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The top early daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on May 3, 2023. Mike's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
There is a four-game matinee on getaway day this week. The bad news is that neither site has the major league debut of Arizona's top prospect, Brandon Pfaadt. That's an epic fail for BOTH sites...and something that could temper interest in an otherwise intriguing early slate.
This article contains my picks for the four-game early slate on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, for both DraftKings and FanDuel, which locks at 2:05 PM ET. Well...it's a five-game slate on FanDuel. Once again, FanDuel upstages DraftKings (I know...I'm still getting used to it, too) and adds the early makeup game to the docket from yesterday between the Mets and Tigers. Thanks, FanDuel, because that game has the best pitcher of the matinees in it!
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
Framber Valdez, HOU vs. SF ($10,500 DK, $10,800 FD)
Yes, I'm nervous about paying this much for Valdez against a lineup full of right-handed hitters. However, just because they are right-handed doesn't mean that they are inherently good. While righties have hit Framber much better in his career, 2023 has him starting the year with some reverse splits going on. Lefties have fared much better against Valdez so far in 2023 with a .391 average compared to .222 against righties. Stack 'em up, Giants! I think Framber can mow them down!
Now that the Framber love is over, I am playing the early slate on FD just so I can use Joey Lucchesi. This is a dream matchup for him and he only costs $8,300. He is far and away the best pitcher on FanDuel regardless of price.
Gavin Stone, LAD vs. PHI ($5,000 DK, $7,000 FD)
Another day, another high-profile pitcher (or two) making his major league debut. This is not a great spot for Stone, but it shouldn't be all that bad either. I doubt the Phillies use Bryce Harper in a day game after a night game fresh off of injury and it's not like the Philly offense is setting the world afire anyway. They have only scored a shade over three runs per game in the last week. Considering Stone's last two AAA starts (one run allowed, 15K in 9.2 innings), I have no issues running him on either site with the price this low.
Others to consider: Andrew Heaney ($7,500 DK, $8,200 FD) vs. ARI
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Freddie Freeman - 1B, LAD vs. PHI ($4,700 DK, $3,600 FD)
Freeman knows Nola well from his days in the National League East. He has hit him well, too. Freeman is 15-for-66 with three doubles and two homers off of Nola, not to mention the eight walks. Nola is starting to right the ship after a tough April, but Freeman is one of the guys that has always managed some success against him. Nola is still light on the strikeouts (28 in 36.1 innings) and high on fly balls (37 in six starts). That's not a recipe you want against this team.
Mookie Betts - OF/2B (FD) and OF/SS (DK), LAD vs. PHI ($5,200 DK, $3,700 FD)
Okay, I'm not really picking on Nola. Just with the two guys that have hit him well. Mookie is 4-for-13 lifetime against Nola with three of those hits going for extra bases, including two homers. Mookie has already feasted on Philly pitching with six hits, a homer, and six RBIs in the first two games of the series. The price is a little steep, but the position eligibility is a huge plus.
Nick Senzel - OF/3B (DK) and OF/2B/3B (FD), CIN at SD ($2,700 DK, $3,200 FD)
Senzel's five-game hitting streak came to a halt against Snellzilla last night, but I'm not scared of Seth Lugo. Are you? Senzel is more of a DK-only play for me at this ridiculously low price. The eligibility on FD is nice, but it's not worth that price hike. Even with last night's donut, Senzel is averaging 15 DraftKings points per game in the last week. I'll buy that for a dollar (...or 2,700 of them)!
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Juan Soto - OF, SD vs. CIN ($5,100 DK, $3,400 FD)
Soto has only faced Luis Cessa twice in his career. He homered off of him both times. Soto had a miserable April, but the games in Mexico City seemed to get him going. Soto has seven hits, including a homer and five RBIs, in the last four games alone. The hot streak followed him back to San Diego, and I'm buying in against a pitcher that still has nightmares about Soto from last year.
Mitch Haniger - OF, SF at HOU ($3,700 DK, $3,200 FD)
Since Haniger began the season on the IL, most people either forgot that he was no longer in Seattle or forgot about him entirely. He is 6-for-20 with a pair of homers and five RBIs since his activation from the IL. Sure, both of those homers were in Mexico City in a park that makes Coors Field look like Marlins Park, but hey...baby steps. Haniger is a respectable 3-for-11 with a pair of walks against Framber Valdez from his days in Seattle. If you're going after Framber, start with Haniger. This is a low price for what he is capable of.
Henry Ramos - OF, CIN at SD ($2,500 DK, $2,500 FD)
Ramos has cooled off a bit after a hot start since being called up. That can be expected. However, he's a switch-hitter, meaning that he won't get a ton of days off. Not with Wil Myers and the like struggling behind him. The 32-year-old likely has a short leash, but he is still hitting .310 in eight games this season. I like him as a punt to afford all that offensive bling highlighted earlier in the piece.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
San Diego Padres vs. Luis Cessa
Cessa has an abhorrent 9.55 ERA in five starts this year (and he's STILL more expensive than Gavin Stone...okay, DK...). As if that's not enough, peep these past stats for the Padres against Cessa.
Manny Machado and Soto are musts here. I also like Xander Bogaerts. Even though he hasn't homered off of Cessa yet, those Statcast stats look pretty tasty. I definitely don't mind Tatis either if you're running Stone and have the extra cash to pay up. If Trent Grisham is batting at or near the top of the order, I like him as a value play. If not, that exit velocity for Nelson Cruz looks nice. Don't be afraid to get creative. There's no reason to think that Cessa won't get punished again.
Also consider: Texas Rangers vs. Ryne Nelson
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