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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/13/21. Brian Entrekin's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have a 6-game main slate on tap tonight, and there are a lot of ways to go when building your lineups. We have a late-night game in Seattle where all eyes will be focused on the debuts of Logan Gilbert and Jerrad Kelenic. Both are min-priced, and both will be intriguing plays for your DFS lineups. We also have Coors Field in play, and the question is whether or not Luis Castillo is worth the value or not? The battle of Texas will be another area of DFS interests as offensive should be aplenty, not just for the Astros. For the full slate, break down listen to MLB DFS Quick Hits to get all the plays you need.
The slate starts with the fun decision of stacking Coors, and it's going to be extremely popular tonight for a couple of reasons. First, Chi Chi is pitching for the Rockies, which already makes the Reds a major interest. Add to that the fact DK priced the Reds and even some Rockies way too cheap, making it easy to stack one of the juiciest matchups on the slate. Outside of Coors, the Astros will be extremely popular, and they should be versus Folty, but do not sleep on the Rangers either as Javier has not been as dominant in recent starts. For a 6-game slate, there are a lot of ways to attack this slate. Eating some chalk will be fine, as differentiating will be easy as well.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/13/2021. 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 @bdentrek.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Zach Plesac - P, CLE at SEA ($8,300)
Plesac has kicked it into high gear in recent weeks and checks in as my top pitching option tonight. Plesac has always been an innings eater, going five or more innings in six of seven starts and has gone 7.2 innings or more in two of the last three starts. In Plesac's last two starts, he has allowed three hits in each start, walked none, and struck out at least six in each start. The other major factor is Plesac threw over 110 pitches in each start, and barring a Mariners' offensive explosion, Plesac will go deep into the game. He will take on a Mariners team that is striking out 25.8% of the time versus RHP with a .214 average and 93 wRC+. While everyone focuses on Gilbert and his $4K price tag tonight (I'll have some shares), I'll be focusing on Plesac throwing an absolute gem at a price that should be $2K higher.
Trevor Rogers - P, MIA at AZ ($9,300)
With all the value on the slate, it will be rather easy to build a lineup with Plesac and Rogers. Rogers has been an elite arm this season. Over his last six starts, he has thrown at least five innings, allowing three earned runs or less in each start (two or less in five of six) while striking out six or more in every start. This has allowed Rogers to rack up an average of 22.8 DK points per start this season. He will take on a DBacks offense that has done well versus LHP this season, but a lot of that was thanks to a beat down of Patrick Corbin earlier this season. Look for Rogers to take advantage of a 23.2% strikeout rate versus LHP by the DBacks to rack up the DK points tonight.
Other Options: Jameson Taillon (NYY at TB) $7,700, Logan Gilbert (SEA vs. CLE) $4,000
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Tucker Barnhart - C, CIN at COL Chi Chi Gonzalez ($4,100)
I apologize ahead of time, but I am writing up too many pieces of Coors for my liking, but it is hard not to with the horrible DK pricing. They define good if not great chalk tonight. We'll kick off the fun with Barnhart, who has been quite the all or nothing at the plate these days. Since May 1, eight games/six starts, Barnhart is hitting .292 with a .250 ISO and four XBH, but he is also striking out 44% of the time. Over the eight-game stretch, he has even put up two 20+ DK point performances along with some zeroes. Again, all-or-nothing, it seems. Well, what better place than Coors Field for an all-or-nothing approach. He will face Chi Chi tonight, who has been hit hard by LHH in his entire career, and this season is no different. LHH is hitting .348 with a .507 SLG and a .399 wOBA. You usually have to break the bank for a catcher in Coors, but tonight you don't, so enjoy the savings.
Other Options: Sandy Leon (MIA at AZ) $2,700
Matt Olson - 1B, OAK at Garrett Richards ($4,200)
On the season, Olson is hitting .267 and crushing the baseball; all is good. Over the last 10 games, the production has slowed down a bit. He has hit safely in five of 10 games for a .200 average. That won't stop me tonight if you want to get different in a GPP. Olson has a double-dong upside at any time. He has hit safely in three straight games, so that he may be heating up again. Over the last 10 games, even with the .200 average, he has a .229 ISO.118 wRC+ and is even walking 14.6% of the time. The quality of contact is great as usual, too, with a barrel rate of 21.7% and a hard-hit rate of 43.5%. Olson is crushing the baseball as well as taking walks. He takes on Richards tonight, who has been pitching well of late, allowing LHH to hit .278 with a .443 SLG and 1.4 HR/9 this season. Olson is the perfect tournament power play and is coming in at a very affordable price tonight. Do not be surprised if you get a low-owned home run tonight from Olson.
