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As always, remember to check your players to make sure they are in their MLB starting lineups before lineups lock, and make sure you are doing your own research too for optimal performance. The most successful daily leaguers are grinders who are constantly tweaking their lineups as the day goes on and fantasy news gets released. Good luck today, RotoBallers!
Daily Fantasy Leagues – FanDuel Lineup Picks (5/27)
SP: Wade Miley vs. SDP (vs. Eric Stults, LHP) ($5800)
The Padres’ offensive struggles are likely to continue all year. Accordingly, average pitchers will usually be solid streaming or DFS options against San Diego. Miley is an unexciting yet capable pitcher. His 4.85 ERA is inflated a bit by his low strand rate (67.5%) and high HR/FB rate (15.6%). Miley should end the season with a respectable ERA around 4.00. This is not a bold prediction exactly, since Miley posted a sub-4.00 ERA in 2012 and 2013. Miley will be pitching at home against a woeful lineup, and he’s matched up against Eric Stults who has been rather underwhelming this year. I’d go cheap and take the crafty lefty on Tuesday. Also, as an interesting side note: Jeremy Guthrie will probably be an appealing option at home against HOU. I’m not saying he’s a bad option. However, he has an abysmal 3.97 K/9 this year. He’s also benefited so far from an extremely favorable .243 BABIP. I still think Guthrie is an okay play at home against HOU, but he has pretty limited upside.
C: Jarrod Saltalamacchia @ WAS (vs. Blake Treinen, RHP) ($2800)
Saltalamacchia is technically a switch-hitter, but his platoon splits are more drastic than most RHH or LHH. Over his career, he has a wRC+ of 57 as a RHH vs. LHP and a wRC+ of 112 as a LHH vs. RHP. Salty has been a surprisingly effective hitter over the past two seasons after looking like an offensive liability early in his career. He’s also facing a below-average, inexperienced pitcher in Treinen. For $2800, Salty is a very good play at catcher tonight.
OF 1: Andrew McCutchen @ NYM (vs. Jon Niese, LHP) ($3600) &
OF 2: Ryan Braun vs. BAL (vs. Wei-Yin Chen) ($4300)
I’m grouping these two together because the analysis is pretty simple and extremely similar. Since 2011, McCutchen’s wRC+ of 195 against LHP and Braun’s wRC+ of 191 against LHP are respectively number one and number two in the MLB. In fact, the third hitter on that list—Giancarlo Stanton—trails both hitters by a fair margin with a 175 wRC+. Long story short: McCutchen and Braun destroy LHP at an elite level. Both hitters are facing very hittable LHPs. Try to save money at the SP or C slot with one of the aforementioned recommendations and get these two monsters in your lineup on Tuesday.
