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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/24/21. Euan Leith's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Monday, RotoBallers! There are eight games on the MLB schedule today, but one is a day game, and the other starts a little too early to catch the featured slate. Therefore, we've got six games and 12 lineups to peruse as we fill our DFS rosters for the first time this week. It kicks off with Colorado and the New York Mets at 7:05 pm ET and goes through to the only West Coast game as Seattle visits Oakland at 9:40 pm ET. As for weather watch, there isn't anything too scary out there right now. Baltimore's game in Minnesota has a 25 percent at seeing some rain, but it eases off throughout the evening, and they should be able to get that game in without a massive delay.
As for the pitching, after Friday's massacre with three $11,000 pitchers and eight arms north of $9,000, we return to somewhat standard pricing. Brandon Woodruff and John Means lead the arms at $10,600 and $10,300, respectively, but they both have tough matchups to navigate. Woodruff will welcome San Diego to Milwaukee, while Means and the Orioles travel to Target Field to meet the Twins.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/24/2021. 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
Blake Snell - P, SD at MIL ($8,900)
In his last start, Blake Snell threw the baseball for six innings for the first time since July 15, 2019. The fantasy world rejoiced as he racked up 11 strikeouts versus the Rockies and qualified for a quality start for the first time in 22 months. The strikeout upside is undeniable as he's recorded at least six strikeouts in eight of his nine starts despite his tendency to get the early hook. Hopefully, his last start was the beginning of a dominant stretch for Snell, and he can continue it versus Milwaukee on Monday. The Brewers strike out nearly 27 percent of the time to left-handed pitching this season, and their .361 slugging percentage is the sixth-worst mark in the league.
David Peterson - P, NYM vs. COL ($7,000)
The Rockies had a short home series against Arizona over the weekend, so we get a chance to invoke the mighty power of the "Rockies on the road for the first game outside Coors" effect. We need a catchier title than that, but we'll get it in the workshop and create something together. Anyways, we use this superpower because, on the season, the Rockies are allowing opposing starting pitchers to average a 0.28 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, and 35.9 DraftKings points per start when they play the first game of a road trip. David Peterson is not a superhero in the pitching world, but he does have three appearances with at least eight strikeouts this season. The southpaw averages 27.6 fantasy points per start when he reaches that benchmark. The Rockies are dead last in the league in road OPS (.573) and wRC+ (58) while also owning the fourth-highest strikeout rate in the league (27.5 percent). It's a pure mediocre talent meets tantalizing matchup pairing, and, for $7,000, I am in on Peterson.
Other options: Lance Lynn vs. STL ($9,300), Spencer Turnbull vs. CLE ($7,900), Austin Gomber at NYM ($5,600)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Yasmani Grandal - C, CWS vs. Kwang Hyun Kim ($4,100)
With a smaller-than-usual slate, it's a pleasant surprise to catch Grandal at $4,100. I outlined the case for Grandal in my last picks article on Friday, but unfortunately, he sat that one out. Despite some early-season bad luck, Grandal is turning it around and producing a massive amount of fantasy points in his last 10 games. The backstop has a 1.180 OPS in spite of a .217 batting average and has recorded nine runs, four home runs, eight RBI, and 10 walks to 13 strikeouts. Yesterday against New York, Grandal hit another home run as he continues to turn his season around. St. Louis pitcher, Kwang Hyun Jim, has a 1.30 WHIP through five starts this season, and it offers Grandal a safe floor while also maintaining his upside of continue to blast bombs over the fence.
Andrew Vaughn - 1B/OF, CWS vs. Kwang Hyun Kim ($2,200)
Vaughn has finally removed the "no home runs" label from his player card and has been showing signs of adjusting to the majors in recent weeks. While he has been far from helpful in his last 10 outings (.500 OPS), I can't quit the potential upside he brings each night. The White Sox lineup is incredibly dangerous any night, but I think they hang a few crooked numbers on the scoreboard against Kim tonight. Vaughn can be a part of the stack for not a lot of investment. Sign me up for $2,200 any day and let me spend big at other spots in my lineup.
