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Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The early part of the MLB season has been good to me, so I'm looking to build off that momentum and hit the ground running as we progress into the 2024 campaign. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's slate!
We have some really interesting matchups today. The pitching mix offers a strong selection of reliable aces and midrange starters, which will certainly lead to some interesting lineup decisions. I'll point out the standout plays, but there will be plenty of opportunity to get creative with your picks today.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/26/2024 and the slate locking at 1:35 p.m. EDT. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Chris Sale vs. Pittsburgh Pirates ($10.5K DK, $11K FD)
Rostering Chris Sale is an expensive proposition, but nobody else has a comparable ceiling on today's slate. The 35-year-old has been nothing short of dominant with his new team, generating an outstanding 2.49 xERA and a 2.40 xFIP across nine starts. Sale has limited hitters to a .210 xBA, .325 xSLG, 3.6% barrel rate, and a 28.8% hard-hit rate. He is also striking out batters at his usually impressive clip, generating a 31.7% strikeout rate and a 31.4% whiff rate.
Chris Sale
Last 3 starts
20.0 iP - 0.00 ERA - 0.70 WHIP
1 BB - 28 K— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) May 21, 2024
Sale draws a favorable matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates today. Overall, they have been among baseball's weaker offenses in 2024, producing just four runs per game. The Pirates have fared better against southpaws, sporting a decent 109 wRC+ off lefties, but they are also striking out at a generous 25.1% rate. Sale will likely flirt with double-digit strikeouts today.
Kyle Bradish vs. Chicago White Sox ($8.8K DK, $8.8K FD)
Injury has limited Kyle Bradish to just four starts so far this season, but he has been on an impressive run, carrying a 2.41 ERA. Bradish's underlying numbers support his recent success, including a 2.69 xERA and a 3.27 xFIP. The 25-year-old has limited opposing hitters to a .190 xBA, an 84.4 MPH average exit velocity, a 4.2% barrel rate, and a 20.8% hard-hit rate. Bradish is also striking out hitters at a worthwhile 28% rate.
Bradish benefits from the easiest matchup possible today, the Chicago White Sox. Chicago is plating a league-worst 2.9 runs per game on the season. Their struggles include an MLB-worst 78 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, alongside a .118 ISO and a .279 wOBA.
Also Consider: Bryan Woo, Taj Bradley, Robert Gasser, Ranger Suarez (FD only)
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Bobby Witt Jr. - SS, KC vs. Taj Bradley ($6.4K DK, $4.1K FD)
Bobby Witt Jr. is the best hitter you can spend up for on this slate. He is slashing .304/.365/.551 with eight home runs and 16 stolen bases. While the surface numbers speak for themselves, his underlying metrics are even more spectacular. Witt is torturing opposing pitchers to the tune of a .327 xBA, .640 xSLG, 52.7% hard-hit rate, and a 16.1% barrel rate.
Taj Bradley has some electric swing-and-miss stuff, but he's also getting routinely crushed by opposing hitters. Bradley has surrendered a horrible .542 xSLG, 20.5% barrel rate, and a 52.3% hard-hit rate. That amounts to an unexpectedly awful 5.56 xERA. The 2024 sample size is just three games in total, so Bradley will probably turn things around. Still, right-handed hitters are slugging .565 against Bradley in his major league career.
Dylan Moore - 2B/SS, SEA vs. Patrick Corbin ($4K DK, $3.3K FD)
You may not have noticed, but Dylan Moore has quietly been one of baseball's hottest hitters of late. Across 21 games in May, he owns a 1.022 OPS and a 187 wRC+. 2024 has so far been a breakout performance for Moore, producing a .339 xwOBA, 46.2% hard-hit rate, 9.9% barrel rate, and a 42.9% sweet-spot rate. He has been particularly dominant against left-handed pitchers, slugging .600 against them this season, up from a .481 mark in 2023.
Dylan Moore's first homer was so nice, he did it TWICE 💫pic.twitter.com/YioNfmL7zo
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) May 22, 2024
Stacking against Patrick Corbin is a cliche at this point, but the strategy still works in 2024. Through 10 starts this season, Corbin sports a 6.44 xERA, following up a 6.16 xERA last season and a 6.41 xERA in 2022. The 34-year-old is past cooked at this point, as evidenced by the terrible batted-ball metrics he has allowed. Corbin has surrendered a .521 xSLG, 49.2% hard-hit rate, 91 MPH average exit velocity, and a .328 xBA.
Yandy Diaz - 1B, TB vs. Michael Wacha ($3.9K DK, $3.2K FD)
Yandy Diaz's 2024 season has been a disappointment, though his price has dipped down to a point where it's hard not to appreciate the bargain. Diaz has started showing signs of life at the plate lately, generating a .302 batting average and a 141 wRC+ in May. His batted-ball metrics also suggest that he's due to bounce back. Diaz is squaring up the ball well with a 50% hard-hit rate and a 92.4 MPH average exit velocity.
Michael Wacha is decent overall, but on this slate, he is one of the better pitchers to attack. Through 10 starts, he sports a middling 3.64 xERA and a 4.22 xFIP. There is nothing particularly dominant or vulnerable about Wacha's advanced metrics. Of importance, Wacha has historically been a reverse-splits guy, surrendering a .447 slugging percentage against right-handed pitchers in his career.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Marcell Ozuna - OF, ATL vs. Martin Perez ($5.8K DK, $4.2K FD)
It was not that long ago that Marcell Ozuna's steep price tag would have made us balk, but that cost feels more than justified at this point. Ozuna has been one of baseball's hottest hitters over the last calendar year. For the season, the 33-year-old is slashing .317/.396/.622 with 15 home runs and a 185 wRC+. Ozuna is crushing the ball to the tune of a .671 xSLG, 16.4% barrel rate, and a 56% hard-hit rate.
Martin Perez has not looked good this season. Across 10 starts, the 33-year-old sports a 5.35 xERA and a 4.32 xFIP. Looking under the hood, Perez's advanced metrics only make his struggles seem worse. He is getting lit up by opposing hitters, surrendering a .494 xSLG, 46.4% hard-hit rate, 9.5% barrel rate, and a 90.2 MPH average exit velocity. Perez will be a preferred pitcher to target against today.
Julio Rodriguez - OF, SEA vs. Patrick Corbin ($5K DK, $3K FD)
See Dylan Moore's section above if you need an explanation for why we should attack Patrick Corbin today.
Julio Rodriguez's price feels a little high based on his underwhelming performance this season, but he remains the most dangerous bat in the Seattle Mariners lineup. Rodriguez also has better days ahead, as suggested by his 49.3% hard-hit rate, 92.2 MPH average exit velocity, and a .269 xBA. Further, Rodriguez is a much better hitter against left-handed pitchers, slugging .468 against southpaws in his career with a 132 wRC+.
Adam Duvall - OF, ATL vs. Martin Perez ($3.3K DK, $2.8K FD)
The results haven't been amazing lately for Adam Duvall. That said, he is always a great way to chase down a cheap home run, as suggested by his 12.3% barrel rate. Duvall is particularly effective against left-handed pitchers, slugging .500 against southpaws in 2024, part of a .470 career mark with a .236 ISO.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Atlanta Braves vs. Martin Perez
- Favorite Plays: Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson
2. Seattle Mariners vs. Patrick Corbin
- Favorite Plays: Julio Rodriguez, Dylan Moore, Cal Raleigh, Mitch Haniger
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