This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
It seems like spring has finally, mercifully sprung. Weather is less of a concern as we make our daily fantasy lineups. There are 15 games Saturday, starting with the Yankees and Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m. EDT. You'll need to get your lineups in early, but if you play daily fantasy baseball you're used to that on the weekend. Here are my recommendations for the day.
STARTING PITCHER
Aaron Nola, PHI vs. PIT ($48): Nola is overlooked as a true No. 1 starter, but he has a career 3.39 FIP and has struck out more than a hitter per inning. Plus, last season he pitched significantly better at home, posting a 2.98 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in Philadelphia's home park.
Zack Godley, ARI vs. SDP ($44): Godley broke out last year with a 3.37 ERA and 3.45 FIP. Through three starts this year those numbers have dropped to 3.00 and 3.31. The Padres added a little talent this offseason, but not enough to significantly change their offense. San Diego has a .295 OBP (26th) and .373 SLG (22nd).
CATCHER
Mike Zunino, SEA at TEX ($14): Yes, Bartolo Colon's last start was fun, but he's still a 44-year-old who had a 6.48 ERA last year. His .219 BABIP and 8.50 K/BB rate aren't going to sustain themselves. Zunino just returned from a DL stint. Last year, he broke out with a .509 slugging percentage and 25 homers in 124 games.
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FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo, CHI at COL ($14): Don't look at Rizzo's numbers to start the season. It's early, and he also has been hurt. Instead, look at the fact he's averaged 31 homers and 106 RBI per season the last three years. Gaze upon his .281/.388/.516 slash line the last three seasons. Then remember this game is at Coors Field, and that Rockies starter Tyler Anderson has a career 4.14 FIP.
SECOND BASE
Asdrubal Cabrera, NYM at ATL ($19): Cabrera is off to a hot start after hitting at least 14 homers in his last seven seasons and posting a .280 average in each of his last two campaigns. After a 4.99 FIP last year, Julio Teheran has a 6.45 FIP through four starts this year. In 20 innings, he's allowed five homers as well.
THIRD BASE
Matt Carpenter, STL vs. CIN ($15): Once Carpenter's .222 BABIP rises, his numbers are going to look more like normal. In fact, last year's numbers were even hurt by a lower than normal BABIP (.274), and he still had a .384 OBP and hit 23 homers. Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey had a 6.25 ERA the last three seasons, and this year he has a 4.09 FIP. On top of that, Carpenter hits righties (like Bailey) considerably better than lefties.
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor, CLE at BAL ($19): Lindor is another hitter off to a slow start, but that just means a deflated price to take advantage of. He has a career batting line of .290/.346/.470, and as a 24-year-old he should just be entering his prime. You know who definitely isn't in his prime? Baltimore's Chris Tillman. After a 7.84 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in 2017, Tillman's numbers have ballooned this year to 11.91 and 2.82, respectively. Obviously, those numbers are going to drop, but this still looks like a great matchup.
OUTFIELD
Rhys Hoskins, PHI vs. PIT ($23): Hoskins hasn't even played a full season yet, but we know he can hit, and especially for power. He has a career slugging percentage of .618, and even though his batting average against lefties hasn't been great, he's still slugged against southpaws incredibly well in a limited number of at-bats. Steven Brault may be a leftie, but he's not a particularly good one. His career ERA is 4.76, and his career FIP is 4.67.
David Peralta, ARI vs. SDP ($19): Peralta's career line is .295/.348/.470, and he's hit even better to start this season. He's also put better numbers up at home, which isn't surprising given the nature of Arizona's ballpark. Padres starter Clayton Richard, on the other hand, has pitched worse away from the friendly confines of Petco Park. He also has a 1.50 WHIP the last three seasons. The 34-year-old isn't likely to get any better at this point, and so far this year his fastball is slower than ever.
Lorenzo Cain, MIL vs. MIA ($17): Cain posted a .300 batting average and .363 OBP last season, his final with the Royals, and he's been doing well with the Brewers. Additionally, the 32-year-old hit 15 dingers and stole 26 bases in 2017, making him bit of a double threat. Jose Urena has a 4.76 career FIP, and he has a 5.57 ERA through four starts this year. All four starts have been at home, and now he has to take the mound on the road.
