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Mark Strausberg highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 5/18/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
Welcome Rotoballers to another set of Tuesday FanDuel lineup picks! We've got quite the heavy slate of games on the main slate tonight. There is just one early evening game in the 6 o'clock ET hour and then everyone else is playing in the main slate. If you have questions about that early game, feel free to hit me up on Twitter with questions (@MarkStrausberg).
With so many games though in the main slate, the focus will be on the main slate. Read below to find out what player I will be suggesting for your lineups, as I provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 5/18/2021.
Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also check out today's DraftKings MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. With that out of the way, here are my picks for tonight.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Zack Wheeler - PHI vs MIA ($10,400)
First off, there is no way I'm paying $11K for Brandon Woodruff as a cash-game play. I like "Woody", but that's way too expensive, especially when there are so many other options on this slate. And that includes Zack Wheeler, who I like as much as Woodruff today but is $600 less.
Wheeler takes on the Marlins, who have the fifth-lowest OPS in the league and tied for the sixth-most strikeouts. But this isn't just about the matchup, as last time I checked Wheeler is one of the better pitchers in the league. The Phillies are not giving him a lot of run support, so the wins are a bit limited. However, he owns a 1.04 WHIP, 2.85 ERA, and 56 Ks. Don't overcomplicate this. Lock in Wheeler.
Contrarian Play
Kris Bubic, KCR vs MIL ($5,500)
However, for those of us playing in GPPs, there are easily over a dozen options from which to choose. Urias, Javier, and Snell are at least three options I'd consider near the top, along with the aforementioned Woodruff. But what if we took the flip side of that match-up? Bubic should be extremely low-owned, as he has a limited track record. He had a 4.32 ERA in ten games in his rookie year in 2020. And he has yet to start this year, but he two outings of more than five innings in long relief and currently sports a 1.42 ERA.
We know the Brewers strike out a lot (fifth highest in the league) and Bubic has a solid k/9 over seven. When facing the Brewers, the key is to limit the long ball and Bubic has yet to give up one. Priced lower than some of the top hitters, Bubic could easily be one of the best against the grain plays today, especially given his nasty changeup:
Lost a little in yesterday's game was how good Kris Bubic looked. Command was there. This changeup was filthy, too. pic.twitter.com/XQnxjarZiX
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) May 7, 2021
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Nate Lowe - 1B, TEX vs NYY ($2,700)
Lowe is simply a solid play across the board who does everything well. He currently has a .264 average along with seven dingers. He also has four stolen bases. Check the weather situation for this game as showers are expected. But against the right-hander Jameson Taillon and his 5.40 ERA, I'm expecting the left-handed Lowe to also bring the thunder.
Max Muncy - 1B/2B, LAD at ARI ($3,700)
We have another strong left-handed bat facing a right-handed pither with an ERA above five in Merrill Kelly. Muncy does not steal bases like Lowe does, but brings a little more power to the table. Muncy is currently averaging a dozen fantasy points per game and the last time he put up zero fantasy points was over ten days ago. I'm willing to pay the high-end 2B cost of $3700 for Muncy's high floor tonight.
Kyle Seager - 3B, SEA vs DET ($2,800)
Seager meanwhile has seen his price drop as his production has steadily declined the last four games. Seager has a strong .234 isolated power and some positive regression coming his way with a .247 BABIP. No reason that can't start against the Tigers Spencer Turnbull today.
Amed Rosario - SS, CLE @ LAA ($2,100)
Rosario has been appearing in my lineups lately whenever I need a cheap bat and has rewarded me with a hit each of the last two nights. But that's what the 25-year old Rosario does. He's not going to give you a lot of power, but the 25-year old Rosario is a career .300 hitter. At $2100, a hit or two is all we need and he should deliver.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Shohei Ohtani - OF, LAA vs CLE ($4,200)
And I need a cheap hitter, so I can fit Ohtani into my lineup. Ohtani has been spectacular this season. He now has 13 homers after he went long AGAIN last night....
Shohei Ohtani just hit his MLB-leading 13th home run on a fastball that was eye-level. This ball traveled 431 feet.
He is unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/mykoGFiwMe
— Brent Maguire (@bmags94) May 18, 2021
He will be a popular play of course and I don't think you need me to tell you all the reasons to play him. But with 22 or more FD fantasy points three of the last four nights, fade Ohtani at your own peril.
Jarred Kelenic - OF, SEA vs DET ($2,900)
Seattle very quietly has flown up the offensive rankings and now is just outside the top ten with 50 HRs. One of those came from Wunderkid Jarred Kelenic who has shown the kinds of ups and downs we can expect from a rookie. In five games, he has put up three goose eggs. However, at less than $3K, I'm willing to pay for the upside which he showed the other day when he went 3-for-4 with a homer and put up 40 FD fantasy points.
Willie Calhoun - OF, TEX vs NYY ($2,800)
Big things were also expected from Calhoun when he slammed 21 HRs in 309 ABs in 2019. However, he never got into a groove last year, and hit a sub-Mendoza .190 with just one homer. But he's in a groove now! He's hitting .287, which is helping support his .829 OPS. He is not quite elite as he has just five homers. But he's an absolute bargain at this price.
Good luck with your entries!
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