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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 9th, 2019. Ben Rolfe's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Thursday sees yet another 10 game slate split right down the middle. The first of the two five game slates gets underway at 1:10 pm before the second heads to the mound at 6:35 pm. Both slates are considered featured but the slightly higher rewards come in the second slate. However, as both are featured you will find picks below for both slates. The contrast between the two slates is that the early slate provides some solid, if unspectacular, pitching options, while the second slate provides superior hitting and questionable pitching.
The Indians are the biggest favorite of the day, with Carlos Carrasco taking the mound against the White Sox. However, he is also the most expensive pitcher on the slate, and if you bypass him there is a way to fit two other pitchers with favorable matchups into your lineup. On the second slate the Yankees are the biggest favorite, hosting the Mariners. However, you will be hard pressed to convince anyone to trust J.A. Happ today. As for totals the clear winner will come in Colorado, but again you will have to pay up for those hitters.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/9/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. 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.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Yu Darvish, TB (@ KC) - $9,500 (Early)
It’s not been a great season for Darvish as a whole. However, he did have a solid start last time out against the Marlins striking out eight and allowing just two earned in 5 2/3 innings. The biggest issue with Darvish is that he has only gone six innings once this season, but the strikeout potential in this matchup makes him worth using on a not great slate for pitching.
Chris Bassitt, ATL (vs. SD) - $8,800 (Early)
It’s been a strong start to the season for Bassitt who has 22 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched. In his three outings so far he has walked just six and allowed only four earned runs. The Reds came to live in their last series in San Francisco but have already been shut out once by Oakland in this series. Additionally, their game on Wednesday went to extra innings and was still being played at 11pm PT. Therefore, there could be some tired legs and minds from both sets of hitters and this could be a hitters day.
Rich Hill, LAD (vs. WSH) - $9,400 (Late)
This is a rough slate for pitching, and makes the early slate look stacked. The Nationals are not a team to take lightly and Hill is coming off a rough outing. However, Hill has the ability to provide strikeouts and innings, while facing a team who have scored just seven runs in their last four road games. Of the expensive options Hill is the best of a scary bunch.
Michael Wacha, STL (vs. PIT) - $7,600 (Late)
The thought of relying on Wacha makes me a little green around the gills. However, this slate is full of bad matchups for pitchers, leaving me scrambling for options. The reason I am willing to gamble on Wacha is just how blah the Pirates have been this season. They rank 29th in runs scored, 28th in home runs and 25th in slugging percentage. As for the positives around Wacha, well he is cheap, should give you five innings and averages just over a strikeout per innings.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Yan Gomes, WSH (@ LAD) - $2,900 (Late)
I am never a fan of picking my hitters against one of my pitchers but Gomes numbers against left-handed pitching is too hard to pass up. Last season Gomes had a .371 wOBA and a 135 wRC+ against them, and this season he has a .455 batting average, .273 ISO and .561 wOBA in his limited opportunities against left-handed pitching.
1B - Miguel Cabrera, DET (vs.LAA) - $3,400 (Early)
Power wise it has been a rough year for Cabrera as he has hit just one home run. However, that home run came in one of his 19 PA when a left-handed pitcher was on the mound. With Luke Bard taking the mound for the Angels tonight there is a chance Cabrera adds another trip round the bases early in this one.
1B - Paul Goldschmidt, STL (vs.PIT) - $4,300 (Late)
Going for Wacha allows you to go aggressive with some hitting options and Goldschmidt is just that. All nine of his home runs this season have come against right-handed pitchers, leaving him with a .246 ISO and a .345 wOBA.
2B - Adam Frazier, NYM (vs. CIN) - $3,400 (Late)
Again I prefer not to go against one of my pitchers but Frazier has solid enough numbers as a leadoff hitter to make it worth it. This season against right-handed hitters he has five doubles, a triple and a home run. None of that blows you away but with the potential for extra ABs as a leadoff hitter the price is nice for Frazier.
3B - Matt Chapman, OAK (vs. CIN) - $4,500 (Early)
This is the first hitter on the early slate I really love. Chapman is doing damage against both lefties and rightes, but he also sports a .304 batting average with right-handed pitchers on the mound. Additionally, six of his home runs have come at home, giving him a .356 ISO and a .443 wOBA (N.B. one of those "home" home runs was hit in the designated home game in Japan)
3B - Justin Turner, LAD (vs. WSH) - $4,200 (Late)
This one does come with some risk because Turner is facing a good left-handed pitcher in Patrick Corbin, and has just a .240 batting average this season with lefties on the mound. However, he also has three home runs and a .240 ISO against left-handed pitchers this season.
SS - Francisco Lindor, CLE (vs. CWS) - $4,700 (Early)
You wait this long for one player you love on a slate and a second comes along immediately after. Lindor crushed left-handed pitching last season, with a .428 wOBA and a .240 ISO. In 2019, he already has one home run in hs 17 PA against them.
SS - Elvis Andrus, TEX (@ HOU) - $4,900 (Late)
He is a fairly pricey option but Andrus had success last season against left-handed pitching, with a .363 wOBA and a .155 ISO. In 2019 he sports a .379 batting average, .207 ISO and a .433 wOBA against lefties.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Ian Desmond, COL (vs. SF) - $4,400 (Early)
The early slate is rough for outfielders which has left me settling for the rather dissatisfying Desmond. However, he is facing a left-handed pitcher, having put up a .289 ISO and a .348 wOBA against them this season.
Niko Goodrum, DET (vs. LAA) - $3,500 (Early)
Goodrum has all three of his home runs this season with right-handed pitchers on the mound, giving him a .178 ISO and a .331 wOBA against them. Those number are not amazing but against the Angles bullpen this price represents the potential for upside on a weak outfield slate.
Ronald Acuna, ATL (@ ARI) - $4,200 (Late)
This feels like good value for a hitter who already has three home runs a .277 batting average against right-handed pitchers this season. Granted his numbers are not as impressive against righties as lefties, but a .345 wOBA against right-hande dpitching this season is nothing to be sniffed at.
Victor Robles, WSH (@ LAD) - $3,800 (Late)
Again I am going against my theory of not picking hitters facing my pitchers. However, Robles has been so impressive this season that it is hard not to. Against left-handed pitching this season, Robles has a .267 ISO and a .365 wOBA.
