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Building The Perfect MLB FanDuel Lineup For Opening Day

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Opening day for the 2016 MLB season is finally here. Despite the fact that some consider tomorrow to be the real opening day, today is still the day where games truly start to matter. It will be very difficult to build the perfect FanDuel lineup for today since there are no regular season stats to use, but it’s not impossible. I will show you one of the ways to construct an ideal roster and start the season off on the right foot. However, please be aware that literally anything can and will happen. With that being said, let’s get to work and play ball!

(P) Chris Archer - Tampa Bay Rays - $9,500

(P) Chris Archer - Tampa Bay Rays - $9,500 Getty Images
Some may avoid Chris Archer today due to his matchup being against the league's most potent offense in the Toronto Blue Jays. However, a few things are in his favor today. The current Blue Jays roster is batting .174 and has a K-rate of 26.6 percent against Archer. Considering the fact that Toronto had a K-rate of 18.5 percent last year, Archer has the advantage. He should be good for seven IP, seven strikeouts and the win.

Some may avoid Chris Archer today due to his matchup being against the league's most potent offense in the Toronto Blue Jays. However, a few things are in his favor today. The current Blue Jays roster is batting .174 and has a K-rate of 26.6 percent against Archer. Considering the fact that Toronto had a K-rate of 18.5 percent last year, Archer has the advantage. He should be good for seven IP, seven strikeouts and the win.

(C) John Jaso - Pittsburgh Pirates - $2,500

(C) John Jaso - Pittsburgh Pirates - $2,500 Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Although John Jaso has never faced Adam Wainwright before, I still like his chances for success today. Jaso is an underrated hitter who historically destroys RHPs. His career wOBA against RHPs is .353 compared to a poor .261 wOBA against LHPs. Additionally, Wainwright is weaker against lefties like Jaso. I'm not expecting Jaso to own him today, but he should provide production to justify his cheap price.

Although John Jaso has never faced Adam Wainwright before, I still like his chances for success today. Jaso is an underrated hitter who historically destroys RHPs. His career wOBA against RHPs is .353 compared to a poor .261 wOBA against LHPs. Additionally, Wainwright is weaker against lefties like Jaso. I'm not expecting Jaso to own him today, but he should provide production to justify his cheap price.

(1B) Eric Hosmer - Kansas City Royals - $3,400

(1B) Eric Hosmer - Kansas City Royals - $3,400 Getty Images
Matt Harvey dominated the Kansas City Royals when he faced them in the World Series. Granted, he was left in one inning too long, but he still registered nine strikeouts against them. One of the few Royals to have success against him was Eric Hosmer. Hosmer had an RBI double against him and could do something similar today. Harvey can struggle against LHBs at times, which should lead to two hits and at least one RBI for Hosmer.

Matt Harvey dominated the Kansas City Royals when he faced them in the World Series. Granted, he was left in one inning too long, but he still registered nine strikeouts against them. One of the few Royals to have success against him was Eric Hosmer. Hosmer had an RBI double against him and could do something similar today. Harvey can struggle against LHBs at times, which should lead to two hits and at least one RBI for Hosmer.

(2B) Logan Forsythe - Tampa Bay Rays - $2,700

(2B) Logan Forsythe - Tampa Bay Rays - $2,700 Getty Images
There aren't many exciting options at 2B today, but I do feel that Logan Forsythe could be a good one. He will face the electric Marcus Stroman of the Toronto Blue Jays, who may struggle a bit today. Current Rays are batting .452 against Stroman with a K-rate of 12.9 percent over 31 ABs. Stroman also struggles against RHPs on the road. This should lead to Forsythe getting two hits and at least one run scored.

There aren't many exciting options at 2B today, but I do feel that Logan Forsythe could be a good one. He will face the electric Marcus Stroman of the Toronto Blue Jays, who may struggle a bit today. Current Rays are batting .452 against Stroman with a K-rate of 12.9 percent over 31 ABs. Stroman also struggles against RHPs on the road. This should lead to Forsythe getting two hits and at least one run scored.

