FanDuel MLB DFS Lineup Picks (5/23/18): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

Exciting Wednesday schedule we have on our hands. All 30 teams are in action (weather permitting, of course) and, as usual, we have to slates to play. The first slate is a four-gamer, beginning at 1:05. The second is a 10 game slate, beginning at 7:05 EDT.

Things are sure to fluctuate in Vegas, but as of this writing, we have four teams with run projections of 4.7 or more and five teams that are -165 or greater (as favorites) on the moneyline. The loftiest run projections belong to the Yankees (5.8), Orioles (5.1), Pirates (4.9) and the Astros (4.7). The biggest favorite is the Astros (-259), the Mets (-210), the Cardinals (-1810, Yankees (-179) and the Cubs (-168).

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 5/23/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS lineup picks for DraftKings and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me up on Twitter @kpLuch.

FanDuel DFS Pitchers

Jacob deGrom - SP, vs MIA ($10,400) - Main

deGrom went out and essentially proved he's just fine, putting together a masterful performance his last time out. I had some concerns, seeing as he was a "healthy" pull the start before after just 45 pitches, but he eased those concerns with a 13 strikeout performance against the Diamondbacks. He is one of the safer plays of the day, and my particular favorite of the spend-up pitchers. Justin Verlander is most certainly in play, but deGrom has the edge today in the park factor and faces a team who's projected lineup has a higher strikeout rate (26% compared to 23.5%) and lower wOBA (just .282 compared to .323). On the season, deGrom has posted a 10.7 K/9 and has allowed only a 28% hard contact rate.

FanDuel DFS Infielders

Paul Goldschmidt - 1B, at MIL ($3,600) - Early

For whatever reason, I just can't quit Goldy. He's a relative bargain on this early slate, especially when you consider the upside he brings. Sure, production has been down, but his batted ball profile over the last 10 games is really positive. He's had a 60% hard hit rate in that time, and his rolling 12 month splits against southpaws are tremendous - .455 wOBA and a .355 ISO.

Yoan Moncada - 2B, vs BAL ($3,700) - Main

Moncada's production has dipped a bit over the past two weeks, but a date against Alex Cobb is normally the perfect remedy to bust out of a slump. The switch-hitting Moncada is a very strong hitter from the left side and boasts power upside, owning a .367 wOBA and .231 ISO split.

Matt Carpenter - 2B, vs KCR ($3,700) - Early

We're starting to see Carpenter's price climb a bit - which is warranted if you dig through his past four games - but it's still not the point where I don't think he can provide plus value on the price. He and his .362 wOBA and 58% hard hit rate (over past 15 days) headline what is a fairly weak third base group.

Didi Gregorius - SS, at TEX ($3,700) - Main

Didi against a right-handed pitcher in a great hitter's park is pretty dreamy - even moreso when that pitcher is Doug Fister and the Yankees have the highest run projection of the day. Gregorious should have a few opportunities to pile on the points. His .375 wOBA is strong and his hard hit rate - 36% in past 15 days - is creeping back up after a mini slump.

FanDuel DFS Outfielders

Aaron Judge - OF, at TEX ($5,300) - Main

Judge's price is steep, but the upside he brings is massive and his matchup is better than most (if not all) in his price tier. Fister is the type of pitcher we can target against, and Vegas certainly sees the Bronx Bombers plating quite a few runs tonight. Judge has an ISO split over .300 and his batted ball data over the past 10 days is incredible - 60% hard hit rate and an average exit velocity of 98 mph.

Mark Canha - OF, vs SEA ($2,600) - Main

Canha is in a great value spot in tournaments tonight. Due to the park favoring pitchers, he may go overlooked, but he is a lefty hitting specialist. He has a pretty good wOBA split (.327) and boasts extra-base hit upside with his .211 ISO mark.

Dexter Fowler - OF, vs KCR ($2,700) - Early

Looking at things from a batted ball profile perspective, Fowler has been struggling a bit. Production has slipped, but so has the price. With great lineup context today, the platoon advantage, and a cheap price, I like the idea of using him in tournaments or as part of a Cardinals stack to attack Jakob Junis. Dating back to last season, Fowler has a .210 ISO split.

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