best spot for them to begin their positive regression as they continue to soldier through a tough opening West Coast road trip. Darvish should also get a boost from taking the mound at his pitcher-friendly home ballpark of Petco Park, where he owns a career 3.34 ERA, 3.43 xFIP, 1.03 WHIP, .215 opp AVG, and 28.9% kRate in 46 starts (280.1 IP). The 37-year-old Darvish is well past his prime but, as long as he’s given more slack on his leash (pitch count), then he’s a solid bet to put in six strong innings of work this evening.

Reynaldo Lopez (RHP), ATL | DK: $7.5k, FD: $6.5k | @ CWS

Dare we go down the “relievers turn starters” pathway again? It has mostly been a volatile approach thus far, and often a detriment to DFS lineups, but if you’re willing to take on some risk, Reynaldo Lopez is an interesting value target this evening. Unlike other guys in a similar scenario, Lopez does have a fair amount of starting experience at the MLB level. While he has not started a game since 2022, and hasn’t started more than nine games in a single season since 2019, Lopez has 97 career starts under his belt. His track record as a starter is far from spectacular -- in those 97 MLB starts, he has come away with a 4.73 ERA, 5.19 xFIP, and 19.8% kRate. However, following a strong Spring Training where he acquired a 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, .179 opp AVG, and 13 Ks across 16.2 IP, Lopez earned the fifth spot in the Braves’ starting rotation over Bryce Elder and some talented rookies. Lopez was solid in 66.0 IP out of the bullpen last year where he recorded a 3.27 ERA, 4.06 xFIP, and 1.27 WHIP. Most notably, his primary pitch, the four-seam fastball, averaged 98.2 mph and ranked in the 96^th percentile of MLB pitchers -- his high velo led to a 29.9% kRate, which placed him in the 90^th percentile of pitchers in 2023. Lopez will likely need to mix in more of his off-speed pitches to sustain a starting role but he’ll make his Braves debut in familiar territory as he draws the Chicago White Sox, where he has spent the majority of his MLB career. Through 90 PA against RHPs this season, the White Sox are hitting just .195 with a .290 wOBA, .657 OPS, and 24.4% kRate. They also may still be without one of their better hitters, Eloy Jimenez, who is day-to-day with an adductor injury. Backed by a potent offense, the Braves head into this evening as the heaviest favorites on the slate (-206 ML) so if he makes it through five-plus innings, Lopez should be in line for a win.

Reminder: Make sure the weather will cooperate for this game before locking anyone in. For now, the forecast should allow this game to play nine innings with a moderate chance of a brief late start.

Other Pitchers to Consider

Luis Castillo (RHP), SEA | DK: $9.4k, FD: $9.9k | vs. CLE

Framber Valdez (LHP), HOU | DK: $8.5k, FD: $9.1k | vs. TOR

Brayan Bello (RHP), BOS | DK: $8k, FD: $8.8k | @ OAK

Javier Assad (RHP), CHC | DK: $6.6k, FD: $6.2k | vs. COL (Monitor Weather)

Team Stacks to Target 🎯

Disclaimer: Stacking in MLB DFS is not a requirement but it is a very common strategy used to take down GPPs. This strategy is covered in more detail in the MLB DFS strategy guide linked in the header at the top of this newsletter. Check out the MLB StackFinder on LineStar.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Nestor Cortes (LHP), NYY

+ D-Backs: 4.8 implied runs (ranks 2^nd on the slate).

+ The D-Backs are off to a scorching hot start against LHPs -- albeit just a 53 PA sample size, they’re hitting .362 with a .461 wOBA,.277 ISO, 1.072 OPS, and 176 wRC+ with just a 13.2% kRate.

+ Nestor Cortes had a poor Spring (14.0 IP, 7.71 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, .359 opp AVG) which bled into an underwhelming Opening Day performance against the Astros (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 4 ER, 5 K). Cortes allowed a 53.3% HardHit% and 87.0% contact rate on pitches inside the zone last Thursday.

