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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/23/21. Mike Marteny's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Today's slate is a little more straightforward than yesterday's fragmented one on DraftKings. We have a 10-game main slate that starts at 1:05 pm Eastern in the traditional matinee baseball format on Sundays. We've got four pitchers in five-figures, but it thins out a little after that. Should we pluck both starters from that upper tier, or is there someone cheaper that can help us just as much? We'll take a look!
There's no Coors on the main slate again, which should spread out ownership among hitters again. There is a very slight rain chance in Kansas City, but it shouldn't be enough to wash out the game. The wind is blowing out to right in Yankee Stadium, so that could elevate an already high run total. It is blowing in Washington and Philly though, putting a bit of a damper on two other nice offensive game. Don't worry. We still have Dunedin!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/23/2021. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also check out today's FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. It’s also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, contact me on Twitter.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Zack Wheeler - PHI vs. BOS ($11,200)
Philly invites an AL-team to have their pitcher bat in a game with the wind blowing in. There's some risk here since the Boston offense is playing well lately, but Wheeler has some things going for him as well. Despite Citizens Bank Park's reputation as a hitter's park, Wheeler has an impressive 2.02 ERA in five home starts this year. He has only allowed four homers in nine starts. Three of them were in one game against the Giants. Wheeler was a plug-and-play guy in New York. He is gaining the same reputation in Philly. Considering Freddy Peralta's struggles on the road and Eduardo Rodriguez's dicey metrics, Wheeler stands out as the best pitcher to pay up for.
Max Fried - ATL vs. PIT ($8,600)
For those of you that were worried about Fried's horrid start and brief stint on the IL, you shouldn't be. In the three starts since his return, Fried has allowed just three runs in 17 innings while striking out 18. The walks need to come down for Fried to be truly effective, but Pirates hitters have the reputation of being free-swingers. They are striking out 28% of the time against lefties with a disappointing .214 average. However, Pittsburgh's walk rate is almost 2% higher against lefties. Walks are the one thing that have me a touch nervous about Fried, but I'm willing to look past it against a team that doesn't hit lefties well, nor do they hit them hard.
Other Options: Hyun-Jin Ryu ($9,700), Casey Mize ($7,000), Luis Castillo ($6,500), Kris Bubic ($5,000)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Tucker Barnhart - C, CIN vs. MIL ($4,000)
Catcher can be difficult on Sundays, but the Reds are in a pretty regimented timeshare right now. Barnhart should get the start here. He is the only current Red to hit a homer against Freddy Peralta and he is hitting 105 points higher at home this year with all three homers coming there. Peralta's 4.85 road ERA and 1.39 road WHIP have me fading him. Why not double down and throw Barnhart out there at Peralta?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B, TOR vs. TB at Dunedin ($5,600)
Vlad is going to be sad when the Jays bid adieu to Dunedin. He has nine homers and 25 RBI in just 19 games there this year. Vlad didn't homer yesterday, but he still walked twice and scored. Yeah, it's a bit disappointing when he doesn't "crush" at home, but that should be rectified today. Michael Wacha is an extreme fly ball pitcher, and when he exits, lefty Josh Fleming enters. It's another dream date for Vladdy.
Cesar Hernandez - 2B, CLE vs. MIN ($3,900)
Yes, using anyone associated with the Cleveland offense can make you wish you had stock in Pepto Bismol, but this is the time you want to use Hernandez. He is starting to come around at the plate with two homers in the last five games. He is leading off against a soft-tossing lefty in J.A. Happ who doesn't strike anyone out and allows a lot of fly balls. I like a lot of Cleveland righties today, starting with the leadoff man.
Brian Anderson - 3B, MIA vs. NYM ($3,300)
Anderson has a modest six-game hit streak going, racking up 70 DraftKings points in that span. He gets to face his former teammate Jordan Yamamoto, who has really struggled in the Majors over the last two years or so. Anderson is a very cheap source of points right now. We need the money to pay for some good pitching today. With no others at this position standing out, I'm going with the reliable but not flashy option.
Freddy Galvis - SS, BAL at WAS ($3,300)
Galvis is a much better hitter from the right side over his career. Baltimore is crushing left-handed pitching this year, hitting a robust .278. Galvis is doing nothing to hurt that average. He has come around after a slow start and is starting to show some power. Galvis has two homers and four RBI in the last four games. He feels underpriced here.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Aaron Judge - OF, NYY vs. CWS ($5,200)
Dallas Keuchel is a junkballer who always looks like he's one pitch away from disaster. The hallmark of his career is that he usually avoids that one pitch because he has become good at keeping the ball in the yard. The wind is blowing out in Yankee Stadium today and Judge destroys every single pitch that Keuchel throws. I think Keuchel avoids disaster for the most part again today, but I still think Judge gets him. If anyone does, it will be Judge.
Alex Kirilloff - 1B/OF, MIN at CLE ($4,000)
The rookie hasn't missed a beat since missing 18 days with a wrist injury. He has 21 DraftKings points against Cleveland in the first two games of this series. Zach Plesac has been battered by the Mariners and Angels over his last two starts. Those are among the worst offensive teams in the American League. Now he faces one of the better ones. I want a few pieces of this game, starting with Kirilloff.
Anthony Santander - OF, BAL at WAS ($3,100)
It's time to take advantage of the injury discount. Santander's month on the IL caused his price to plummet, but 31 DraftKings points in the two games since his return prove that he's fine. Santander has too much talent to be priced this low, especially against a struggling Patrick Corbin.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Toronto Blue Jays vs. Michael Wacha/Josh Fleming
- Cleveland Indians vs. J.A. Happ
- Washington Nationals vs. Matt Harvey
- Miami Marlins vs. Jordan Yamamoto
- Sneaky Stack: Baltimore Orioles vs. Patrick Corbin
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