May 29, 2017

JB's DraftKings analysis and advice. The top MLB DFS lineup picks on for 5/29/17, as well as a couple of sleepers for daily fantasy baseball rosters.

Welcome back, RotoBallers. Usually I only get the chance to give you sub-par DFS advice on Saturdays, but today I am honored to be able to bring you sub-par DFS advice on this Memorial Day. As you enjoy your day off consisting of grilling, swimming, relaxing, and watching a full slate of beautiful baseball, please take a moment to remember all the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the safety and freedom of you and your loved ones. Before we get rowdy and win a ton of money together, I will let the words of former-President Ronald Reagan resonate in your minds.

"Yet, we must try to honor them—not for their sakes alone, but for our own. And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice...Our first obligation to them and ourselves is plain enough: The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we—in a less final, less heroic way—be willing to give of ourselves" 

Alright, now let's party! In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/29/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings. You can read our FanDuel and Yahoo DFS lineup picks as well. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @RowdyRotoJB. But make it quick so you can get off the computer and go freedom the hell out of today. 

DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings

DraftKings has the Memorial Day slate broken into nine early games and five main games. I imagine the majority of players will be leaning more heavily on the larger slate, so I too will focus my picks on the early games. But since I am fair, I will also be giving considerations for the main slate along the way.

Early: Washington Nationals vs. Matt Moore (LHP)

Matt Moore, with his 5.28 ERA and 1.53 WHIP, welcome the number one ranked offense against southpaws in 2017. Moore is coming off a start against another offense that can crush LHP, where he surrendered four runs on seven hits in six innings against the Cubs. Now granted, he has been MUCH better at home this season, but I don't see this offense giving him the benefit of the doubt today. What's extra scary is the fact that Moore is allowing an absurd .825 SLG to left handed hitters, meaning Bryce Harper and a refreshed Daniel Murphy are ready to tee off into McCovey Cove. In addition to the lefties, Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman lead the team in SLG versus LHP to round out a filthy stack. If you need to save a few bucks, Michael Taylor and Jayson Werth are both slugging over .550 against southpaws, and Matt Wieters owns a career .346/.414/.615 slash with two bombs in 26 AB versus Moore.

Main: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Lisalverto Bonilla (RHP)

After a dreadful first month of the season, the Blue Birds are streaking, and head into this series with the Reds slugging .480 as a team over the last week. Then there is LisaLverto BoniLLa, bless his heart. He owns a 6.17 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over three starts on the 2017 campaign. Like Moore above, Bonilla has been getting shelled by LHB to the tune of a .667 SLG. That means Justin Smoak instantly enters the stack at only $3,800. Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista are also must-haves, leaving you to decide if you can afford the $3,700 for Kevin Pillar and $3,600 for Devon Travis. If you can swing it financially, grip it and rip it.

DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings

Early: Kyle Hendricks, CHC at SDP  ($9,600)

The inevitable ERA regression has hit Hendricks after his incredible 2016 season, but he is still doing a lot of the same things this year despite the ERA being over a whole run higher. For starters, his GB% is actually two points higher right now, sitting at an impressive 50.3%. He is still generating weak contact resulting in a .248 BABIP that is two points lower than last years final number. These attributes will be very beneficial against the Padres offense in the spacious Petco Park. The starting lineup the Padres rolled out against Washington yesterday had guys that you wouldn't even know who they were- let alone know how to pronounce some of their names. As a team, San Diego owns a measly .381 SLG against RHP on the season, and a putrid .305 SLG over the last week. Joe Ross might not have been able to beat them, but Hendricks certainly will. He doesn't have the huge K upside you want in your anchor SP, but against an offense that strikes out over a quarter of the its AB versus righties can certainly give him a boost today.

Main: Julio Teheran, ATL at LAA ($8.900)

If you are anything like me, you have been absolutely burned by Teheran at some point this season. But, I can guarantee you that those somber occasions occurred at SunTrust Park. Nobody on this planet dislikes the new stadium in Atlanta more than this guy, and maybe some Cobb County commuters. At home this season, Teheran owns an 8.40 ERA, compared to a sexy 0.71 ERA on the road. Today the Bravos travel to square off with the Angels, meaning good-Teheran will be on the mound. The Angels are only slugging .382 off RHP this year, and will more than likely be without Mike freakin' Trout after he jammed his wrist/thumb yesterday. On top of that, Teheran has been much better against RHB this season, leaving only what- Kole Calhoun and Luis Valbuena to worry about? Sounds good to me.

