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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 4, 2018. Adam Meyer's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
It is a full 15-game slate on Friday with seven games boasting an over/under of at least nine total runs. The CLE/NYY matchup leads the way with ten total projected runs and New York is the strong favorite. More on them much later (Hint: it isn’t good for Josh Tomlin).
Speaking of heavy favorites, only four teams have odds at -180 or greater and I’m only a fan of one of those pitchers (Gerrit Cole). When locking in your starting pitcher for Friday, consider the games with low over/unders (seven total runs) and lean towards the favorite in those contests.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/4/18. 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 @CharlieSideHstl.
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DraftKings Starting Pitchers
Gerrit Cole, HOU (@ ARI) - $12,400
Cole is the most costly option in the slate on Friday and he’s been worth every penny. This season, Cole has compiled double-digit strikeouts in four out of six performances. Also, he’s allowed two earned runs, or fewer, in five of his six outings. As for his opponent, the Diamondbacks are ninth in team strikeouts (283) this season. Don’t get me wrong, Cole is the best pitcher on the Friday ticket, but there are cheaper arms I’d rather buy and allocate my funds towards more expensive bats.
J.A. Happ, TOR (@ TB) - $11,700
At $700 cheaper, Happ is listed as the second-most expensive pitcher on the board. He, too, has been a strikeout machine. Happ has tallied at least eight whiffs in five consecutive appearances. He’s also allowed two runs, or less, in three of the past four starts. However, on the downside, the Rays have the fourth-best team wOBA (.348) against left-handed pitchers. Hence, the price difference. Again, there are cheaper options on the board that I’m going to target, but in terms of strikeout potential, I believe Cole and Happ provide the highest ceiling in the K department.
Garrett Richards, LAA (@ SEA) - $7,700
We’ve seen the best of Richards (6 IP, 2 ER, 11 K) and the worst of Richards (1.2 IP, 5 ER, 2 K) in the past two starts. While Richards was rocked in his last appearance, he had a stretch of three solid outings prior to the meltdown. He’s allowed two earned runs, or less, in four of the past five starts and struck out at least five batters in each game during that span. Also, Seattle is dead last in runs scored (216) this season.
Nick Kingham, PIT (@ MIL) - $6,800
Now, we are working with an extremely small sample size here, but it’s hard not to like Kingham in this spot. In his lone MLB start (last Sunday), Kingham pitched a one-hitter against St. Louis. No earned runs, no walks. He also tallied nine strikeouts. Quite the debut for the Pittsburgh pitcher. On Friday, he’ll face the Brewers. Milwaukee is 26th in team wOBA (.299) against right-handed pitchers, 23rd in runs scored (123 runs in 32 games), and 11th in team strikeouts (275) this season. I know the ballpark isn’t ideal for any pitcher, but the price tag is too good to pass up when it comes to this wildcard of a starting pitcher.
DraftKings Infielders
C - Salvador Perez, KC (vs. DET) - $3,600
Perez injured his knee in March and he’s been making up for his missed time ever since. In the past week, Perez is 13-for-38 (.342) with one home run and one stolen base. He’s compiled multi-hit performances in four of the past six starts. He also has a .221 ISO against left-handed pitchers. All signs point to Perez as the goto backstop for Friday.
1B - Jose Martinez, STL (vs. CHC) - $3,600
I feel like I choose Martinez whenever I write these, but his ISO is still ridiculous. He has a .392 ISO against southpaws since 2017. That leads the Cardinals and leads the slate of hitters who face lefties on Friday. He will face the boom-or-bust Jose Quintana to start the game. Quintana has either allowed at least four earned runs in an outing, or shutout his opponent. Here’s to hoping for the former on Friday.
2B - Kike Hernandez, LAD (@ SD) - $3,300
So, he hasn’t tallied a single hit in four games. However, Hernandez still leads the Dodgers with a .281 ISO against left-handed pitchers. This season, Hernandez is already 4-for-9 (.444) with one double at Petco Park.
3B - Yangervis Solarte, TOR (@ TB) - $3,600
It was quite the doubleheader for Solarte on Thursday. First, he went 5-for-6 with the game-winning grand slam in Game 1. Then, he followed that performance with a first at-bat home run in the second game of the day. He went a total of 8-for-10 with two doubles, two home runs, and seven RBI on Thursday.
SS - Francisco Lindor, CLE (@ NYY) - $4,800
While Solarte stole the show at Progressive Field on Thursday, Lindor also thrived. He hit two home runs in Game 1. In the past week, Lindor is 17-for-43 (.395) with four home runs, nine RBI, and one stolen base. He’ll face CC Sabathia on Friday. Lindor has a .208 ISO against lefties and is a career 5-for-9 (.556) with one double against Sabathia.
DraftKings Outfielders
Mookie Betts, BOS (@ TEX) - $5,800
The next three players I’m writing about are very expensive. However, if you built your team with my suggestions, and used Richards/Kingham as your starting pitchers, then you’ll have enough money in your salary cap to add these outfielders. Betts is playing out of his mind right now. In the past seven days he’s 9-for-20 (.450) with four home runs, eight RBI, and one stolen bag. Boston has one of the highest implied run totals on the slate and he should continue to bat leadoff. Ride the wave.
Aaron Judge, NYY (vs. CLE) - $5,600
Is he swinging a hot bat? No. Has he homered lately? Nope. Is there a great batter vs. pitcher sample size in his favor? They’ve never met before. Then why are you suggesting him? Two words: Josh. Tomlin. He’s allowed at least five earned runs in back-to-back starts (three times in 2018) and the Yankees should feast on Tomlin’s pitching. Add as many New York bats as the site, and your salary, allow.
Giancarlo Stanton, NYY (vs. CLE) - $5,100
Continuing from Judge’s write-up, Tomlin will be on the hill. If that isn’t enough to add Stanton to your lineup, remember that he homered twice on Wednesday. The weather is getting warmer and the balls will be flying further. Stanton also has a .294 ISO against righties since 2017. Judge leads the Yankees with a .345 ISO.
