If you want to stay out of the Kershaw-Bumgarner-Chris Archer-Dallas Keuchel fray, there are plenty of options. Perhaps most intriguing among the upper-middle class guys are Zack Greinke and Masahiro Tanaka. Both have struggled this year, but with favorable matchups, both stand a better-than-average chance at a win, and we know they can dominate on any given night.

Vince Velasquez, as always, is a major boom-or-bust guy, as he’s just as likely to strike out 10 as he is to get pulled in the third at 81 pitches. Joe Ross, who will be making his season debut, and Trevor Bauer, are somewhat similar. Ross is opposite the struggling Robert Gsellman, but faces a homer-happy Mets offense. Bauer has a much better matchup against the Twins and Adalberto Mejia. He might be the biggest value of the night (assuming the game is played. See below.)

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Finally, if you’re really trying to be different but still get a decent pitcher, you can go with Tyler Anderson, who is going head-to-head with Kershaw. The Rockies hit Kershaw well a couple weeks ago, and while that was in Colorado, not LA, it still gives Anderson a glimmer of hope in his quest to get a win against the best pitcher in baseball.

Daily Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Pitchers

Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks: Wednesday, April 19

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There are 15 games on the MLB schedule today, with four getting underway in the afternoon and two starting after 10 pm ET. Today’s DFS Playbook is centered around the main slate, but I sprinkled in some afternoon guys if you’re looking for a good distraction while working.

By and large, the weather forecast looks good. There are slight chances of rain in Atlanta (Nationals-Braves) and the north side of Chicago (Brewers-Cubs), but no postponements in either place look imminent. There is a chance of a washout in Minnesota (Indians-Twins), and they are calling for late storms in Kansas City (Giants-Royals). The SF-KC game should get in, but CLE-MIN seems iffy. –  Nick Berns             

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Daily Fantasy Baseball Value Picks: Wednesday, April 19

Because we can’t do a full write-up on every player, here are some value plays we like who might make it into our Optimal Lineups.

C - Mike Zunnino (SEA) FD/Y! Value

C - Austin Hedges (SD)

1B - Josh Bell (PIT)

1B - Albert Pujols (LAA)

2B - Rickie Weeks (TB)

2B - Adam Rosales (OAK)

2B - Devon Travis (TOR) - FD/Y! value

SS - Zack Cosart (CIN)

SS/3B - Taylor Motter (SEA) - Cash value

SS - Adam Frazier (PIT) - FD Value

3B - Travis Shaw (MIL) - DK Value

OF - Jarrod Dyson (SEA)

OF - Ender Inciarte (ATL) - Y! Value