Mike, Mike, Mike, guess what day it is! Welcome back, RotoBallers, to our Wednesday edition of rowdy FanDuel picks. MLB has a full 16 game slate today (doubleheader), but in typical hump day fashion, starting times are slightly split throughout the day. Since this is FanDuel, which does not allow the "late swap" option, be very careful selecting players from the late games if you are playing All Day contests. Luckily, there are two offenses to stack during the four Early games.

The Red Sox and Royals are playing the doubleheader today, which gives you double the chance to stack the number one offense in the league.  Today also has plenty of good pitching options to choose from. Some good match-ups that I will not be going into detail on are: Gio Gonzalez versus the Mets ($8,600), John Lackey versus the Brewers ($9,600), and Justin Verlander versus the Twins ($8,600).

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball MLB lineup picks for FanDuel on 5/18/16. 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 FanDuel.

 

DFS Lineup Stacks to Target for FanDuel

1. Detroit Tigers versus Ricky Nolasco (Early)

Detroit has been a top 10 offense over the last seven days, and Ricky Nolasco owns an ERA just shy of 5.00. During their last match-up, on May 1, the Tigers scored five runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings against Nolasco. I like all the Tigers starters today, especially Victor Martinez (catcher eligible on FanDuel, I love it), Ian Kinsler, and Nick Castellanos. Cameron Maybin makes for a sneaky GPP play considering his price is still so low.

2. Boston Red Sox versus Ian Kennedy (Early), and Edinson Volquez (Main)

Duh. As I mentioned before, Boston is the highest scoring offense in the league, and has been much more deadly against RHP. Over the last seven days, the Red Sox have scored 32 more runs than the next closest team (Arizona Diamondbacks). While both have pitched well this season, neither Kennedy nor Volquez have the stuff to tame the Sox. I prefer the early match-up against Ian Kennedy due to his generosity with the long ball, but we all know you can't go wrong with this offense right now, regardless of who is on the mound. Make sure to check the lineups for both games prior to the contest starting. Managers like to get creative during double headers to ensure guys are overworked.

3. New York Yankees versus Shelby Miller

Man, Miller has been awful for the Dbacks. He is leading the league with 23 BB, and his 6.94 ERA/1.74 WHIP is capable of making you gag. He is also serving up 2.1 HR per nine innings so far this season. The Yankees have scored the fifth most runs the last seven days, and are most likely salivating for this match-up. Against lefties, Miller is allowing a .300 BA and .924 OPS, so that makes Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Mark Teixeira, and Brian McCann all great picks today.

 

DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider for FanDuel

1. Francisco Liriano ($10,000) versus Atlanta Braves

Here is my other no-brainer pick. The Braves offense has left much to be desired in 2016, and as bad as they are against RHP, they are even worse against southpaws. Versus LHP, they've scored the fifth fewest runs, have the lowest OPS, and have the most strikeouts. This lines up perfectly for Liriano, as he is striking out 10.4 per nine innings and his recent struggles have been due to a 23.5 HR/FB%. He is the second most expensive pitcher, but $10K is really not that expensive compared to the pitchers we saw yesterday, plus he is by far the safest option today and offers huge strikeout upside. His ownership will be through the roof, but is still the best cash game pick of the day.

2. Tom Koehler ($6,500) versus Philadelphia Phillies- Early

Koehler has been anything but great this season (5.14 ERA), but he has had one great game. That game was on May 7, versus the Phillies. In seven innings, he gave up one run on only two hits, while striking out eight. Philly has scored the fourth fewest runs against right handers, with the third lowest OPS. I am not guaranteeing another gem today, but with his price and his performance earlier this month, Koehler makes a sneaky GPP play for the early slate.

3. Johnny Cueto ($10,900) versus San Diego Padres

Cueto is the most expensive pitcher today, and rightly so. He is averaging 41.9 FPPG this season, and is 5-1 with a 2.28 FIP. Today he faces the San Diego Padres at friendly PetCo Park. The Padres have scored the fifth fewest runs against RHP, with the second lowest OPS, and the second most strikeouts. Cueto also has already enjoyed success against his opponent in 2016, throwing a complete-game shutout with 11 K against San Diego back on April 26. Count me in.

 

DFS Infielders to Consider for FanDuel

Catcher (C)

Buster Posey, SF ($3,400)

Posey has been sub-par to his ridiculously high standards we have all become accustomed to. Which may be the reason his price is below the $4,000 mark we're used to seeing attached to his name. Despite the lack of flair this season, today he squares off against Drew Pomeranz, whom he is 5-8 against lifetime with two HR. This could be the game to spark a hot streak.