+ Cortes threw his four-seamer on 55.3% of pitches last Thursday -- the D-Backs currently have a .450 xwOBA (ranks 2^nd) versus LHP four-seamers this season (76 pitches faced).

+ Due to all of the chilly temps in today’s outdoor games, Chase Field (indoors) will represent one of the best hitting environments on this slate.

+/- The Yankees bullpen currently owns a 0.46 ERA but their 5.32 xFIP (8^th worst) suggests significant regression is due.

- The D-Backs were not known as a great, or even good, offense against LHPs last season where they ranked bottom 10 in most key metrics.

Favorite ARI Bats: Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Ketel Marte, Christian Walker

Bargain Bats: Gabriel Moreno and Blaze Alexander

Atlanta Braves vs. Garrett Crochet (LHP), CWS

+ Braves: 5.0 implied runs (ranks 1^st on the slate).

+ The Braves sported an MLB-best 131 wRC+ vs. LHPs in 2023 and they’ve been strong in limited PAs (41) versus lefties thus far this season: .289 AVG, .366 wOBA, .211 ISO, .841 OPS, and 118 wRC+.

+ Overall, the Braves currently lead the MLB in AVG, wOBA, OPS, and wRC+.

+ Based on WAR, the White Sox bullpen projects as the worst group of relievers in the MLB (per FanGraphs) and they’re off to a mediocre start with a 4.50 ERA and 4.71 xFIP.

-/+ The cold and wet conditions in Chicago will not be conducive for hitters, however, the Braves did hang nine runs on the White Sox in a shortened eight inning game in similar conditions yesterday.

- The Braves currently own a 29.3% kRate versus LHPs but, again, that’s just a 41 PA sample size.

- After spending the last three seasons as a reliever, Garrett Crochet is making just his second ever MLB start, but he looked sharp on Opening Day against the Tigers where he pitched six one-run innings and racked up eight Ks.

- Core Braves bats could be a bit chalky with four hitters projected for > 15% pOwn%.

Favorite ATL Bats: Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies

Bargain Bat: Orlando Arcia

Low-Owned Stack That Just Might Work Out 🤔

New York Yankees vs. Zac Gallen (RHP), ARI

+ Every hitter in the projected Yankees lineup has a < 7% pOwn%.

+ Zac Gallen had a pretty rough Spring (13.0 IP, 5.54 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, .291 opp AVG, 9 K) -- he had an ‘okay’ outing against a bad Rockies offense on Opening Day, but his velocity was down about two mph on his three primary pitches (four-seamer, knuckle curve, slider).

+ Despite a slow start for superstar Aaron Judge, thanks to a deeper and more balanced lineup this season, the Yankees currently rank top 10 versus RHPs in OBP, OPS, wOBA, kRate, and wRC+.

+ As noted with the D-Backs stack, due to all of the chilly temps in today’s outdoor games, Chase Field (indoors) will represent one of the best hitting environments on this slate.

- The D-Backs bullpen has been sharp thus far: 2.49 ERA, 3.89 xFIP, .200 opp AVG, and 0.97 WHIP.

- Gallen is still one of the top pitchers in the MLB and he was dominant at home in 2023 where he rocked a 2.47 ERA, 2.66 xFIP, 1.03 WHIP, and 30.1% kRate.

Favorite NYY Bats: Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres

Bargain Bats: Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera

One-Off Bats ☝️

A maximum of one hitter per team will be listed below. Feel free to use these players as one-off options, one-half of a two-man mini-stack, or a core piece to a full team stack.