Jake Cronenworth - 2B, SD at Brandon Woodruff ($5,100)
Maybe it's just me, but there is a severe lack of appealing options at second base for Monday. So I'm snagging Cronenworth as my second baseman and making him a part of an expensive Padres stack (see below). The left-handed hitter is on a torrid stretch at the moment, and over his last 10 games, Cronenworth is slashing .400/.442/.625 with 11 runs, three doubles, two home runs, and six RBI. He's hit third in nine straight games, and, coincidentally, the Padres are 9-0 while averaging 7.3 runs per game. San Diego is humming, and Cronenworth is a big key to their recent success. Plus, the leverage against a popular arm like Woodruff will never hurt your tournament chances either.
Jonathan Villar - 3B, NYM vs. Austin Gomber ($3,400)
We've got a leadoff hitter priced at $3,400 in our midst tonight as Jonathan Villar continues to get all the available playing time for the NL East-leading New York Metropolitans. Villar is purely a fantasy play because his .595 OPS is not doing this team any favors, but they need healthy bodies, and Villar is one of those. He has collected six runs, three home runs, and three steals in his last 10 games for fantasy purposes. That's enough for me to recommend him against Austin Gomber in Citi Field tonight. Another cheap bat that allows us to go big at other spots is always a welcome addition to the lineup.
Fernando Tatis Jr. - SS, SD at Brandon Woodruff ($6,200)
As I mentioned above, I am really into an expensive Padres stack tonight, and it's going to contain Tatis. In 30 games, Tatis has totaled 30 runs, 13 home runs, 26 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. It puts him on a 162-game pace for 162 runs, 71 home runs, 141 RBI, and 54 steals. That's impossible, but it's also absurd to even be on a pace like that. Since returning from the COVID-19 IL, the shortstop has a 2.752 OPS (look for yourself), and it's like he is playing MLB The Show on rookie mode. I'm not fading him against Woodruff even at $6,200. Please give me all the Tatis I can fit in my lineups for Monday.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Robbie Grossman - OF, DET vs. Sam Hentges ($4,700)
As an Astros fan, it always takes me a few seconds to comprehend Robbie Grossman is a good fantasy option. Regardless, the outfielder is on fire right now and has a chance to keep the good times rolling against Cleveland. Grossman has reached base in 17 consecutive games and is slashing .343/.434/.614 in this stretch. The 31-year old has also added 15 runs, six doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 13 RBI. He's batting leadoff for Detroit and has been a pleasant surprise for the Tigers as the table-setter in 2021.
Dominic Smith - 1B/OF, NYM vs. Austin Gomber ($3,900)
The hits keep coming for the Mets as Pete Alonso (hand) hit the IL over the weekend. It will allow Dominic Smith to stay in the lineup for the foreseeable future, no matter who is on the mound. Smith and my next pick are a couple of gut calls, but I think the mental relaxation for everyday at-bats will help Smith sooner rather than later. Remember, this is a guy who slugged at least .525 in 2019 and 2020. The power is on its way for Dominic Smith, and I'm willing to take the early gamble against Austin Gomber.
Jarred Kelenic - OF, SEA vs. Frankie Montas ($3,700)
Another gut call in a home-run hunting vein. Kelenic exploded on the scene with an enormous performance in just his second major-league game. On May 14 versus the Indians, the Mariner's top-hitting prospect went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run. However, since that game, the 21-year old has been particularly quiet, which led to an off day yesterday. I'm buying the off day will help him get his head back in the game and right the ship for the phenomenal talent. You don't keep this type of hitter down for too long, and I like Kelenic to take Frankie Montas deep in the Bay Area.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Chicago White Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Kwang Hyun Kim, LHP)
- Sneaky stack (part 1): Baltimore Orioles at Minnesota Twins (Matt Shoemaker, RHP)
- Sneaky stack (part 2): San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers (Brandon Woodruff, RHP)
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