MLB DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups & Stacks Today: April 9th, 2026
Published: Apr 09, 2026
Happy Thursday, April 9th. We have a 3-game MLB DFS slate on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:10 pm.
We had a three-game early slate and now a three-game late slate today. Thursday is typically a big travel day around baseball and that typically means small slates. We have a few stars taking the field tonight with Fernando Tatis, Francisco Lindor, and Corbin Carroll. Lets dive into the breakdown of the slate.
For updated MLB DFS projections, lineup generator, and ownership projections, visit FantasyAlarm.com.
⚡ THE SLATE DASHBOARD
| Slate | 3-Game Slate on FD & DK | Lock: 7:10 PM ET |
| Top Game Totals | AZ/NYM (O/U - 7) • CHW/KC (O/U - 9) • COL/SD (O/U - 8) |
| SP Ownership Tier | Tarik Skubal (DET, 30% DK) • Garrett Crochet (BOS, 30% DK) • Robbie Ray (SF, 23% DK) • Nick Pivetta (SDP, 19% DK) |
| Highest K-Projections | Nolan McLean (NYM, 5.5) • Randy Vasquez (SD, 4.5) • Seth Lugo (KC, 4.5) • Eduardo Rodriguez (AZ, 4.5) • Anthony Kay (CWS, 3.5) |
| Weather | Good hitting weather. Winds blowing out in CHW/KC. |
💎 PITCHING COACH
Top Tier
Nolan McLean (NYM) | vs ARI
McLean's ownership is the highest on the slate as he's the best pitcher on the board. He's looked sharp in his first two outings this year and has 12 Ks through 10.1 IP. Arizona is 27th in OPS vs. RHP this year.
Seth Lugo (KC) | vs CHW
There's nobody worse on this slate against right-handed pitching that the Chicago White Sox, ranking 29th in OPS this year. Not only do they have bad stats, they're striking out 28.5% of the time to boot.
Value Plays
Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) | vs NYM
The Mets do have some solid numbers against left-handed pitching this year, but ERod does have a spot in which he can miss some bats. The Mets, although ranking 10th in OPS and 9th in wOBA, have a 24.8% K-rate against them.
Randy Vaaquez (SD) | vs COL
Away from Coors Field, the Rockies have a .637 OPS and a 27.8% K-rate, which is where the upside with Vasquez lies. I think he's been way above his actual level, but is appealing because of the matchup.
💎 HITTING COACH
Elite Bats
Fernando Tatis (OF, SD) | vs COL
Tatis has struggled on the surface stats, but his underlying numbers suggest an awful amount of bad luck. He has a .258 wOBA but a .345 xwOBA. The Rockies are going to send Jimmy Herget and Chase Dollander behind him for a bulk of the innings.
Maikel Garcia (3B, KC) | vs CWS
Garcia has opened the year off super hot against left-handed pitching. Garcia has .385 ISO and .583 wOBA this year against lefties and last year Garcia had a .203 ISO and .398 wOBA.
Ramon Laureano (OF, SD) | vs COL
Laureano was very reverse splits last season and has been this year too. Laureano has a .212 ISO, .237 xISO, .318 wOBA, and .353 xwOBA against righties this year.
Value Bats (Salary Savers)
- Mark Vientos (1B, NYM): Vientos has cleared .200 ISO against left-handed pitching in each of the last two seasons.
- Gavin Sheets (1B/OF, SD): Last year, Dollander allowed a .220 ISO and .231 xISO to LHH. Sheets had .202 ISO & .226 xISO vs. RHP last year.
- Mickey Moniak (OF, COL): Lefties have given Vasquez issues the last few seasons allowing a .142 ISO, .231 xISO, .336 wOBA, and .376 xwOBA.
- T.J. Rumfield (1B, COL): Lefties have given Vasquez issues the last few seasons allowing a .142 ISO, .231 xISO, .336 wOBA, and .376 xwOBA.
🏗️ THE STACKING BLUEPRINT
Primary Stack: San Diego Padres
Targets: Tatis Jr., Laureano, Merrill, Machado, Sheets
Opponent: Colorado Rockies | SD 4.8 implied
The Rockies are trying to protect Chase Dollander here by using an opener but I'm interested in the Padres offense. They have the second-highest implied total on the board. Dollander allowed a .220 ISO and .231 xISO to lefties last year and .142 ISO and .162 xISO to righties. Padres have a great blend of both.
Primary Stack: Kansas City Royals
Targets: Garcia, Witt Jr., Perez, Pasquantino, Thomas, India
Opponent: Chicago White Sox | KC 5.3 implied
Righties have REALLY hit Anthony Key hard thus far. Righties have a .308 ISO, .333 xISO, .394 wOBA, and .483 xwOBA against him. The Royals have some elite righties in their lineup to throw at him.
Contrarian Stack: New York Mets
Targets: Lindor, Vientos, Robert Jr., Polanco, Bichette
Opponent: Arizona Diamondbacks | NYM 4.2 implied
Eduardo Rodriguez is facing eight right-handed hitters today as Brett Baty is the only lefty in the lineup. Righties posted a .193 ISO against ERod a year ago.
📈 THE LEVERAGE REPORT (GAME THEORY)
The Chalk (Popular) | The Pivot (Low Owned) | The Winning Logic |
|---|---|---|
| McLean (highly owned) | Rodriguez (low-owned) | The Mets have nearly 25% K-rate vs. LHP this year |
| Vasquez (highly owned) | Seth Lugo (lower-owned) | White Sox are 28th in OPS & have the 2nd-highest K-rate vs. RHP |
| KC Chalk Stack (Witt, Perez, Garcia, Pasquantino) | NYM Stack (Vientos, Bichette, Alvarez low-owned) | Mets have eight righties in the lineup against Eduardo Rodriguez. |
🎯 HEART OF THE ORDER
The core pieces for every lineup you build today. Ownership drives the cash versus GPP label.
| SP1 | Nolan McLean (NYM) |
| Core Bat | Fernando Tatis (SD) |
| Core Bat | Maikel Garcia (KC) |
| Value Core | Mark Vientos (NYM) |
| Value Core | Ramon Laureano (SD) |
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