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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on May 28, 2023. Kevin Hickey's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The MLB season has been good to me in the early going, so I'm looking forward to sifting through another crop of games. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's main slate!
Today's main slate features an enticing eight-game matinee mix. The weather looks mostly clear, though it's essential to check in with your preferred meteorologist ahead of lock. I'll point out the standout plays, but there will be plenty of opportunities to get creative with your builds on this slate.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/28/2023 and the slate locking at 1:35 pm ET. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. Now that we got all that out of the way, it's onto the picks!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Gerrit Cole, NYY vs. SD ($11,500 DK, $11,100 FD)
Cole is hands down the best pitcher on this slate, and his steep price tag reflects that. He's stumbled recently following a dominant April, but Cole's ceiling remains higher than anyone else today. While his advanced metrics don't look as special as we're used to seeing, the end result has been a 2.53 ERA overall. That includes a 3.48 FIP and a strong, albeit underwhelming 25.3% strikeout rate for Cole. In general, Cole has been shakier; however, he stands out among this relatively thin pitching slate.
The main reason we like Cole today is the matchup with the Padres. San Diego's lineup looks stacked on paper, but they've been one of the league's weaker offenses this season. They average just under four runs per game. That includes a weak .681 OPS against right-handed pitching, alongside a .155 ISO, 92 wRC+, and 24.4% strikeout rate. Obviously, a lineup featuring Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, and Xander Bogaerts is capable of popping off, yet that rarely materializes for some reason.
Cole hasn't been at the top of his game lately, but he's still the best option on this slate if you can stomach his price. The Padres are a vulnerable offense to target these days, and it's an opportune time for him to get back on track. Cole is a workhorse who remains capable of double-digit strikeouts and/or a complete game shutout any time he takes the mound.
Eduardo Rodriguez, DET vs. CWS ($8,800 DK, $9,600 FD)
For a little more salary relief than a Gerrit Cole roster spot allows, Eduardo Rodriguez is a great play today. He's enjoyed a breakthrough campaign so far in 2023, sporting a 2.19 ERA through 10 starts. That includes a strong 25.5% strikeout rate, alongside a knack for inducing weak contact -- 86.3 mph average exit velocity, 31.7% hard-hit rate, .351 xSLG, and 5.5% barrel rate. His 3.02 xERA suggests room to regress, but this is the best Rodriguez has looked during his eight-year career.
The White Sox present an opportunistic matchup for Rodriguez. They score just 4.2 runs per game behind an offense that continues to underwhelm. Eloy Jimenez has been unable to find a rhythm through constant injuries, while Tim Anderson and Andrew Benintendi have combined for zero home runs this season. Chicago has fared better against left-handed pitching, but they are far from an imposing offense.
Rodriguez doesn't carry the same name-brand credibility that some other arms bring, but he offers ace upside at a reasonable price. His strikeout numbers are coming along, posting at least five in each of his past seven outings. Rodriguez has also shown the ability to work deep into games, going seven innings or more in four starts this season.
Also consider: Yu Darvish, Alex Cobb, Dylan Cease
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Nolan Gorman – 2B, STL vs. Hunter Gaddis ($4,700 DK, $3,800 FD)
Gorman has annihilated right-handed pitching this season. He's slugging an astonishing .583 against righties, including a .292 ISO and 11 home runs. Overall, he carries a .545 xSLG, 49.1% hard-hit rate, .397 xwOBA, and 15.2% barrel rate. I like Gorman pretty much every day, but today he looks even better.
Hunter Gaddis does a decent job at limiting hard contact, but he's struggled with left-handed hitters during his short MLB service time. For his career, lefties are slugging .607 with a .415 wOBA. Nobody on the Cardinals is better positioned to take advantage than Gorman.
Joey Meneses – 1B, WAS vs. Daniel Lynch ($3,300 DK, $2,900 FD)
Daniel Lynch is making his first start of the season on Sunday. He's been no stranger to the long ball in the past, and I'm expecting him to pick up where we left off in 2022. Last season, Lynch surrendered a .450 xSLG, 91.2 mph average exit velocity, 47.7% hard-hit rate, and 8.8% barrel rate. He's immune to handedness splits in the sense that everyone can hit him.
Though he's been hitting more for average in 2023, Meneses has remained a productive hitter. He's posted four multi-hit games over his last nine appearances, including six doubles in that span. Meneses managed only two home runs this season, but I'm having a tough time believing the power is completely gone.
Last season, Meneses slugged .676 against left-handed pitchers with a .310 ISO, .461 wOBA, and 201 wRC+. Even if it just results in doubles and singles, Meneses is a strong play today given the matchup and price.