Other Options: Josh Naylor (CLE at SEA) $3,500, Mitch Moreland (OAK at BOS) $3,400, Connor Joe (COL vs CIN) $2,000
Nick Senzel - 2B/OF, CIN at COL Chi Chi Gonzalez ($3,700)
Well, let's return to Coors and one of the more ridiculous prices on tonight's slate. Over the last six games, Senzel has taken over as the lead-off hitter for the Reds, and he has been quite productive. He has hit safely in five of six games with a .320 and a low 7.4% strikeout rate. Senzel has been setting the table for the boppers, and it has worked as he has also scored five runs in those games. Senzel has scored five or more DK points in eight of his last ten games and has double-digit DK production in four of ten games. Now you place Senzel, hitting leadoff, versus Chi Chi, in Coors Field at only $3,700, GIDDY UP!!!!
Other Options: Ryan McMahon (COL vs. CIN) $5,000, Nick Solak (TEX at HOU) $4,300, Cesar Hernandez (CLE at SEA) $3,700
Kyle Farmer - SS/3B, CIN at Chi Chi Gonzalez ($3,300)
Farmer has been the cheap Reds option game after game since he began starting at shortstop on the regular. Farmer has hit safely in four of the last five games. He is walking 14.3% of the time over that stretch and has even stolen a base. The production has been great, but the downside is Farmer hitting eighth in Coors that is not as big of a problem, especially at $3,300. Feel free to take the savings on Farmer if you choose or pay up for any of the big dogs listed below who all have much higher ceilings than Farmer.
Other Options: Xander Bogaerts (BOS vs OAK) $5,500, Trevor Story (COL vs CIN) $5,500, Eugenio Suarez (CIN at COL) $4,900, Isiah Kiner-Falefa (TEX at HOU) $4,100
Jose Ramirez - 3B, CLE at Logan Gilbert ($5,300)
With everyone and their moms likely rostering Gilbert tonight (I'll have my fair share), an Indians' leverage stack is in full effect. Who better to lead the way in the stack than Ramirez.? Ramirez has been crushing baseballs, hitting his tenth home run of the season on Tuesday. Over the last 11 games, Ramirez has safely hit seven of the last 11 games with four home runs, a .359 ISO, and a 172 wRC+. Ramirez is even walking 10.9% of the time while only striking out 17.4% of the time. He is putting the ball in play early and often, leading the way for the Indians' offense. Stacking Ramirez up with the likes of Hernandez, Naylor, Franmil, and others should be a gigantically low-owned stack tonight.
Other Options: Alex Bregman (HOU vs. TEX) $5,500, Mike Moustakas (CIN at COL) $4,700
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Tyler Naquin - OF, CIN at Chi Chi Gonzalez ($4,300)
When it comes to the Reds' outfield, it is all about Jesse Winker ($5,100), who is well worth every penny tonight, and his counterpart Naquin. I know I sound like a broken record, but Naquin in Coors Field versus Chi Chi is just too cheap. Since May 1 (nine games), Naquin is only hitting .250, but he has four XBH with a .250 ISO, and he has even thrown in a stolen base. He is barreling the ball 12% of the time in May, and against Chi Chi, who LHH has spanked, is a recipe for mega-success tonight.
Kyle Tucker - OF, HOU vs. Mike Foltynewicz ($3,500)
When we look for the value, we usually look below $3K, but tonight the best value on the slate is Tucker. I have written a lot about Tucker in recent articles, discussing all the positive regression that was coming his way, and he has begun to absolutely crush the baseball. Tucker has hit safely in four straight games, with multiple hits in three of the four games. He has five XBH over the last four games, with three home runs. It's a small sample, but a .923 ISO and 444 wRC+ are ridiculous regardless of the sample. His plate discipline has been elite, with an 18.8% walk rate to go with a 12.5% strikeout rate. A lot of these stats are just out of this world good, but here's the hammer...over the last four games, Tucker is barreling the ball 36.4% of the time with a 100% HARD-HIT RATE!!!!! Every ball he has put in play the last four games is hard-hit. Just lock Tucker into your lineups tonight and enjoy, and if you really want to party, stack him with Yordan Alvarez.
Adolis Garcia - OF, TEX at Cristian Javier ($3,400)
Last but not least, we can't forget about our good buddy Garcia. Adolis has been on an absolute tear of late. Garcia has hit safely in each of his last nine starts, good for a .405 average. He has four home runs, a .351 ISO, and a 235 wRC+ over that stretch while also throwing in two steals. Garcia is barreling the ball 15.4% of the time with a 69.2% hard-hit rate. Garcia is just mashing. He gets an intriguing matchup versus Javier, who has stumbled the last couple of starts. He has allowed eight runs over ten innings, including three home runs. Javier has allowed the opponent to barrel the ball 15.4% of the time with a 46.2% hard-hit rate over the last two starts. The Astros will be the bats many focus on in the Battle for Texas but do not sleep on the Rangers. The game is worth a game stack, and Garcia should be the first Rangers' player in your lineups.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Houston Astros (Mike Foltynewicz, RHP)
- Coors Field: Cincinnati Reds at Colorado Rockies (Luis Castillo, RHP at Chi Chi Gonzalez, RHP)
- Texas Rangers (Cristian Javier, RHP)
- Sneaky Stack- Miami Marlins (Merrill Kelly, RHP)
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