3 Under-the-Radar MLB FanDuel Plays for 4/13/21

When being contrarian in daily fantasy sports, there's a fine line between taking a calculated risk and being reckless. But differentiating your lineups from everyone else is the name of the game if you plan on taking down one of those highly lucrative DFS tournaments. Whether it's because of Vegas totals, other options at a given position, or some gem you've found that everyone is overlooking, we can always find potential under-owned plays if we look hard enough.

Here are three such players to consider branching out for on FanDuel's main slate.

Jake Odorizzi, P, Houston Astros ($6,700)

Jake Odorizzi is set to make his first start for the Houston Astros, and he is worth a shot in tournaments tonight.

There is no doubt we are dealing with a loaded pitching slate, but there are also some great offenses to stack, which that means you may need salary relief at pitcher. This is where you could look to Odorizzi, who is going up against the Detroit Tigers, a matchup worth attacking.

Despite scoring six runs last night, the Tigers don't have an offense you should fear. In 2020, their current roster held a 26.5% strikeout rate versus right-handed pitchers, which was the second-highest in the league. They also carried a .165 ISO (22nd) and 93 wRC+ (22nd). This is truly a below-average offense.

In 2019, Odorizzi carried a solid 27.1% strikeout rate and 8.1% walk rate, which should put him in a spot to rack up plenty of fantasy points versus a team that struggles against righty pitchers.

Kurt Suzuki, C, Los Angeles Angels ($2,100)

Rostering a catcher is always a way to be different in tournaments, and that is what Kurt Suzuki can offer tonight.

The Los Angeles Angels have a 4.52 implied total, which is the fourth-highest on the slate, so their offense will likely be a popular target. However, most DFS players will be looking to Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, or Justin Upton, which could cause Suzuki to go overlooked. Catchers are often passed on in MLB DFS on FanDuel since you don't actually have to roster one, presenting an opening to grab Suzuki at very low rostership.

In 2020, Suzuki had a 160 wRC+, .207 ISO, and 48.1% fly-ball rate versus left-handed pitchers, which are some serious power numbers for a player who is only $2,100. That should line up nicely against Danny Duffy, who allowed 1.69 homers per nine, a 5.22 xFIP, and a 48.2% fly-ball rate to right-handed hitters last season.

Clint Frazier, OF, New York Yankees ($2,400)

Going to the lower-third of MLB lineups is always a way to find players who are under the radar in DFS.

The bottom of the lineup has less offensive equity than the players at the top -- this isn't a secret. But that also means you can zig where people zag in the hopes you roster a player who isn't in many lineups. This is what we could see with Clint Frazier tonight. The New York Yankees hold a solid 4.43 implied run total. Stacking the Yankees is usually a popular play, but going to the bottom of their lineup is an opportunity to get away from the chalk.

Frazier got off to a hot start with five hits in his first four games but has since gone hitless in his last four. The power will always be there for him against lefties, as he carried a .242 ISO against them last season along with a 142 wRC+. He's a low-salary way to get unique access to the Yanks.