Edouard Julien – 2B, MIN vs. Jose Berrios ($2,800 DK, $2,500 FD)
Jose Berrios' struggles with left-handed hitting have followed him into 2023. They are slugging .491 against Berrios, including a .350 wOBA. It's concerning for Berrios, but not when you consider he allowed a .514 slugging percentage, .375 wOBA, and 20 home runs to lefties in 2022.
Minnesota has numerous left-handed bats you can use to attack Berrios' weakness. Among them, Edouard Julien is looking like a fantastic value. He's the Twins' No. 4 overall prospect, carrying a 60-grade hit tool and 50-grade power. Through 15 career games, Julien owns a .543 slugging percentage, including four home runs. The pop is there, and I don't expect Julien to stay this cheap all season. He's a great punt play.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Adolis Garcia – OF, TEX vs. Kyle Bradish ($5,400 DK, $4,200 FD)
Garcia is having another fantastic season. He holds a .527 xSLG, 52.8% hard-hit rate, 92.8 mph average exit velocity, .368 xwOBA, .269 ISO, and 15.5% barrel rate. That amounts to 14 home runs and a .513 slugging percentage. Garcia has hit five home runs over his past 11 games and looks great in this spot.
Kyle Bradish enters play with a 4.58 xERA. That includes a 91 mph average exit velocity, 47% hard-hit rate, .428 xSLG, .332 xwOBA, and 9.6% barrel rate. In particular, right-handed hitters have been a thorn in Bradish's side, surrendering a .452 slugging percentage against them in his career.
Seiya Suzuki – OF, CHC vs. Graham Ashcraft ($4,000 DK, $3,300 FD)
Suzuki is heating up at the plate lately, hitting safely in 11 of his last 13 games. That includes four multi-hit games and five home runs over his past 10 contests. He carries a 49.5% hard-hit rate and 91.7 mph average exit velocity. Altogether, Suzuki sports a .293/.383/.504 slash line for the season.
Graham Ashcraft is the owner of a decisive reverse split. Right-handed hitters are slugging .523 against him this season, falling directly in line with the .524 mark he posted in 19 starts during the 2022 campaign. The Cubs are stacked with productive right-handed bats, so look to any of Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and Christopher Morel as more premium roster options.
Mitch Haniger – OF, SF vs. Colin Rea ($2,500 DK, $2,600 FD)
Haniger's price seems way too low for his talent level. He smacked 39 home runs during the 2021 campaign and was on a similar trajectory last season before an injury derailed him. Haniger got off to a sluggish start in 2023 but has started to heat up more recently. He's homered in back-to-back games entering today, accruing six total hits in that span.
Colin Rea is a mediocre pitcher. He doesn't give up home runs at the same rate as other pitchers I've highlighted above, but he still gets smacked around. Rea allows a 43.3% hard-hit rate and 90.2 mph average exit velocity. Right-handed hitters, in particular, have found success against him, slugging .457 against Rea for his career.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Texas Rangers vs. Kyle Bradish
I really don't think you can go wrong playing the Rangers at this point. They score a league-high 6.4 runs per game on the season. That includes a .784 OPS against right-handed pitchers, the third-best mark in baseball, alongside a .180 ISO, 117 wRC+, and .339 wOBA. Texas' bats are expensive to roster, featuring several players north of $5,000 on DraftKings, but that may help suppress tournament ownership. Their lineup is full of firepower and will be worth the cost if you can get there.
Kyle Bradish is a middling arm at best. He sports a 4.57 xERA in 2023, up from 4.49 last season. Bradish surrenders a 47% hard-hit rate, 91 mph average exit velocity, .332 xwOBA, .262 xBA, .428 xSLG, and 9.6% barrel rate. I don't like his chances of keeping these scorching Rangers bats quiet today.
Favorite Plays: Marcus Semien, Adolis Garcia, Corey Seager, Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim
Washington Nationals vs. Daniel Lynch
Daniel Lynch makes his 2023 season debut on Sunday, and he's never been particularly successful in the past. Lynch posted a 5.07 xERA in 27 starts last season and a 6.31 xERA across 15 outings in 2021. Both right-handed and left-handed hitters slugged north of .450 against Lynch in 2022. Further, the Royals bring the league's third-worst bullpen (4.94 ERA), opening up additional scoring opportunities for the opposition.
For cheap stacking, look no further than the Washington Nationals. They are far from the scariest offense out there, but they've been surprisingly formidable against left-handed pitching. Washington carries a .790 OPS against southpaw pitching, the ninth-best in the majors.
That includes a .346 wOBA, 115 wRC+, and a 17.5% strikeout rate. The Nationals match up well with Daniel Lynch today, and the best part is how affordable their bats are. It's easy to slot in cheap Washington bats for one-offs, mini-stacks, and even full stacks.
Favorite Plays: Lane Thomas, Joey Meneses, Jeimer Candelario, Keibert Ruiz, Luis Garcia
Also Consider: Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles
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