Yan Gomes, CLE ($2,700)

Gomes has three HR in his last four games, and is hitting southpaws far better than the righties this season. Today the Indians face Brandon Finnegan, who has served up all eight of his HR to right handed hitters, coming off a 13 run blowout last night. Here's to momentum.

 

First Base (1B)

Justin Bour, MIA ($3,400)

Much like Gomes, Bour is on a nice power streak (three HR in last five games), and loves hitting opposite handed pitchers. Jeremy Hellickson has struggled to keep lefties off base this season (.370 OBP), and Bour already has a dinger off him in five career AB. I'd peg him with a very similar probability (if not better) of going yard today as Anthony Rizzo, but costs $1,400 less.

Joe Mauer, MIN ($2,600)

Mauer is quite familiar with Justin Verlander. The two veterans have shared an impressive 80 PA against each other during their MLB service. Mauer seems to have the upper hand in the match-up as he is sporting a cool .353/.450/.559 slash line. He is a safe bet to reach base today, however, the lack of power (one HR in 2016) greatly decreases his ceiling.

 

Second Base (2B)

Robinson Cano, SEA ($4,000)

Chris Tillman has had a phenomenal bounce-back season so far in 2016, but that means little to Cano. In 34 career PA against Tillman, Cano is hitting .452 with two HR. He is currently tied for the second most HR in the league (12), and shares the lead in RBI (34). Oh, and he is hitting .330 with a 1.074 OPS against RHP. Oh, and nine of his HR have been hit away from SafeCo, and today he will be enjoying the HR-friendly confines of Camden Yards. I could keep going, but I believe I have made my point.

Daniel Murphy, NYM ($3,800)

Murphy's ridiculous .399 BA leads the league, and 15 of his 20 XBH have come off RHP, including all five of his HR. Today he faces Bartolo Colon, who has surrendered eight runs in his last two starts.

 

Shortstop (SS)

Eduardo Nunez, MIN ($3,000)

Even as a right handed batter, Nunez has been thriving off RHP in 2016, against whom he is hitting .356 with two HR. Versus Verlander for his career, Nunez is hitting .364 with a dinger in 12 PA. If the Twins are to inflict any damage on Verlander today, Mauer and Nunez will be at the heart of it.

Francisco Lindor, CLE ($3,500)

The young switch hitter has enjoyed hitting from the right side of the plate this year, boasting a robust .400 BA against lefties. He has already scored a team-high 24 runs, and has a great chance at adding to that total today against Finnegan.

 

Third Base (3B)

Matt Carpenter, STL ($4,000)

Carpenter is out to prove his 2015 power was not a fluke, and with eight HR so far this season, he's doing quite a good job at it. He owns a 1.009 OPS over his last five games, and while he is less efficient against LHP, he has hit two HR in just eight career PA against Chris Rusin.

Danny Valencia, OAK ($2,900)

One could say Valencia is hot right now. Over his last four games, he has hit all five of his HR (three in one game), which equates to a modest 1.500 SLG. He has been fantastic against LHP, with a 1.285 OPS and only one strikeout in 23 PA. He faces Martin Perez today, who has allowed 9 of his 10 XBH this season to righties, while issuing 20 BB against 18 K. Enjoy Valencia while he is still cheap.

 

DFS Outfielders to Consider for FanDuel

Hunter Pence, SF ($3,900)

Another Giants hitter who has previous success against Pomeranz, Pence has gone deep three times in only 11 career PA against the Padres starter. He is averaging 11.4 FPPG in 2016, and is hitting .287 with a .858 OPS.

Stephen Piscotty, STL ($3,500)

Piscotty has been everything the Cardinals had hoped for this season, but more importantly, is destroying left handed pitching. Against the southpaws, he is flaunting a .378/.489/.676 line. His 12.0 FPPG is higher than the likes of Starling Marte, Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Bautista, and Andrew McCutchen, but Piscotty is still priced well below each of them.

Ryan Braun, MIL ($3,900)

Ryan Braun: Rookie of the Year, MVP, and six All-Star appearances in his career, hitting .364 with seven HR in 2016. I can have him for under 4 G's? Sign me up.

Ryan Rua, TEX ($2,500)

Rua is starting in LF for the Rangers until Shin-Soo Choo returns from the Disabled List. He, too, eats southpaws for breakfast. He owns a .400 BA with a .983 against LHP this season. While the power has not shown up in the big leagues yet, he did hit 36 HR across three levels of the minors in 2013. He is a great GPP option today against Rich Hill, or as a cheap fill in for a stars and scrubs cash lineup.

 

 

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