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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 25th, 2019. Ben Rolfe's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Saturday brings us a bonus 16-game schedule of baseball! There is a big slant towards afternoon baseball, with 10 of the games taking place in the afternoon slate, starting at 2:10 pm. Of the remaining six games, five of them make up the evening slate with just the second of the Yankees-Royals doubleheader not appearing on either slate. In GPP the prizes are slightly bigger on the afternoon slate, but both slates have significant prizes, so you will find picks for both slates below.
Patrick Corbin and the Washington Nationals are the biggest favorites of the day down in Miami. However, because the opposition is the Marlins, Corbin comes at a bigger price than he even would normally. As for the later slate the Dodgers are the biggest favorites, but given the way Hyun-Jin Ryu has pitched this season he is understandably extremely expensive. Run line wise it will be no surprise to see the top mark being in Colorado. However, it might be a struggle with the pitching on that slate to squeeze too many of those hitters in your lineup.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/25/19. 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 @benrolfe15.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Yu Darvish, CHC (vs CIN) - $9,300 (Early)
It has not been a great start to the season for Darvish, who currently owns a 5.06 ERA. However, his last outing against the Reds in Cincinnati went well, as he struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two earned runs. The problem with Darvish is that he struggles to go deep into games, limiting his ceiling. However, if he is pitching at full capacity and striking people out he would be a bonus at this price. Make sure you double check the wind in Chicago before lock as this park can look very small indeed if the wind is blowing out. If it is then you can pivot to either Patrick Corbin or Charlie Morton. Both are more expensive but they should be well worth the price.
Yusei Kikuchi, SEA (@ OAK) - $8,300 (Early)
Kikuchi is the cheapest option I feel absolutely comfortable rolling out. In his last four outings he has allowed just six earned runs, and averages 22.58 points in those outings. Facing the Athletics in Oakland is always a bonus, especially as they average just 3.84 runs per game at home this season. With Mike Fiers taking the mound for the Athletics there is always uncertainty about what he might produce, but I like Kikuchi's chance of coming away with a win here.
Mike Minor, TEX (@ LAA) - $10,400 (Late)
I never like paying up for a pitcher that is not a favorite in his matchup, but outside of the top-three pitchers this is an ugly slate for pitching. If you want to have two of those three then you are going to have to sacrifice Hyun-Jin Ryu and settle for Minor. It is not a bad settle as Minor has a 2.64 ERA, and has 67 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings. There have been a couple of blow ups this season, but generally he has been a safe option with a decent ceiling.
Mike Soroka, ATL (@ STL) - $9,500 (Late)
Soroka has been incredible this season, allowing just five earned runs in seven starts this season. Strikeouts have been a struggle in two of the last three starts but seven in the eight innings last time out is extremely promising. He does not have the highest ceiling in the world but he is the safest option on this slate not called Hyun-Jin Ryu.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Josh Phegley, OAK (vs. SEA) - $3,900 (Early)
This is a hedge against Kikuchi on a hitter who has three doubles and a home run against left-handed pitchers this season, iving him a .375 wOBA and a 139 wRC+.
C - Tyler Flowers, ATL (@ STL) - $3,400 (Late)
Flowers has really impressive numbers against right-handed pitchers this season. As well as a .328 batting average, he has four home runs and a triple. All of that gives him an impressive .395 wOBA and 147 wRC+, at a relatively budget price.
1B - Brandon Belt, SF (@ ARI) - $3,900 (Early)
Belt is not having an incredible season, but he is doing enough against right-handed pitching to be valuable, with five home runs, a .273 ISO and a .374 wOBA. Unsurprisingly, he is performing better on the, with a .278 ISO and a .374 wOBA.
1B - Mitch Moreland, BOS (@ HOU) - $4,500 (Late)
Moreland is a perfect platoon option for the Red Sox and for DFS players. 13 home runs this season against right-handed pitching, has given him a .371 ISO and a .391 wOBA.
2B - Starlin Castro, MIA (vs. WSH) - $2,600 (Early)
Any time the Marlins face a left-handed pitcher it is worth trying to see if you can slip Castro in your lineup. Patrick Corbin is not a pitcher you usually want to go against, but the price makes it worth the gamble. Castro is hitting .361 with a .372 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season.
2B - Hanser Alberto, BAL (@ COL) - $4,100 (Late)
I was desperate to gt at least one Baltimore bat in my lineup, but with the bad pitching on the slate it will not be easy. Alberto offers a budget option, who has good numbers against left-handed pitching. In 2019, he is hitting .417 with a .432 wOBA against lefties.
3B - Matt Chapman, OAK (@ DET) - $4,300 (Early)
Much like Castro, Chapman is another player I always come back to when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound. His batting average is poor, .196, but when lefties are on the mound he has five home runs and two doubles in 57 PA, giving him a .370 ISO and a .368 wOBA.
3B - David Fletcher, LAA (vs. TEX) - $3,400 (Late)
Bit of a gamble on Fletcher here, especially with a good left-handed pitcher on the mound. He has two home runs with lefties on the mound, and hits .322 with three home runs at home.
SS - Ronny Rodriguez, DET (@ NYM) - $4,300 (Early)
Rodriguez has .286 batting average and one home run in 21 PA against left-handed pitchers. It is not the most convincing argument but SS is a tough position on these slates, and he at least offers some upside.
SS - Logan Forsythe, TEX (@ LAA) - $4,000 (Late)
Trying to pick a semi-decent option price wise at this position on this slate was tough. I settled for Forsythe because he has a .365 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, and he is hitting .341 with five doubles and a triple in May.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Austin Meadows, TB (@ CLE) - $5,400 (Early)
Meadows is having a fantastic season with nine home runs, seven doubles and a triple. Against right-handed pitchers he has had all his doubles and eight of his home runs. In fact against righties he has a .361 ISO and .450 wOBA this season.
Nick Castellanos, DET (@ NYM) - $3,900 (Early)
It has not been a great season for Castellanos, but against left-handed pitching he has had some success, hitting .385 with two home runs, a .308 ISO and a .482 wOBA.
Jay Bruce, SEA (@ OAK) - $3,800 (Early)
Of Bruce's 12 home runs, nine of them have come against right-handed pitchers. His batting average means that his wOBA is relatively unimpressive, but his .304 ISO is always worth taking note of.
Nomar Mazara, TEX (vs. SF) - $3,800 (Late)
It has been a solid start to the season for Mazara, with six home runs so far. However, three of those home runs have come against left-handed pitchers, giving him a .295 ISO and a .380 wOBA.
Bryan Reynolds, PIT (vs. LAD) - $3,400 (Late)
There is always a risk with Reynolds that he will not be in the lineup, but he has started five of the last six. Additionally, the opposing pitcher, Ryu, has been one of the best in the majors so far. However, Reynolds owns a .481 batting average, with two home runs, .370 ISO and .565 wOBA when lefties have been on the mound this season.
Delino DeShields, TEX (@ LAA) - $3,300 (Late)
With a left-handed pitcher on the mound, there is a good chance we see DeShields in the lineup today. It is not a sexy pick but DeShields does have his solitary home run, as well as two doubles in his 29 PA against lefties.
