Happy Saturday RotoBallers. I am sorry that I don't have a cool Star Wars theme or a holiday that encourages heavy drinking to tag along like the past two days. Just your normal, boring, beautiful Saturday with a full slate of baseball. DraftKings has split up the games into a three game early slate, and a 12 game main slate starting at 7 PM ET. These picks will be focused on the main slate. The weather looks as if she won't be causing any postponements today, but there certainly could be delays in the MIL-PIT, STL-ATL, and MIA-NYM games. Make sure you take that into effect when considering your pitchers.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/6/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings.
You can read our FanDuel and Yahoo DFS lineup picks as well. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @RowdyRotoJB.
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DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings
New York Yankees versus Brett Anderson
As a Red Sox fan, I have not enjoyed the Yankees this season- at all. But as a baseball fan how can you not admire the offensive power the Bronx Bombers are showing? Over the last seven days they own the second highest OPS in the league and have hit the most home runs. Their next victim is poor ol' Brett Anderson who just got obliterated in his last start at Philadelphia. Aaron Judge and Matt Holliday both own an OPS over 1.600 against LHP thus far in 2017, so they are must owns today. Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks are also good plays, and I wouldn't even mind a little Didi Gregorius. It's going to get out of hand early in Wrigley Field today, don't be left out of the fun.
New York Mets versus Odrisamer Despaigne
Why not stay with the same city here? Sitting directly behind NYY in the OPS rankings over the last seven days, even without Yoenis Cespedes, are the New York Mets. Jay Bruce and Michael Conforto have just been on fire. Today they face Despaigne who is filling in for Wei-Yen Chen due to a "tired arm". He has shown promising patches in the past but he is no star, posting a 4.89 ERA and a 1.36 for his career. There is no way you can fade the two bash power lefties from the Mets outfield today, especially with Conforto's price. I wouldn't mind just leaving this stack as a mini duo, but Curtis Granderson also peaks my interest after going yard last night and hitting an absurd amount of fly balls recently.
Also Consider: Texas Rangers versus Chase De Jong
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings
So it seems Clayton Kershaw will move up a day in the rotation as he switches places with Brandon McCarthy who tweaked his shoulder lifting weights...Obviously Kershaw is the king of cash games, you don't need me to recommend him. So here are some anti-Kershaw guys for those GPP contests or to pair with the Kid in cash.
Dylan Bundy, BAL vs CWS ($8,400)
Bundy is one of the safer pitchers on the board tonight. He has been excellent in 2017 and may finally be living up to his previous lofty expectations. At Camden Yards this year, he owns a 1.33 ERA while allowing a lowly .228 wOBA. Today he draws a fantastic match-up against the White Sox who rank dead last in OPS against RHP this season. Bundy won't light up the board with strikeouts, but he is a sure-fire bet for the win against Dylan Covey and company.
Mike Leake, STL at ATL ($8,200)
Here is another guy with a very high floor today. Leake has been just as impressive on the road this season as Bundy has been at home. He boasts a 1.38 ERA and has allowed just a .191 wOBA away from Busch Stadium. The Braves offense has been surprisingly effective in 2017, but were just shut out by Lance Lynn last night. Leake is sure to hit value at this price, with the potential to throw a gem if the Bravos struggles from yesterday carry over.
Also Consider: Gerrit Cole, PIT vs MIL ($9,600)
DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings
Catcher (C)
Jonathan Lucroy, TEX at SEA ($3,300)
There is nothing better to turn a slow start around than a match-up with Chase De Jong, aka Chase da Dong, who gave up six ER in just 2 2/3 innings in his first start of the year last week. Lucroy has been just awful to start 2017, but has played much better on the road. He won't be hitting .213 for much longer, so enjoy the reduced price tag while you can.
Also consider: J.T. Realmuto, MIA at NYM ($3,300)
First Base (1B)
Matt Carpenter, STL at ATL ($3,800)
Carpenter is heating up exactly when the Cardinals needed him most. Over the last seven days, he owns an absurd 58.3 Hard%, and a 47 Hard% away versus RHP for the season. He now has scored double digit FP in four of his last five games. Last night against ATL he reached base four times and hit a dinger. I am generally pro-Julio Teheran, but Carp is 4-10 with a double and a HR lifetime off the Braves ace.
Also Consider: Justin Bour, MIA at NYM ($3,000)
Second Base (2B)
Starlin Castro, NYY at CHC ($3,400)
After going 2-4 yesterday, Castro is now slashing .367/.405/.541, which makes this low price quite puzzling. Things are going to get rowdy at Wrigley Field today, and rostering Castro not only gives you exposure to the fun, but also gives necessary salary relief if you plan on forking up 14K for Kershaw.
Also Consider: Rougned Odor, TEX at SEA ($3,800)
Shortstop (SS)
Elvis Andrus, TEX at SEA ($3,400)
Andrus is going to continue to be my guy until he cools down or he stops facing sub-par pitching. He has racked up five bombs and five stolen bases in just over a month of 2017, with two of those HR coming within the last four games. Plus you already know about the opposing pitcher.
Also Consider: Jean Segura, SEA vs TEX ($4,300)
Third Base (3B)
Joey Gallo, TEX at SEA ($3,200)
This is by far the best value on the slate today. The man with a .347 ISO going up against a terrible pitcher that falls right into his power splits for only $3,200? Go home DraftKings, you're still drunk from Cinco de Mayo.
Also Consider: Kyle Seager, SEA vs TEX ($3,800)
DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings
Nelson Cruz, SEA vs TEX ($4,200)
I realize I have been very heavy in this game, and it was not my intentions. DraftKings is just making it so easy with these prices. Nelson Cruz owns a 50 Hard% against LHP at home this year, and absolutely owns Martin Perez. For his career, Cruz is 6-12 with three HR and a double against the southpaw.
Marcell Ozuna, MIA at NYM ($3,400)
The home/road splits don't favor Ozuna today but he has been a great source of power against RHP in 2017, sporting a .279 ISO. Miami should be in store for a hefty run total today as Gsellman has looked completely lost on the mound lately, getting shellacked in back to back starts against the Braves. Ozuna has only faced Gsellman five times, but has left the yard twice. This is a fantastic value, considering Mac Williamson costs the same amount today.
Franklin Gutierrez, LAD at SDP ($3,400)
The southpaw smasher has returned. Gutierrez is well known for his prowess against LHP, and he further cemented the reputation by taking Matt Moore deep in his first game back from the DL. Today he will enjoy a match-up with Clayton Richard, who he is 9-18 with a HR against for his career.
Also Consider: Nomar Mazara, TEX at SEA ($3,300) *had to get one more from the TEX-SEA game
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