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We have a mere eight games on Thursday, and three of them are part of an "early" slate. I have acted as if you might play an all-day slate as far as my picks go, so use them to your own advantage with whatever slate you decide to play.
The pitchers are interesting tonight, as the talent levels, prices, and matchups differ greatly. There is a safe cash game lock, but is his price too much higher than cheaper pitchers in good spots? And where can we find some run production in our lineups? Let's see if I can answer a question or two for you DFS lovers out there.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball MLB lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/26/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from high-priced to low-priced options and identify options who will out-perform their expectations, including sleepers and value plays on DraftKings.
DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings
Toronto Blue Jays vs. C.C. Sabathia
We've been through the whole Blue Jays vs. lefties rant before. I don't think there's much need to go through it again. The team isn't completely in sync right now, but it's Sabathia for crying out loud. Also, Devon Travis should help. Josh Donaldson is a great option with a deflated price. You can't go wrong with Jose Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion either. If you're really feeling risky, Russell Martin hit two bombs yesterday; just sayin.
Atlanta Braves vs. Wily Peralta
Here's an odd one for you: Stack the Braves. We don't have a whole lot of options on Thursday's depleted and semi-split slate, and I think Atlanta makes for a nice sneaky stack. Peralta is a very bad pitcher who owns a 6.99 ERA, a slightly lower FIP, and an inflated HR/FB rate. Freddie Freeman is the obvious choice here. I also like Ender Inciarte at the top of that order, as he's heating up lately. Nick Markakis seems like a nice, safe OBP play who could run into a few RBI. Mallex Smith is a great GPP option, as his deep lineup spot will keep his ownership down, but he pairs nicely with top of the order guys like Inciarte, Markakis, and Freeman as far as run production goes.
Also Consider: Baltimore Orioles vs. Lance McCullers
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings
Jose Fernandez, MIA at TB - $13,200
Fernandez is the top pitcher on the board with one of the better matchups too. The issue is that he's super expensive. He's awesome for cash games on Thursday because the risk isn't really there and the strikeouts will give you the points you need. However, I think there are better tournament plays who will allow you to spend up on hitters.
Kevin Gausman, BAL at HOU - $9,300
Gausman is my in between pitcher. He's slightly better than a tournament only option, but he's not completely safe. The Astros can go off for 10 runs on any random night, but they are also very strikeout prone. Gausman has showed some elite strikeout potential, and if he can avoid big blasts from George Springer, Jose Altvue, or Carlos Correa it could be a stellar outing. I think the risk is low enough to use Gausman in cash games, and his price helps make a tournament lineup too.
Matt Wisler, ATL vs. MIL - $9100
Similarly, Wisler is a fairly safe play, but he's young enough where there is still some risk involved. He's shown strikeout upside the last two starts, but I'm not completely sold on that being his type of pitching style yet. The Brewers could lay down, allowing Wisler to continue his early success, but they could also wake up and take advantage of Wisler's usual high contact rate. If it helps, Wisler should be fairly low owned on DK because he is so under priced on FD.
DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings
Catcher (C)
Matt Wieters, BAL at HOU - $3,100
Wieters is my favorite catcher on the night. His price is low and his bat is hot. Lance McCullers is a good pitcher, but he's still rusty from an injury rehab. Wieters and his great lineup spot might be on all of my teams Thursday.
Salvador Perez, KC vs. CWS - $4,100
I can't ignore what Salvador Perez is doing right now, and if you have extra cash I do prefer him to Wieters. However, the price does matter, and I'll take Wieters and spend the extra grand somewhere else.
First Base (1B)
Freddie Freeman, ATL vs. MIL - $4,200
Peralta might as well put the ball on a tee for Freeman on Thursday. I love this matchup, and I will be exploiting it in cash games, as the first baseman has OBP skills along with his power.
Edwin Encarnacion, TOR at NYY - $3,700
I like this mostly as a GPP stack piece, but I don't hate E5 by himself in cash either. The matchup is a great one against Sabathia, and the runs should flow like water for Toronto. Pay up for one of these two on Thursday.
Second Base (2B)
D.J. Lemahieu, COL at BOS - $3,400
Devon Travis, TOR at NYY - $3,600
Tony Kemp, HOU vs. BAL - $2,700
Nothing really excited me at the second base position, so I'm finding some relatively cheap options to fill in the gap. LeMahieu is a great OBP guy, Travis has huge power upside in a great lineup, and Tony Kemp (if he starts) is a nice punt option with good upside. Take your pick.
Shortstop (SS)
Manny Machado, BAL at HOU - $4,100
This price seems too cheap to me. I've already mentioned McCuller's rustiness above, and Machado loves RHPs. He should get five at bats on Thursday, and I have a hard time believing two of those won't result in him on base... or running around them.
Jordy Mercer, PIT vs. ARI - $3,300
How about a .372 wOBA vs. LHP. That's what Mercer is doing for his career. He's always been a lefty masher, and his manager knows that. Mercer should hit a little higher in the lineup and will likely have success against an unpolished southpaw in Patrick Corbin.
Third Base (3B)
Josh Donaldson, TOR at NYY - $4,400
If you still have money to pay, Donaldson against a lefty is always a good place to spend it. Sabathia is also a bad lefty. Just do it.
Jung Ho Kang, PIT vs. ARI - $3,300
Kang is coming off another day of rest yesterday, and he's been rewarding his fantasy believers with extra base hits when he does play. He should play on Thursday, and a clean up hitter in a great lineup at this price is tough to pass up.
DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings
Charlie Blackmon, COL at BOS - $4,400
Here's a stud to pay up for. Blackmon is staying healthy and showing his great power/speed combo. Clay Bucholz is not a dominant pitcher, and Blackmon gets a short porch in right. I like this buy if you're paying up at OF.
Ender Inciarte, ATL vs. MIL - $3,800
Even without the stack, I like Inciarte's lineup spot and current game logs right now. He hits balls hard, gets on base, and steals frequently enough. Peralta will make a mistake at least once in the three or four times Inciarte sees him.
Paulo Orlando, KC vs. CWS - $3,100
Orlando has been seamless filling in for Alex Gordon. He's capitalizing on RBI chances, playing stellar defense, and always has the ability to steal a base. I'm surprised his price is this low in the midst of a killer hot streak. He's a great punt option in cash or GPPs.
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