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Baseball will close out the work week with a packed schedule Friday. There are some games with earlier start times, so that leaves nine games to choose players from for the main slates on DraftKings and FanDuel.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/3/2024, with the slate starting at 7:05 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.
Good luck, RotoBallers!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Sonny Gray vs. White Sox ($10,100 DraftKings; $11,500 FanDuel)
The White Sox are usually a team to deploy pitchers against. They have scored the fewest runs and posted the worst OPS in baseball. Don’t expect them to break out against Gray, who has a 0.94 WHIP through his first four starts. He has given up just one home run over 23.1 innings, also recording 32 strikeouts along the way.
Ronel Blanco vs. Mariners ($8,200 DraftKings; $10,800 FanDuel)
Blanco has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball with his 1.65 ERA through five starts. His 3.47 FIP isn’t as impressive, but it’s still nothing to be disappointed about. If he is going to have sustained success, he is going to need to improve his 10.9 percent walk rate. Still, with how hot he is right now, he makes for an excellent option against a Mariners team that has the sixth-worst OPS in baseball.
JP Sears vs. Marlins ($6,100 DraftKings; $7,900 FanDuel)
Sears has been all-or-nothing this season. In three of his six starts, he allowed at least four runs. In each of the other three, he allowed one or no runs. His biggest issue has been keeping hitters inside the ballpark. Last season, he gave up 1.8 HR/9. That might not be an issue against the Marlins, who are tied for the third-fewest home runs in baseball.
JP Sears’ fastball doesn’t go very fast and has below average ride (15.5 IVB) but it is notable because it gets the second most ride for a fastball released under five feet (minimum 100 fastballs), just a decimal point behind Craig Kimbrel’s. pic.twitter.com/uxPZfofdkY
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) April 27, 2024
Also consider: Dylan Cease at ARI, Tanner Houck at MIN
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Rafael Devers – 3B, BOS vs. Chris Paddack ($5,100 DK; $3,200 FD)
After such a promising rookie season with the Padres, Paddack has seen his career go in the opposite direction. Injuries have certainly played a part, limiting him to 27.1 innings combined in the last two seasons. He has looked rusty in his return this year, recording a 5.88 ERA and a 4.83 FIP over his first five starts. This is a prime matchup to roll with Devers, who has a .393 wOBA this season.
Paul Goldschmidt – 1B, STL vs. Brad Keller ($5,500 DK; $2,900 FD)
Keller has recorded a WHIP of at least 1.50 in each of the last three seasons. He just threw 31 pitches in relief Monday, so it would be a surprise if he pitches deep into this matchup. The White Sox’s bullpen has a 4.76 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP this season, so this is a great spot for the Cardinals to hang a crooked number. Goldschmidt has started to catch fire after a slow start, hitting 13-for-38 (.342) with a home run and three doubles over his last 10 games.
Nolan Gorman – 2B/3B, STL vs. Brad Keller ($3,900 DK; $2,800 FD)
Gorman has a lot of power, but he also has contact issues. He had a 31.9 percent strikeout rate last year and he has a 33.3 percent rate this season. The good news is that it likely won’t be an issue in a matchup against Keller. For his career, Keller has a 22.6 percent strikeout rate.
Also consider: Bobby Witt Jr., Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Juan Soto – OF, NYY vs. Reese Olson ($6,300 DK; $4,300 FD)
Soto couldn’t have started off his tenure with the Yankees much better than he has. His strikeout rate is down to 13.2 percent, while his walk rate sits at 17.1 percent. That goes along with a .258 ISO and a .445 wOBA. He could do plenty of damage versus Olson, who has shown control issues with 11 walks over 28.1 innings this season.
Juan Soto with a triple 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ohmf4WLVrG
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 2, 2024
Riley Greene - OF, DET vs. Marcus Stroman ($4,700 DK; $3,200 FD)
Greene could be in the midst of a breakout campaign with a .266 ISO and a .394 wOBA over his first 31 games. He has lowered his strikeout rate to 24.8 percent, while his walk rate has skyrocketed to 17.3 percent. Maybe his most encouraging stat is his 18.2 percent barrel rate. It would not be a surprise to see him reach base a couple of times against Stroman, who has a 1.42 WHIP over six starts.
Alex Verdugo – OF, NYY vs. Reese Olson ($3,700 DK; $2,900 FD)
Going back to the Yankees facing off against Olson, Verdugo is another member of their outfield to consider. After getting off to a slow start, he is 23-for-69 (.333) with a .979 OPS over his last 20 games. He is a lot like Soto in that makes a lot of contact, posting just a 14.8 percent strikeout rate for his career. This season, that number sits at 8.1 percent.
Also consider: Tyler O’Neill, Steven Kwan, Lars Nootbaar
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Cardinals vs. Brad Keller
- Favorite Plays: Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman
2. Red Sox vs. Chris Paddack
- Favorite Plays: Rafael Devers, Tyler O’Neill, Jarren Duran
3. Guardians vs. Jose Soriano
- Favorite Plays: Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor, Steven Kwan
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