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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 4th, 2019. Ben Rolfe's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Saturday brings us an unbalanced double slate with four games starting at 4:05 pm before the main slate begins at 7:05 pm. Both slates are deemed "featured" by DraftKings but the big money is on the 10 game main slate at 7:05. Therefore, in this article I will be focusing on that late slate and trying to help you hit it big in your Saturday GPP contest.
The Red Sox are the biggest favorites on this slate, but Eduardo Rodriguez and his 6.16 ERA so far this season is not what you want to hang your hat on. In terms of totals the highest projected games are Arizona @ Colorado and Toronto @ Texas. Both of those games will be interesting ones to try and find value hitters in.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/4/19. 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 @benrolfe15.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Rich Hill, LAD (@ SD) - $9,600
As with any fantasy baseball format when Rich Hill is active you should try your best to start him. Hill was solid first time out, allowing just one earned runs, with six strikeouts across six innings. The Padres are a tough team to matchup against, because a lot of their numbers are pretty bad, but they can make you pay if you make mistakes. The Padres rank 24th or below in runs, batting average and OBP, but seventh in home runs. The bad news is that Hill was among the worst in the league for allowing HRs if you compare his numbers to the qualified starters, allowing 1.36 HR/9 last season. However, on a slate with weak pitchers the potential for upside in this start makes Hill worth the risk.
Gio Gonzalez, MIL (vs. NYM) - $7,200
Picking Gonzalez gives me goosebumps because he has the tendency to blow up in your face at the best of times. However, this matchup against the Mets could not come at a better time. In the month of May the Mets have scored a total of six runs at an average of 1.5 runs per game. That cold streak stretches back to April 16, with the Mets averaging just 3.47 runs per game to open the season. Gonzalez's only start of the season was last weekend in Citi Field against the Mets. In that start he gave up two earned runs in five innings, but he only managed to strikeout two in that outing.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Mike Zunino, TB (@ BAL) - $3,700
It has been a pretty standard season as far as Zunino is concerned with three HRs and a .198 batting average. Now he heads to hitter friendly Baltimore to go up against a pitcher in Dylan Bundy who is allowing 2.86 HR/9 and a 6.67 ERA this season, including a .424 wOBA and seven home runs against right-handed hitters.
1B - Justin Smoak, TOR (@ TEX) - $4,600
He is not a cheap option but this is a nice spot for Smoak, who already has four home runs against right-handed pitchers this season. Last season he had similar success with a .378 wOBA, a .259 ISO and a 143 wRC+. As a final kicker he is hitting in a park with a 1.18 HR factor for left-handed hitters.
2B - Brandon Lowe, TB (@ BAL) - $4,800
Bundy has actually been surprising solid against left-handed hitters this season, but Lowe has been immense against right-handed pitchers. So far this season Lowe has six home runs, a .301 ISO and a .420 wOBA when righties have been on the mound.
3B - Travis Shaw, MIL (vs. NYM) - $3,600
While his price is in the mid-3000 range I am always going to look to use Shaw when a right-handed pitcher is on the mound. This season Shaw has all four of his home runs against righties, after having a .374 wOBA, a .284 ISO and a 134 wRC+.
SS - Brandon Crawford, SF (@ CIN) - $2,800
I do not love any of the SS options today and therefore I am going to gamble on a struggling hitter in a nice situation. Roark has a .522 wOBA and .721 slugging percentage against when facing left-handed hitters, and this matchup takes place in hitter friendly Cincinnati, with a 1.20 HR park factor for left-handed hitters.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Tommy Pham, TB (@ BAL) - $4,800
Pham is having a great year against right-handed pitchers, with four home runs, a .319 batting average and a .395 wOBA. In addition, he is also playing in a great park for right-handed hitters when it comes to power. Camden Yards offers a 1.26 park factor when it comes to HRs for right-handed hitters.
J.D. Martinez, BOS (@ CWS) - $4,500
Martinez at $4,500 does not come around very often and this is a prime opportunity to take advantage. The park factors for right-handed hitters in Guaranteed Rate Field are only slightly above average but the matchup is favorable for Martinez. All four of Martinez's home runs this season have come with a left-handed hitter on the mound, giving him a .619 ISO and a .655 wOBA in that particular matchup.
Avisail Garcia, TB (@ BAL) - $4,200
Sticking with the Rays stack it is time to turn to a player who has been surprisingly efficient against right-handed pitching this season. Garcia is hitting .308, with four HRs, a .218 ISO and a .367 wOBA against righties in 2019.