(3B) Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays - $3,000

(3B) Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays - $3,000 Getty Images
I could be wrong, but I feel that the Tampa Bay Rays will give Marcus Stroman some problems today. Logan Forsythe is one of the guys, and I also like Evan Longoria. Even though it's over a small sample set of five ABs, Longoria is batting .600 against Stroman with a HR, a BB and two RBIs. As stated earlier, Stroman tends to struggle against RHPs on the road and this should lead to two hits and at least one RBI for Longoria.

I could be wrong, but I feel that the Tampa Bay Rays will give Marcus Stroman some problems today. Logan Forsythe is one of the guys, and I also like Evan Longoria. Even though it's over a small sample set of five ABs, Longoria is batting .600 against Stroman with a HR, a BB and two RBIs. As stated earlier, Stroman tends to struggle against RHPs on the road and this should lead to two hits and at least one RBI for Longoria.

(SS) Asdrubal Cabrera - New York Mets - $2,700

(SS) Asdrubal Cabrera - New York Mets - $2,700 Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets will be facing the pitching repertoire of Edinson Volquez today, and they haven't fared too well against him historically. However, the Mets have added a guy who has been successful against him in Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera is batting .308 with a HR, three RBIs and a K-rate of 7.7 percent against Volquez. He should be able to get on base twice and score at least one run in today's game. Anything extra is a bonus.

The New York Mets will be facing the pitching repertoire of Edinson Volquez today, and they haven't fared too well against him historically. However, the Mets have added a guy who has been successful against him in Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera is batting .308 with a HR, three RBIs and a K-rate of 7.7 percent against Volquez. He should be able to get on base twice and score at least one run in today's game. Anything extra is a bonus.

(OF) Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates - $4,600

(OF) Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates - $4,600 Getty Images
Over the past three seasons, Andrew McCutchen has alternated having a hot or cold start in the first month. Last year, he had a cold start so I'm expecting him to have a much better start in 2016. It should start today against Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals. "Cutch" is batting .302 with a HR, four RBIs and five doubles against Wainwright over 43 ABs. He should be able to register a couple of hits and at least one RBI today.

Over the past three seasons, Andrew McCutchen has alternated having a hot or cold start in the first month. Last year, he had a cold start so I'm expecting him to have a much better start in 2016. It should start today against Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals. "Cutch" is batting .302 with a HR, four RBIs and five doubles against Wainwright over 43 ABs. He should be able to register a couple of hits and at least one RBI today.

(OF) Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets - $3,800

(OF) Yoenis Cespedes - New York Mets - $3,800 Getty Images
Over the past two seasons, Yoenis Cespedes has a wOBA of .361 in the month of April. This means that he's been able to start seasons off with a bang, and I like his upside for today. He will face Edinson Volquez and he doesn't have the best history against him so far. What I do like is his K-rate of 11 percent against Volquez and the power potential that Cespedes always brings to the plate. He should register an RBI via a double or a HR today.

Over the past two seasons, Yoenis Cespedes has a wOBA of .361 in the month of April. This means that he's been able to start seasons off with a bang, and I like his upside for today. He will face Edinson Volquez and he doesn't have the best history against him so far. What I do like is his K-rate of 11 percent against Volquez and the power potential that Cespedes always brings to the plate. He should register an RBI via a double or a HR today.

(OF) Matt Holliday - St. Louis Cardinals - $2,800

(OF) Matt Holliday - St. Louis Cardinals - $2,800 Getty Images
To be honest, I like more St. Louis Cardinals than this article indicates. However, the guy I like the most is Matt Holliday facing Francisco Liriano and the Pittsburgh Pirates today. He is batting .333 with a HR, two doubles, four RBIs and a K-rate of 13 percent against Liriano. Additionally, Holliday has a wOBA of .375 in April over the last three seasons. This should lead to a productive outing for him which should include an RBI or two.

To be honest, I like more St. Louis Cardinals than this article indicates. However, the guy I like the most is Matt Holliday facing Francisco Liriano and the Pittsburgh Pirates today. He is batting .333 with a HR, two doubles, four RBIs and a K-rate of 13 percent against Liriano. Additionally, Holliday has a wOBA of .375 in April over the last three seasons. This should lead to a productive outing for him which should include an RBI or two.

Roje Smith is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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