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The top early-slate daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on May 24, 2023. Mike's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have a full getaway day, but only 10 teams are getting out of town early. Don't worry, we still have some pretty good players to choose from on this one. It actually looks nicer than the more populated primetime slate to my eyes. Don't just take my word for it. Let's explore it together!
This article contains my picks for the five-game early slate on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, for both DraftKings and FanDuel, which locks at 12:35 PM ET.
The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack. 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.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Joe Ryan, MIN vs. SF ($10,900 DK, $11,200 FD)
I want to jump back on Zac Gallen after an implosion against the Pirates, but I can't do it. Not with Ryan on the slate. Ryan doesn't have the severe home/road splits that Gallen does. He also doesn't have the strikeout upside, but Ryan has managed to do just fine for himself. He still has 66 strikeouts in 56 innings and hasn't allowed more than four runs in a start. In fact, Ryan has only allowed three earned runs or more twice in nine starts. I'm going with the sure thing in cash and Gallen in GPPs.
Michael Kopech, CWS at CLE ($7,600 DK, $9,200 FD)
FanDuel has been increasing Kopech's price in line with his recent performances. DraftKings is still stuck in the 80s. Walks are still a problem for Kopech, sans against the Royals, who walk less than any other team. How much can we really put into that start? I see more of a silver lining here because of Kopech's success against Cleveland.
It's a pretty small sample size, but boy does that look good! The best part is the two walks issued in 35 plate appearances. The Cleveland offense has scored three runs or less in six of the last seven games. This is a risk worth taking, even as your only pitcher on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Martin Perez ($7,900 DK, $8,500 FD) at PIT
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Christian Walker - 1B, ARI at PHI ($4,400 DK, $3,500 FD)
Walker has shown some signs of breaking out of his recent slump in his tour of Pennsylvania. He has three hits and three RBI in the last three games. On top of that, he gets a park upgrade in Philly and has tormented Ranger Suarez in his time in the majors. Walker is 5-for-11 (.455) with two doubles and a triple in his career against Suarez. Maybe he fully breaks out of the slump here!
Josh Jung - 3B, TEX at PIT ($4,800 DK, $3,200 FD)
Why are teams still pitching to this guy? Jung has homered in three straight games, is riding an eight-game hitting streak, and has eight RBI in the last five games. He has destroyed Pittsburgh's pitching so far. With Oviedo on the mound today, I highly doubt that changes.
Corey Seager - SS, TEX at PIT ($5,300 DK, $4,000 FD)
Seager has cooled off after his extraordinary weekend against Colorado, but the guy still has eight hits, two homers, and 10 RBI in six games since he returned from the IL. No matter what happens, Seager should keep his six-game RBI streak alive this afternoon unless he gets a day off.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Yordan Alvarez - OF, HOU at MIL ($6,300 DK, $4,500 FD)
Go ahead. Pay up for Yordan. You can't think that he's not worth the price. Yordan has played in 42 games this season. He has reached base in 41 of those. I like guys who routinely get me points no matter what they cost. The bonus with Alvarez is that his upside is just as good as anyone else. He put up 41 DraftKings points in the first game of this series. Yordan is one of those very few guys who can outscore a pitcher on any given DFS slate.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. - OF, ARI at PHI ($4,300 DK, $3,300 FD)
Gurriel extended his hitting streak to 13 games last night with another double against the Phillies. He is 5-for-9 with a pair of doubles and a homer in the first two games of this series alone. Now he gets to face a struggling lefty? If you're going to the game tomorrow and you're sitting in left field, bring a glove...
Andrew Benintendi - OF, CWS at CLE ($3,300 DK, $2,700 FD)
Benintendi is hitting well right now with a .371 average over his last 10 games. However, he doesn't have a lot to show for it. Benintendi only has three RBI in those 10 games to go with one steal. That said, the six doubles and five walks pack on points in DFS and Benintendi has a nice track record against Cal Quantrill. Benintendi is 6-for-15 with a homer off of Quantrill. Expect him to notch another hit or two here, but counting stats may still be hard to come by.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Ranger Suarez
Suarez has only made two starts this season because of a strained elbow. Maybe that elbow isn't quite right yet. Suarez has allowed seven runs in six innings over his first two starts of 2023. With a lineup like this that hits lefties well, that's bad news for the Phillies.
Walker is the obvious choice to start this stack with Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. right behind him. If Gabriel Moreno starts again for the Snakes, I will definitely have him in for salary relief. I don't expect Suarez to go more than four innings or so anyway, so adding in Josh Rojas and Corbin Carroll is a good way to get different from the pack.
Also consider: Texas Rangers vs. Johan Oviedo
Look, the only reason this isn't my favorite stack is that the Rangers aren't cheap. I'm going to try some hybrid of Arizona/Texas in at least one build.
Sneaky stack: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Brandon Bielak
Bielak has some good numbers on the surface for the Astros, but he has still allowed 28 baserunners over his last three starts. That has only yielded four earned runs, but he's not going to stay this lucky for long, especially on the road against a team like this.
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