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10 of the 15 games are on the main early slate on DraftKings today. We have a few aces, several solid pitchers, and about half the slate which look like powder kegs. There are teams in great spots for hitting and Mad Max gets the Marlins, a team that has given him some issues. Who do we lock in? It may not be who you think.
There's no rain today, but we have plenty of wind. It is blowing out to right in Washington, center in New York, and left in Pittsburgh. A stronger wind is blowing out to left in Milwaukee and Chicago. There is a brisk wind blowing in from left in Minnepolis and one from right in Dunedin, but I'll still take the hitters there. It's going to be warm and very humid. Add that to a small park, and that ball is going to fly!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/2/2021. 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.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Cristian Javier - HOU at TB ($9,400)
The Rays have scored just 20 runs in the last nine games, including being locked down by Jose Urquidy yesterday. Another young Astros phenom gets his crack at this scuffling team. Javier has a miniscule 0.87 ERA in four starts and hasn't given up a run in the last three. The domination doesn't stop there. Javier has allowed just eight hits in 17 innings while striking out 22 batters. This run wont go on forever, but considering Tampa couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat right now, I'm rolling with Javier over Mad Max against the Fish.
Lucas Giolito - CWS vs. CLE ($8,600)
Giolito's numbers are skewed by him getting bludgeoned by Boston on Patriot's Day. He didn't allow a run in seven innings against Cleveland in his first start against them this year. I can't honestly say that Cleveland is any better now than they were on April 13. Giolito has a 2.26 ERA in eight career starts against Cleveland with 57 strikeouts in 51.2 innings. Giolito looks like an amazing bargain on this slate.
Other Options: Max Scherzer ($9,700), Corey Kluber ($8,100), Trevor Rogers ($7,900), Brad Keller ($5,500)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Tucker Barnhart - C, CIN vs. CHC ($4,200)
Barnhart got the day off yesterday, presumably so he could tee off on Trevor Williams. Barnhart is 6-15 with a homer and three RBI in his career against Williams. Catcher can be tricky on Sunday, so a gift like Barnhart is nice. If you don't feel like paying this price for Barnhart, this might be the only time Danny Janssen is worth playing for the rest of the year.
Alex Kiriloff - 1B/OF, MIN vs. KC ($3,000)
Well, here it is. Kiriloff has three homers in his last two games. This is our last chance to get him at a discount. Brad Keller has been arguably the worst pitcher in baseball to start the season, and the xERA of 7.22 suggests that it's not all bad luck. He's just not pitching well. Keller has only given up two homers, but for this price, even if Kiriloff only gets a couple RBI or something, he'll pay off this price.
Ozzie Albies - 2B, ATL at Dunedin ($4,700)
I'll take the $400 savings on Albies today. He's still batting cleanup against Ross Stripling, who struggled before landing on the IL. It's either a bullpen day by a bullpen that's taxed or four innings of a struggling Stripling and that beleaguered bullpen. Either way, this is a great matchup once against for the Braves. It's going to be hot and humid and baseballs will be flying around like this is a baseball airport.
Rafael Devers - 3B, BOS at TEX ($5,200)
Devers has hit six of his seven homers on the road and carries a .370 average this year away from the Fens. The roof should be open in Texas, which helps the hitters out. They may not need it. Mike Foltynewicz, even though he didn't allow a homer in his last start, has still allowed a major league-leading eight on the season. This feels like the time to chase Devers.
Nico Hoerner - 2B/SS, CHC at CIN ($4,000)
We don't just have to chase homers. Hoerner is hitting .375 in ten games since his call up with six RBI and two steals. The Cubs still keep shuffling their lineups, but Hoerner always lands in it. I like it more if he's sitting at or near the top, but Hoerner is heating up and that first homer of the year should come in short order.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Aaron Judge - OF, NYY vs. DET ($5,600)
Judge has two homers and eight RBI in the two games against the Tigers to start this series. We all know how hot Judge can get. This appears to be the start of one of his heaters against the worst bullpen in baseball. Jose Urena is pitching well enough to curb the upside, but all he needs to do it get into one of the pitches today to make him worth while.
Corey Dickerson - OF, MIA at WAS ($3,800)
This is more a leverage play than anything else. If Dickerson is able to return from his minor groin injury, this is the spot to get it. Dickerson's .316 clip with a homer and seven RBI is nice to start the season, but I'm more interested in his 4-9 career mark against Max Scherzer with a homer and two RBI. I would say that ownership for Scherzer will be at least 20% taking a shot at him with Dickerson is not the worst idea in large field GPP's.
Christian Pache - OF, ATL at Dunedin ($2,000)
Here's today's free space. Pache will start with Guillermo Heredia landing on the IL and he's minimum price in the best hitter's park the day after he hit a grand slam for his first regular season home run. The ownership is going to be astronomical, but there are plenty of other places to get different. Pache at minimum price enables to much across the rest of our lineups.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Atlanta Braves vs. Ross Stripling
- Cincinnati Reds vs. Trevor Williams
- Sneaky Stack: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Carlos Martinez
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