2B/SS Mookie Betts, LAD | DK: $6.4k, FD: $4.6k | vs. Logan Webb (RHP), SF

OF Juan Soto, NYY | DK: $6.3k, FD: $4.3k | vs. Zac Gallen (RHP), ARI

3B Austin Riley, ATL | DK: $5.6k, FD:  $3.9k| vs. Garrett Crochet (LHP), CWS

OF Kyle Tucker, HOU | DK: $5.5k, FD: $3.6k | vs. Jose Berrios (RHP), TOR

1B Vlad Guerrero Jr., TOR | DK: $5.5k, FD: $3.6k | vs. Framber Valdez (LHP), HOU

OF Nolan Jones, COL | DK: $5.3k, FD: $3k | vs. Javier Assad (RHP), CHC

OF Luis Robert Jr., CWS | DK: $5.2k, FD: $3.3k | vs. Reynaldo Lopez (RHP), ATL

OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr., ARI | DK: $5.1k, FD: $3.6k | vs. Nestor Cortes (LHP), NYY

3B/SS Manny Machado, SD | DK: $5.1k, FD: $4k | vs. Miles Mikolas (RHP), STL

3B Christopher Morel, CHC | DK: $4.5k, FD: $3.4k | vs. Kyle Freeland (LHP), COL

1B Josh Naylor, CLE | DK: $4.5k, FD: $3.2k | vs. Luis Castillo (RHP), SEA

OF Jung Hoo Lee, SF | DK: $4.4k, FD: $2.8k | vs. Ryan Yabrough (LHP), LAD

OF Tyler O’Neill, BOS | DK: $4.3k, FD: $3.2k | vs. Alex Wood (LHP), OAK

Bargain Batters 💸

Note: Additional hitting value may open up once all official starting lineups are released. For now, here are some cheap hitters who are already confirmed or currently expected to be on the field tonight and find themselves in a good spot to pay off their modest DFS salaries.

Default cut-off to qualify as a “Bargain Batter” is <$4,100 on DraftKings

3B Yoan Moncada, CWS | DK: $4k, FD: $2.5k | vs. Reynaldo Lopez (RHP), CWS

C Gabriel Moreno, ARI | DK: $3.9k, FD: $2.8k | vs. Nestor Corets (LHP), NYY

SS Anthony Volpe, NYY | DK: $3.8k, FD: $2.8k | vs. Zac Gallen (RHP), ARI

OF Brendan Donovan, STL | DK: $3.6k, FD: $2.6k | vs. Yu Darvish (RHP), SD

OF Jackson Merrill, SD | DK: $3.4k, FD: $2.5k | vs. Miles Mikolas (RHP), STL

C Yainer Diaz, HOU | DK: $3.3k, FD: $2.7k | vs. Jose Berrios (RHP), TOR

SS Orlando Arcia, ATL | DK: $3.3k, FD: $2.9k | vs. Garrett Crochet (LHP), CWS

OF JJ Bleday, OAK | DK: $3.2k, FD: $2.6k | vs. Brayan Bello (RHP), BOS

OF/SS Oswaldo Cabrera, NYY | DK: $3k, FD: $2.7k | vs. Zac Gallen (RHP), ARI

SS Blaze Alexander, ARI | DK: $2.9k, FD: $2.2k | vs. Nestor Cortes (LHP), NYY

OF Victor Scott II, STL | DK: $2k, FD: $2k | vs. Yu Darvish (RHP), SD

Home Run Calls of the Day 💣

Make sure you’re following @LineStarApp on Twitter. Retweet the Home Run Calls of the Day tweet below for your chance to win prizes!

Ryan’s PrizePicks Power Play of the Day⚡

Here is a two-pick “Power Play” I’m liking for today's MLB action over on PrizePicks! Nothing is ever a guarantee to hit but I put my own money on these picks so I don't just lightly throw them out there without believing they'll cash! If it hits, it will return 3x the wager.

Ronald Acuña Jr. MORE than 1.5 Total Bases

Seiya Suzukia MORE than 7.5 Hitter Fantasy Score

🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we are introducing Props AI for MLB! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks and UnderDog Fantasy!

Speaking of props, put the Props AI tool to use by signing-up for UnderDog Fantasy for 2-months of LineStar Premium (Promo code: LINESTAR). Plus $100 deposit match for new customers. What many people may not realize is that you can legally place prop bets in most states using UnderDog (or PrizePicks) – it’s called Pick'Em and it’s insanely easy.

Best of luck out there today, everyone!