RADIO
I'm going to assume that no one is going to play the all day slate. Let's be honest, it's not worth risking locking some lineup spots early just so you can get in one early game and one of those weird 6:00 (ET) matchups. Besides, all the money is on the main slates anyway.
There is an obvious number one choice at pitcher on Thursday, but after that it's anyone's guess. Getting a serviceable score from your SP2 is a big first step towards cashing in any league format. Regardless of that, we'll need to find some stud and value bats to do the rest of the work. Let's get it.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball MLB lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/5/16. 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. Derek Holland
The fact that Holland is a lefty is bad enough. I don't care what kind of slump the Blue Jays are in, lefties against this lineup should be outlawed. Just wait until Devon Travis comes back. Anyways, Holland also doesn't strike many guys out. Oh you want another reason? He's a fly ball pitcher in a home run ball park. Give me all the Blue Jays. Josh Donaldson is my stud of the night. Whoever is leading off makes a ton of sense as a cheaper option. Sprinkle in a few more bats here and there. Throw a dart if you want. Holland may not make it out of the third inning.
Seattle Mariners vs. Chris Devenski
The Mariners, unlike the Blue Jays, have been red hot at the plate lately. They even tagged Sonny Gray for a crooked number the other night. Devenski is a righty making his second major league start. Robinson Cano is seeing beach balls, Kyle Seager is heating up, and Ketel Marte at the top of the order is awesome for his deflated price.
Also Consider: New York Mets vs. Colin Rea, Colorado Rockies vs. Matt Cain
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings
Jacob deGrom, NYM at SD - $11,400
This is your free space for the night. Great pitcher with the best possible matchup.
J.A. Happ, TOR vs. TEX - $7,500
Happ is my default number two pitcher for the night. I don't feel great about it, but like I said above, the options are scares. The Rangers are very lefty heavy, and they struggled with LHP a little last year. Happ is a fly ball pitcher like Holland, but he also knows this park and will get you a few extra strikeouts. The Rangers also aren't quite the Blue Jays yet.
Joe Ross, WAS at CHC - $7,000
I'll be using Ross in some tournaments. He always provides great upside with his live fastball and killer offspeed stuff, but the Cubs have been tormenting everyone lately. This one could go either way, but the upside for a huge strikeout game and a win puts him in play. I don't see many other ways you can go at pitcher on Thursday outside of maybe a Chris Rusin prayer.
DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings
Catcher (C)
Nick Hundley, COL at SFG - $2,900
I love Hundley at catcher on Thursday. His price always drops when he is away from home, but you're not paying for HRs anyway. He's getting on base at a good clip lately, and Matt Cain is not good.
Tucker Barnhart, CIN vs. MIL - $2,500
I like Barnhart too, but $400 is not enough savings to leave Hundley. Still, the Reds bats are starting to heat up, and Barnhart has a .345 OBP thus far. There isn't a huge upside here, but you don't need one for the price.
First Base (1B)
David Ortiz, BOS at CHW - $4,600
Goldschmidt is still just a tad too expensive for my taste, especially while spending up at third base. I don't see myself using Papi often with the guy below available, but I see the logic. He's putting on a show for away crowds, and he gets a young righty on Thursday. Papi slam?
Lucas Duda, NYM at SD - $4,200
The price is a little high, but Duda is locked in and hitting moonshots. His lineup spot is perfect, because it seems like there's always a Met on in front of him, when they don't homer that is. Colin Rea is a ground ball pitcher, and the theory is that those types of pitchers have high HR/FB rates. If Duda gets one in the air it could be long gone.
Second Base (2B)
Robinson Cano, SEA at HOU - $5,100
There's no price too high for Cano right now, and I see the logic spending up here, but I'll probably default with the cheaper option here. Still, if you have the cap, Cano is money.
Rougned Odor, TEX at TOR - $3,700
This price is just too low for a red hot Odor. He gets a lefty in Happ, but Odor has actually hit lefties better so far in his young career. I like Happ overall, but he might have some trouble keeping Odor in check at the top of the Rangers order.
Shortstop (SS)
Jonathon Villar, MIL at CIN - $4,000
Well his price shot up quickly. Still, with the recent on base and stolen base skills we're seeing, this is reasonable for Villar. Simon shouldn't be able to keep him off first base or on it once he gets there. Not to mention the big hitters behind him are pretty hot themselves.
Brandon Crawford, SFG vs. COL - $3,300
Here's another deflated price. Crawford is a very good hitter with solid discipline and now he's stealing bases. Chris Rusin is not a bad pitcher, but Crawford hits lefties well and should be able to keep up his production in this spot.
Third Base (3B)
Josh Donaldson, TOR vs. TEX - $5,000
Bringer Of Rain is hitting shots off of rafters these days. Holland is a lefty. That is all.
Martin Prado, MIA vs. ARI - $3,800
I'm not sure how he's doing it, but Prado has a .418 wOBA vs. LHP right now. He's a streaky hitter, and he's right in the middle of a surge right now. Plug him in if you want to spend up elsewhere.
DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings
George Springer, HOU vs. SEA - $4,500
Springer has found his stroke again, and he's making pitchers pay. Wade Miley is an inefficient lefty, and Springer has a .531 wOBA against LHP this year. The order around him is dynamite, too.
Carlos Gonzalez, COL at SFG - $3,800
This price almost made my jaw drop. This is a steal against Matt Cain with or without Coors Field. Lock him in, and add Charlie Blackmon too if you want.
Marcell Ozuna, MIA vs. ARI - $4,000
Look out because Ozuna is heating up. Barry Bonds must finally be getting into his head, because Ozuna is lacing baseball of late. His price is going to go up soon, but take advantage of it and lefty Robby Ray while you can.
Full Season MLB & DFS Premium Pass
Get a Premium Pass for the entire MLB season - including the playoffs - for only $29.99. That's Premium access to over 10 tools, and over 20 valuable resources, for one incredible price. Here's a taste of what you get:
- DFS lineup picks and cheat sheets for FanDuel and DraftKings - seven days a week
- Three expert lineups: FanDuel, DraftKings, and Stack of the Day - seven days a week
- Top DFS value plays, avoids and injury updates - seven days a week
- Lineup tools: daily premium hitter and pitcher matchup ratings
All of this for just $29.99... it's simply the best deal around. No other site offers this type of deal. What are you waiting for?
Live Expert Q&A Chats - Every Weekday @ 1 PM and 6 PM EST (DFS)
Fantasy Baseball Chat Room
[iflychat_embed id="c-55" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]