Also Consider: Brad Peacock, HOU at MIN ($5,500)-Early; Erasmo Ramirez, TB at TEX ($5,000)-Main

DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings

Catcher (C)

Manny Pina, MIL at NYM ($3,200)

Robert Gsellman has been awful this year. He is the not-so-proud owner of a 6.45 ERA and 1.66 WHIP and has allowed a .584 SLG to opposing RHB. Manny Pina and Jett Bandy have been splitting time behind the dish for the Brew Crew and have both been pretty phenomenal, but Pina is not only the better hitter against RHP- but also on the road. So I am banking on Craig Counsell to make the right decision today. Away versus RHP this season, Pina is slashing .333/.379/.481 with a 126 wRC+.

Also Consider: Tyler Flowers, ATL at LAA ($3,300)- Main

First Base (1B)

Mark Reynolds, COL vs SEA ($4,900)

This may seem like a lot of dough for Mark Reynolds, but it is actually a STEAL. The man is hitting .316 with 13 HR and 42 RBI! At home versus RHP this year, he is slashing a video game line of .377/.465/.754 with a .421 ISO and .505 wOBA. Pretty mind-boggling stuff. Seattle's pitching staff has been an absolute train wreck, sans healthy James Paxton. Gaviglio will be no exception despite the shiny ERA. Gavijiggly-puff is allowing a .533 SLG on the road and a tasty .552 SLG to RHB. Do you hear that noise? It's the dong bells already ringing for Reynolds.

Also Consider: Justin Smoak, TOR vs CIN ($3,800)- Main

Second Base (2B)

Daniel Murphy, WSH at SFG ($4,600)

As I mentioned in the stacks portion above, Matt Moore has been getting demolished by left handed hitters this season. Murphy is always a great option no matter what hand the guy on the mound is throwing with, but this season he has especially enjoyed road trips. His BA is a full .50 points higher on the road in 2017, and against LHP on the road he is slashing .333/.444/.800 with a .467 ISO and a 209 wRC+. Moore may think he's safe in the friendly confines of AT&T Park, but Murphy is bringing his bathing suit to today's game so he can retrieve his ball from the water.

Also Consider: Cesar Hernandez, PHI at MIA ($3,900)- Main

Shortstop (SS)

Jean Segura, SEA at COL ($4,500)

And we're already back at Coors. I am not too fond of the Shortstop options in terms of value for the early slate, so you may have to just pay up for the Coors price-gauging. Tyler Chatwood is allowing a .500 SLG at home, as one would expect, and Segura is hitting .349/.378/.504 against RHP on the season. Also, the game is at Coors, so there's that too.

Also Consider: Alcides Escobar, KC vs DET ($2,400)- Main

Third Base (3B)

Jedd Gyorko, STL vs LAD ($3,600)

Nolan Arenado is clearly the best play at the hot corner today, but I just can't get myself to spend Brad Peacock money on my hitters. So I will pivot to Gyorko who can mash southpaws, facing off against Rich "Blistering'" Hill. This Cardinals offense just did battle with Hill less than a week ago, and scored five runs in just four innings. Against LHP in 2017, Gyorko owns a .514 SLG with a .216 ISO. It's not a bad pivot considering you are saving nearly two grand.

Also Consider: Josh Donaldson, TOR vs CIN ($4,600)- Main

DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings

Domingo Santana, MIL at NYM ($3,600)

Domingo Santana looks locked in at the plate right now. Last night he was bumped up to second in the batting order and hit a HR and a double, along with a fly-out to the wall. Of course that was against a LHP, but Gsellman has been awful against right handed hitters as I stated previously, and Santana owns a respectable .849 OPS and 125 wRC+ against RHP this season. I see the big man bringing that hot bat over to Citi Field to do some damage today.

Jay Bruce, NYM vs MIL ($4,500)

Jay Bruce has been getting overlooked thanks to his counterpart on the opposite side of the outfield putting up some absurd numbers. But Bruce is every bit as dangerous as Michael Conforto against weak RHP, especially at Citi Field. Matt Garza is just an old bag of bones on the mound at this point in his career, and is allowing a .545 SLG to LHB on the season. Bruce will gladly oblige to the weak sauce, and will take advantage based on his .306/.405/.694 line and .310 ISO against righties at home.

Matt Kemp, ATL at LAA ($4,000)

This price tag is borderline highway robbery. For one, Kemp is hitting .333 with eight HR on the season. Secondly, he is facing Ricky Nolasco today, who is allowing a terrible .605 SLG to RHB in 2017. Thirdly, even though SunTrust Park has become a Coors Jr., Kemp has actually preferred hitting on the road this year. Against RHP away from Atlanta, Kemp is slashing .383/.405/.691 with a .309 ISO. This could be all the run support Teheran needs tonight, right here.

Also Consider: Justin Upton, DET at KC ($3,600)- Main

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