RADIO
This Friday has a full slate of games, so it's time to build some lineups. With several different contests being offered on DraftKings, you'll have lots of different lineup options. For our purposes, the following picks have been made for contests running all day.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/19/17. 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 @TroyKlauder.
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DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Jered Weaver (RHP)
Even in Petco Park, Jered Weaver is still probably the worst starting pitcher in baseball. The 34-year-old, 84 mph throwing Weaver has a 6.05 ERA which is somehow still on the lucky side when you consider his ridiculous 7.31 FIP. Against the Diamondbacks, he's going to get rocked. Paul Goldschmidt is arguably the best hitter you can get on Friday. If he's in the lineup, David Peralta makes a great buy as well. Jake Lamb and Yasmany Tomas should get action, while Chris Owings is at a great price despite the outstanding season he's had so far. Get in on these Arizona hitters.
Texas Rangers vs. Nick Martinez (RHP)
Nick Martinez is another one of the worst pitchers on Friday's slate, making him a great pitcher to target. He's got a 5.04 ERA with a measly 11.8% K% in his five starts. Unfortunately, you can fade Miguel Cabrera, who will be out of the lineup with an injury. However, Justin Upton and J.D. Martinez are two top outfield plays, along with Ian Kinsler at second base. If you're looking for value, try Tyler Collins or Jose Iglesias, who are both coming in at super low prices and will likely be involved in some run scoring. Any Tigers player in the lineup will be an effective play against Martinez.
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings
Daniel Norris, DET vs. TEX - $7,000
Tigers lefty Daniel Norris has not had the season that many expected from him this year, as the 24-year-old enters Friday with a 4.34 ERA in seven starts. Fortunately for Norris, he gets a shot to change that against the Rangers, who are the worst lineup in baseball against lefties with a pathetic .248 wOBA against southpaws. They've also got the second highest strikeout rate versus lefties at 26.4%. Norris had a 23.% K% with a 3.38 ERA in his 69 1/3 innings last year, so there's still a ton of potential there. With such a low price, it's quite hard to avoid Norris on Friday.
Charlie Morton, HOU vs. CLE - $8,700
Charlie Morton is pitching like a stud through his first eight starts, posting a 27.0% K% and a 3.38 FIP for the Astros. Morton's been working with his 96 mph sinker and nasty curveball to get these results. He's 5-2 as he takes on the Indians, who are 14th in wOBA versus righties with their .322 mark. Therefore, the Indians are about a league-average lineup, so Morton can put some work in against them. Morton really should be more expensive with the way he's been throwing, so this is an opportunity to pounce on.
DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings
Catcher (C)
Brian McCann, HOU vs. CLE - $3,400
Brian McCann has quitely been putting together a great season behind the plate for Houston his year, posting a 129 wRC+ in 29 games. He has six homers and is walking at a 13.1% rate, which is remarkably the same as his K%. Any time you're walking as much as you're striking out, you're doing something right, and against Indians starter Trevor Bauer, the success should continue. Bauer's got a 6.92 ERA, largely due to his 1.85 HR/9. Look for McCann to do some damage against him.
First Base (1B)
Justin Smoak, TOR @ BAL - $3,800
Justin Smoak is scorching hot in his last seven games, with a 1.552 OPS and four homers in the last week. He now has great numbers on the year, including a 138 wRC+, and is batting cleanup for Toronto, a fantastic spot for RBI production. Camden Yards is a great place for hitters, giving Smoak nice odds at going deep once again, and it comes at an outstanding price.
Second Base (2B)
Jedd Gyorko, STL vs. SF - $3,700
Lefty-killer Jedd Gyorko is a valuable hitter to target on Friday against Giants pitcher Matt Moore. Gyorko has a career 113 wRC+ against left-handers, and enters play with a beastly 156 wRC+ on the season. Moore has struggled quite a bit with his 5.67 ERA, and his 1.57 HR/9 in particular is something that Gyorko can take advantage of. Gyorko is another cheap hitter batting fourth to watch out for.
Shortstop (SS)
Zack Cozart, CIN vs. COL - $3,800
You may not have noticed it, but Zack Cozart is destroying the ball this season, posting an absurd .350/.437/.608 line in 33 games. He's nearly doubled his walk rate to 14.1% and has a .258 ISO. He's batting second, in front of Joey Votto, in the Reds lineup, and is at home on Friday in an extreme hitter's park. Cozart faces Tyler Anderson, a lefty with a 7.78 ERA away from Coors Field this year. The Reds shortstop has a stupid 198 wRC+ against southpaws this year. For an shockingly low price, everything is lining up for a big fantasy day for Cozart.
Third Base (3B)
Travis Shaw, MIL @ CHC - $3,600
That's right, we've got yet another under-priced cleanup hitter to target on Friday in Travis Shaw. He'll be rolling in RBI opportunities against Eddie Butler in Wrigley Field. Shaw's got a .936 OPS in his last 15 games and is just way too cheap for how he's performed this season. Shaw has popped eight homers with 32 RBIs in 36 games, and could be part of a deadly combo if you pair him with another Brewers hitter.
DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings
Jorge Soler, KC @ MIN - $3,700
Against Twins starter Hector Santiago, Jorge Soler is a buy low opportunity that could pay off big time. Santiago has gotten astoundingly lucky this year according to his 4.75 FIP and 5.34 xFIP, and he got crushed his last time out against Cleveland. Soler has already began to heat up in the last week, putting up a .958 OPS in his last seven. His poor overall numbers will likely leave him with a very low ownership percentage on Friday, so Soler will be even more valuable if he produces.
Franklin Gutierrez, LAD vs. MIA - $3,500
Weak-side platoon players like Franklin Gutierrez are incredibly valuable when they get their matchup in DFS, and Guti gets his on Friday against lefty Justin Nicolino. Gutierrez has a 143 wRC+ against left-handers this season, and he's going to tee off on a weak starter in Nicolino. He'll bat high in the lineup for LA and should be included in your lineups as well.
Ben Zobrist, CHC vs. MIL - $4,100
The veteran Ben Zobrist has seen his price fall to affordable levels, which is great news as he faces Wily Peralta. Zobrist has weak numbers as a whole this year, but is hitting .429 in the last week. The Cubs are going to put up lots of runs on Peralta, who already has a 6.08 ERA, and Zobrist will certainly get in on the fun. While other fantasy players fall over themselves to get other Cubs like Ian Happ in their lineup, sit back and cash in on Zobrist.
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