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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 12, 2018. Troy Klauder's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We've got a busy Saturday on DraftKings with all 30 teams scheduled to play. There's a variety of slates to choose from, so I'll be covering players across all start times.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/12/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @TroyKlauder.
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DraftKings Starting Pitchers
Mike Clevinger, CLE (vs. KC) - $9,200
Clevinger is coming off of a monster performance against the Yankees where struck out 10 batters in 7 1/3 innings with only two earned runs allowed. His 2.76 ERA through seven starts is supported by his 2.94 FIP, so it's pretty crazy that Clevinger is as cheap as he is on Saturday. After taking down one of the toughest lineups in baseball last time out, Clevinger gets a cake-walk matchup against the Royals, who have just a .313 wOBA versus right-handed pitching.
Michael Wacha, STL (@ SD) - $8,000
Wacha hasn't been great this season, but he's settled down over his last four starts, where he hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in an outing. Luckily, Wacha doesn't have to be great to put up some big numbers against the Padres bottom feeder lineup. The Padres are second-to-last in wOBA versus righties with their .284 mark, and they also strike out more than any other team at 27.1% vs R. Wacha has a very high floor for this start and comes at a cheap price.
DraftKings Infielders
C - Yasmani Grandal, LAD (vs. CIN) - $3,900
Grandal has been one of the best fantasy catchers in all of baseball this year, batting .274/.381/.487 with five homers. He's batting third in the Dodgers lineup, so he will have the opportunity for lots of runs and RBIs against Reds starter Homer Bailey. Bailey has a horrendous 5.61 ERA with a 2.28 HR/9, so using Grandal as part of a Dodgers stack may be a smart idea.
1B - C.J. Cron, TB (at BAL) - $3,800
Cron is a relatively cheap power option to consider on Saturday as he faces Alex Cobb. Cobb has been a nightmare this season, with just a 9.3% K-rate and a 7.61 ERA. Oriole Park is one of the best hitting environments in the league, giving Cron great odds for production out of the Rays two-hole. He's already got seven bombs on the year and can easily add to that total.
2B - Asdrubal Cabrera, NYM (at PHI) - $4,000
Asdrubal is quietly putting together a monster season, as he's got a 151 wRC+ so far. Nobody who is hitting like that should be priced where Cabrera is. He's in a great hitter's ballpark batting second for the Mets with a good matchup against Zach Eflin. Eflin has had two solid starts this season, but he's still the same pitcher who had a 6.16 ERA through 11 starts in 2017. I'll take my odds with Cabrera.
3B - Rafael Devers, BOS (at TOR) - $3,900
The Red Sox lineup is in line for a huge day in Toronto against Marco Estrada, who has a 5.21 ERA through seven starts this season. Estrada has a 2.13 HR/9, so Devers will be swinging for the fences looking for his seventh homer of the year. Devers has outstanding power for a 21-year-old, which will play well in Toronto, a top hitter's park. I like Devers in GPP contests for his big upside.
SS - Tim Anderson, CWS (at CHC) - $3,500
Anderson is obliterating left-handed pitching this year, hitting .355/.374/.710, good for a 191 wRC+. He'll get plenty of chances for runs out of the White Sox leadoff spot, and he's also got 10 steals on the season, so he can produce for you in a variety of ways. Opposing lefty Jon Lester has plenty of regression coming his way, as he's got a 4.42 Deserved Run Average.
DraftKings Outfielders
Starling Marte, PIT (vs. SF) - $4,200
Marte is batting .308 in the last 15 days with two homers and two steals, continuing on a pace for a fantastic season. Giants starter Jeff Samardzija has had some serious issues since returning from the disabled list, as he's got a 6.62 ERA through his first four starts. Marte is in a great spot batting third against him.
Brett Gardner, NYY (vs. OAK) - $3,600
Gardner is incredibly cold at the plate right now, but he still has a ton of value as the Yankees leadoff man. The Yanks have one of the most explosive lineups in the league, so Gardner can score pretty easily so long as he gets on base, as evidenced by his 29 runs scored this year. He's in a hitter's park against an easy starter in Andrew Triggs.
