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Joel Bartilotta highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 5/4/19, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
Saturday is always one of the best days to play on FanDuel because we get a full schedule of games. The good news here is that we don't have a whole lot of weather to worry about. The only game we need to focus in on is the San Francisco-Cincinnati matchup. There is some rain in that forecast and it will be critical to monitor that game before submitting lineups. Keep in mind the day-slate starts at 1:05 pm eastern, while the main slate starts at 7:05 pm and covers 10 games.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 5/4/2019. 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 hit me up on Twitter @Bartilottajoel
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Rich Hill: LAD at SD ($9,200)
The fact that there are no five-figure players on this slate shows just how weak of a pool it is but Hill makes for a nice pivot. It's always been a matter of health with Hill, as his stuff is simply pristine. In fact, his 1.04 WHIP and 30 percent K rate over the last four years shows the sort of potential he has.
Facing San Diego is the reason we really love him though, with the Padres ranking 26th in runs per game, 25th in xwOBA and 26th in xBA. Hill has always been successful against San Diego too, posting a 2.89 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 11 starts against them while striking out more than 1.2 batters per inning.
If you're looking for someone cheaper, Tanner Roark is only $7,200 and gets to face the San Francisco Giants, who sit bottom-three in nearly every offensive statistic.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Ji-Man Choi - IB, TB at BAL ($3,000)
Choi just returned from injury and that has to be why this price is so low. Not only does Choi traditionally bat in the heart of the Rays order, but he's also one of the team leaders with a .402 xwOBA. That's translated to him averaging 9.6 FanDuel points per game, which is way more than your typical $3,000 player. Facing Dylan Bundy is simply the icing on the cake, as his 6.67 ERA and 1.52 WHIP back up his ugly .397 wOBA.
Robinson Cano - 2B, NYM at MIL ($3,000)
While Cano has missed a few games recently because of a minor injury, he's actually in his best hitting stretch of the season. In fact, Cano is 15-for-34 at the plate over his last 11 games, en route to a 1.119 OPS. That sort of hot stretch becomes particularly intriguing in Miller Park, which is one of the best hitting parks in the majors. Many people will fade Cano because he's facing a lefty but he actually posted a .893 OPS against southpaws last season, so this is a good chance to use a guy with low ownership.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 3B, TOR at TEX ($2,700)
Guerrero hasn't done anything yet that would make us want to use him but this price is getting too low. We're talking about the greatest hitting prospect in a decade and he'll inevitably start hitting. This is a stud bat who owns an OPS north of 1.000 in his minor league career and many experts have him pegged as a hall-of-fame talent. Getting to play in Globe Life Park is a good way to start his inevitable hot streak, with that little league field ranking as the second-best hitting park based on park factors. Lance Lynn is not a guy we need to fear either, considering his 5.45 ERA and 1.47 WHIP.
Nolan Arenado - 3B, COL vs. ARI ($4,900)
Arenado is the hottest hitter in the league right now and it's simply tough to fade him in a hitter's haven like Coors Field. Over his last 16 games, Arenado has seven doubles and nine homers en route to 19 runs scored and 21 RBI. That gives him a slugging percentage approaching .900 in that span and that's simply Barry Bonds-like numbers. Weaver has been good but he's not immune to Coors Field with his 4.66 career ERA and 1.43 WHIP.
Also, consider Ryan McMahon versus Luke Weaver. McMahon has captured second base duties for the Rockies and gets the platoon advantage against Weaver in the best hitting park in baseball.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Charlie Blackmon - OF, COL vs. ARI ($4,200)
Blackmon just homered on Friday night and he's almost impossible to fade whenever he hits at home. Since the beginning of 2017, Blackmon has a 1.110 OPS at Coors Field and has been even better against righties. In that same span, Blackmon has a .953 OPS against right-handers. That spells disaster for Weaver and he'll likely have trouble navigating through this lineup with the Rockies projected to score close to six runs. That makes this price hard to understand and he should really be closer to Arenado's $4,900 tag.
Tommy Pham - OF, TB at BAL ($3,900)
Using Tampa players is one of the best strategies on this slate. The reason for that is because of the Orioles historically bad pitching. The player that will toe the rubber for this game is Dylan Bundy, who's allowed the most homers in the league over the last two seasons. That's a scary thought against a stud like Pham, who ranks second on the team with a .405 xwOBA. Not to mention, Pham enters this game with a 13-game on-base streak while posting a 1.010 OPS in that span.
Also, consider Gregory Polanco at $2,800. The talented lefty is too good to be priced this cheaply and he gets the platoon advantage against Christ Bassitt.
