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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 19th, 2019. Austyn Varney's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
The MLB has blessed up with a huge Sunday slate, consisting of 15 games, eight of which will start just after one o'clock so make sure you get your lineups set. We have plenty of things to go through, but will be focused on two expensive pitchers while still getting a couple of top-notch bats in the lineup without sacrificing at any one spot. We've stacked bats in a very optimal situation. With so much variance, it's going to be important to nail your pitcher. The Mets are the biggest favorite of the last few days at -260 and it will only grow. The Marlins are especially terrible vs righties, and it's likely a big determining factor on this slate. Bieber provides a cheaper version with ace potential against a weaker opponent.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/19/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. 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 @VarneyDFS.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Shane Bieber, CLE (vs. BAL) - $9,000
There are a few solid options if you want to pay up at pitcher, but Shane Bieber may be the best point-per-dollar play. He’s a full thousand dollars cheaper than anyone else in the range and projects similarly. Bieber has had some bad luck, but he is still the same 10+ K/9 and sub .300 wOBA pitcher against both sides of the plate. The Orioles rank 20th in baseball against righties with a team .302 wOBA and strikeout 22% of the time. There isn’t much pop in the order and the power they do have will be silenced by the move to Progressive Field. Bieber is a bit too cheap for cash games to overlook tonight.
Noah Syndergaard, NYM (@ MIA) - $10,400
When looking at a slate, one of the first things you take a look at is the opening Vegas odds. The Mets opened up as -210 favorites and the game has a projected total of just 7 runs. This match-up was supposed to happen a week ago, but weather got in the way. The Marlins sport the leagues worst wOBA against righties at sub .270 and strikeout an insane 26% of the time. They seem to always get scrappy and put up some runners, but don’t have the power or string of bats to do much damage. Syndergaard has sported a .298 wOBA dating back to last season and has held a K/9 in the 11s. With a few other options on the board, it should lessen the attention on both Syndergaard and Bieber. Both are phenomenal plays in both cash games and tournaments.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Yadier Molina, STL (@ TEX - Drew Smyly) - $3,800
Molina just keeps pumping away at 36 years old. Assuming he plays today and doesn’t sit Sunday out, he’s the top play when considering the price. The Cardinals are expected to put up nearly six runs and Molina will be right in the heart of the order. We’ll get to the specifics on why Smyly is so bad, but just know he has allowed six homers and a .400 wOBA against so far this year in only 23 innings of work. The Cardinals are one of our favorite lineups of the night and we’ll get to a few more of these guys before it’s over. Molina is a great way to get exposure to this offense for cheap and at a weak position.
1B - Paul Goldschmidt, STL (@ TEX - Drew Smyly) - $4,400
Let’s stay right in Texas with the Cardinals. I know it may seem like I’m overdoing the Cards tonight, but they hold an implied total of 6.16. That’s insane outside of Coors Field. They have a relentless lineup vs southpaws and it all starts with Goldschmidt. He’s one of the best bats in baseball vs lefties, sporting a .400+ wOBA in three straight seasons. He fits perfectly into this Cardinals machine and is my favorite bat along with Ozuna from the Cards.
2B - Jurickson Profar, OAK (@ DET - Gregory Soto) - $3,700
Profar still has some growing to do, but he’s slowly showing why he’s been a top prospect in baseball for what seems like a decade now. He has power, speed, and is typically a tough at-bat. Tonight, he faces off with Greg Soto, who is one of the worst pitchers in baseball right now. Soto is terrible against both sides of the plate and is going to start getting hit around. We don’t have much of a sample size yet, but the only sample we do have is of him getting demolished. Profar will be in the top of the order, in a favorable match-up, and affordable. With that said, Chad Pinder would be in play as well if he draws the start over Profar. There are plenty of options with such a large slate, but Profar is affordable and on an offense in a top 5 spot. Don’t hesitate to stack these Athletics.
3B - Asdrubal Cabrera, TEX (vs. STL - Jack Flaherty) $3,800
We’re all over the Cardinals and could go right back to the well here with Carpenter. If money doesn’t matter, Yoan Moncada is my favorite. However, salary does exist and we may need to save some funds. On the other side of the diamond, a much better pitcher in Flaherty will be taking the mound. As a young righty with a dominant slider and underdeveloped changeup, he destroys righties and struggles vs lefties. Cabrera, a switch-hitter, will try to take advantage. He’s held a .361 wOBA vs opposing right-handers and is on a power streak. He’s priced a bit down from the top guys and has as much HR power as most. Vegas thinks this game is the highest scoring of the night, so no exposure is bad.
SS - Paul DeJong, STL (@ TEX - Drew Smyly) $4,800
There are some enticing names at the top, but DeJong is my shortstop tonight. Hitting .322 with eight home runs, DeJong is proving himself as one of the last high-average bats in the game. He excels against left-handers, sporting a .442 wOBA and 46% hard contact rate. He now draws Drew Smyly, who’s putting the ball on a tee from the left side. He’s averaged a 5+ xFIP against both sides of the plate and is only striking out five batters per nine innings. DeJong is going to have RBI opportunities and I think he comes through against a weak-tossing lefty.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Marcell Ozuna, STL (@ TEX - Drew Smyly) $4,800; Jose Martinez, STL (@ TEX - Drew Smyly) $4,100
If the Cardinals put up more than six runs as they expect, Ozuna and Martinez will be a big part of it. I know this article is crowded with Cardinals, but it’s the theme of the slate. We know the Cardinals play great team baseball and when the lineup starts going, it’s hard to stop. Ozuna and Martinez, hitting fourth and fifth, mash lefties. Ozuna with a .399 and Martinez with a .367. Smyly is way over his head in this match-up and won’t get a break until the eight-hole. The ballpark is a huge upgrade for the Cardinals and I fully expect them to take advantage. For me, it’s just choosing the correct four Cardinals.
Joc Pederson, LAD (@ CIN - Tanner Roark) $5,000
Joc Pederson is the definition of boom or bust, but he’s in a solid spot to boom tonight. We haven’t touched on the Dodgers just yet, but they’re facing an average arm in Great American Ballpark. It can always get ugly when the Dodgers go into a bam box. All of these Dodgers’ bats get a huge bump and Pederson is my favorite in the OF for the price. He’s a full thousand cheaper than Bellinger and should be lesser owned. Roark and his .341 wOBA vs lefties is nothing to be afraid of. If you want to get crazy and avoid the Cardinals, this Dodgers team is one with huge upside on the road.
Stephen Piscotty, OAK (@ DET - Gregory Soto) - $4,000
If you need a more affordable option in the outfield, Stephen Piscotty is a great option. We don’t have much to base Soto off of, but he’s not a huge prospect and walked six batters per nine innings in AAA. No thank you. Stephen Piscotty isn’t the most consistent bat, but he’s good against lefties and will be up with runners on. He’s affordable, should go overlooked, and has a ton of upside away from the Coliseum.
