After a breakout season in 2022 where he posted a 2.96 ERA and struck out 190 over 191 1/3 innings, Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie was only able to make four starts in 2023 because of shoulder and elbow injuries. However, he avoided major surgery and he’ll be back on the mound to make his 2024 debut on Monday against the Mariners. On a day where a lot of franchises are turning to their fourth or fifth starter, McKenzie figures to be a popular option in the MLB DFS player pool but he’s also one of the more expensive pitching choices.
Should you assume the risk with McKenzie after he threw only 16 innings last season, or are there better options available for your MLB DFS lineups? Winning big in MLB DFS tournaments, cash games and 50-50s on FanDuel and DraftKings is all about avoiding risk and identifying upside. Before submitting any MLB DFS picks for Monday, be sure to check out the MLB DFS advice, strategy and projections from SportsLine daily Fantasy expert Mike McClure.
McClure is a daily Fantasy pro who has won more than $2 million in his career. And when it comes to daily Fantasy baseball, McClure is at his best. Recognized in the book “Fantasy Football (and Baseball) for Smart People: How to Turn Your Hobby into a Fortune” as a top MLB DFS player, McClure’s proprietary projection model simulates each game 10,000 times, taking factors such as matchups and recent results into account. This allows him to find the best values on every site.
On Friday, McClure highlighted Yankees outfielder Juan Soto as one of his top DFS picks on both sites. The result: Soto went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, and an RBI, returning 15 points on DraftKings and 18.5 points on FanDuel. Anybody who included him in their lineups was well on the way to a profitable day.
Now, with the 2024 MLB season underway, McClure has locked in his top MLB daily Fantasy picks for Monday, April 1. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
McClure’s top MLB DFS picks for Monday
One of McClure’s top MLB DFS picks for Monday is Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman at $4,000 on DraftKings and $3,300 on FanDuel. A first-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft out of high school, Gorman enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 and he’s quickly becoming a favorite in MLB daily Fantasy because of the power he can provide from a position that traditionally lacks pop.
Gorman hit 27 home runs last season and also had 76 RBI over 464 plate appearances and now he’s earned the luxury of hitting in between potential hall-of-famers like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. After going 0-for-4 on MLB Opening Day, Gorman has gone on a three-game hitting streak entering Monday and it feels like a matter of time before we see a power surge for the talented 23-year-old.
McClure is also rostering Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story at $4,200 on DraftKings and $2,800 on FanDuel. The two-time All-Star is finally healthy again after missing 187 games over his first two seasons in Boston and he’s coming off a multi-hit game on Sunday.
Story hasn’t had the chance to live up to his $140 million contract in Boston yet but there’s been optimism all offseason about a return to All-Star form. He even told manager Alex Cora that his expectation was to play in 155 games this season and Cora surprisingly didn’t shut the idea down. See McClure’s full MLB DFS player pool at SportsLine.
How to set your MLB DFS lineups for April 1, 2024
McClure is also targeting an undervalued player who is set to explode for huge numbers on Monday. The stars are aligning for him to return tournament-winning value and he comes at a price that won’t break the bank. You can only see who it is here.
So what are the top MLB DFS picks for Monday? Visit SportsLine now to see DFS millionaire Mike McClure’s complete player pool and picks for FanDuel and DraftKings, all from the DFS expert who has won more than $2 million.
