Welcome to the weekend, RotoBallers. You've worked hard all week at your jobs to make your money, so now its time to sit back and relax and watch baseball players do it for you on DFS. We have 16 games today, thanks to a double header in Washington with the Marlins. The early slate includes six contests, with the main slate covering the other ten. Since I enjoy playing both early and main (late) slates, I thought I would break today's value picks down for you just in case you plan on doing the same. Remember, these picks are not the absolute best plays of the day, but rather the best possible return on your investment (bang for your buck). If you can afford Giancarlo Stanton, he's hitting .400 with three bombs versus Stephen Strasburg FYI, then by all means take him. But then proceed to use this cheat sheet in order to find cheaper studs to fill the rest of your lineup.

That is the purpose of this article -- to provide you with the best value hitters available each day.

Today I'll be bringing you five value hitters from each slate for MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball on FanDuel and DraftKings for May 14th, 2016. Let's get rowdy.

 

DFS Hitters - Lineup Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings

Early Slate:

Yan Gomes, CLE (C)

FanDuel: $2,300/ DraftKings: $3,300

Gomes had failed to record a hit in his past five games going into yesterday's matchup with Ricky Nolasco. In his career, he had two HR in seven PA versus him, and what do ya know....he hit a bomb to LF in his first AB. BvP stats to the rescue!

He has very similar career numbers against Ervin Santana, with one HR and .857 SLG in only eight PA. Gomes makes for a nice GPP play thanks to his ugly numbers on the season. For cash games, consider Jason Castro versus Clay Buchholz. 

 

Mike Napoli, CLE (1B)

FanDuel: $3,600/ DraftKings: $3,500

Napoli is hitting .300 with two HR in his past five games. He absolutely owns Ervin Santana. In his career he's hit three HR with a .368/.478/1.000 line in 23 PA. I always love finding a cheap option at first base, because you know everyone and their momma is paying top dollar for theirs. With these types of career numbers, fire up Napoli in both GPP and cash games today.

 

Luis Valbuena, HOU (3B)

FanDuel: $2,700/ DraftKings: $3,400

Clay Buchholz owns a 5.90 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP. He has been awful against left handed batters, allowing a .325 BA, .416 OBP, and a 1.17 K/BB ratio. Valbuena is hitting .308 with one HR versus Buchholz in his career. This game's score could resemble an NFL game, and Valbuena should certainly get his share of the action today. His struggles this season make Valbuena a GPP-only play today. For cash games, consider Danny Valencia versus Matt Andriese. 

 

Melky Cabrera, CWS (OF)

FanDuel: $3,000/ DraftKings: $3,500

Melky is quietly having a strong season in 2016, batting .308 with 15 BB versus only 13 SO. He only has two HR and zero SB, so the upside has certainly vanished with his age, but he's still got enough in the tank to score some solid points for your DFS lineup. Today he faces off against Ivan Nova, who he has humiliated so far in his career, boasting a .583/.615/1.167 line with two HR in 13 PA. Hitting in the heart of the White Sox lineup against Nova makes Melky a safe, high floor pick today. Use in cash games.

 

Brock Holt, BOS (OF)

FanDuel: $3,100/ DraftKings: $3,300

So, the Red Sox can hit. They rank first in runs scored and just snapped their four game double digit scoring streak with "only" six runs against Houston yesterday. Today they square off against Collin McHugh, who Holt is hitting .400 against in his career. As previously mentioned, this game could get out of hand. You honestly can't go wrong with any of the Sox OF today, but Holt is by far the easiest on your wallet. As long as he gets on base, he will score runs. He's rocking a .365 OBP at Fenway this season, so it's a safe bet. Use in GPP games.

 

 

Main Slate:

Welington Castillo, ARI (C)

FanDuel: $3,200/ DraftKings: $3,700

The prices are just too low for the current number one catcher in fantasy. Not to mention, he's facing Jake Peavy and his 8.47 ERA/ 1.91 WHIP at home. Castillo has a HR and a .500 BA in seven career PA versus Peavy, and I really like his chances at clubbing number two today. Use in GPP and cash games.

 

Justin Smoak, TOR (1B)

FanDuel: $2,700/ DraftKings: $3,400

This dude has been smoaking the ball recently. His BA for the season is up to .297, with a ridiculous .430 OBP. Against RHP, he's sporting a .341 BA and a .508 OBP. Colby Lewis loves giving up the long ball, and Smoak has taking advantage of this generosity twice already in his career. This is another opportunity to save some dough at a hefty position, which could help you roster a stud like Jake Arrieta. Use in GPP and cash games. Also consider Pedro Alvarez versus Anibal Sanchez. 

 

Martin Prado, MIA (3B) *versus Tanner Roark

FanDuel: $3,100/ DraftKings: $3,300

Remember, if you are playing in an All Day slate, you can only select players for the early game of this double header. This recommendation is for the main slate only, as I would much rather play Prado against Roark than Stephen Strasburg. Don't make the mistake.

Prado is slashing a .467/.500/.667 line with a HR in 16 career PA versus Roark. He is hitting .421 over his last five games. Use in cash games. For GPP games, consider Jake Lamb versus Jake Peavy. 

 

Norichika Aoki, SEA (OF)

FanDuel: $3,200/ DraftKings: $3,500

Aoki has to be my favorite pick of the day. He has not quite been effective so far in 2016, with zero HR, a .238 BA, and has been caught stealing a league-leading five times. But never fear, BvP stats to the rescue again. This contact hitter who hit only one HR in a full season with the Royals in 2014, has three bombs against Jhoulys Chacin in only 13 career PA. I can't explain it, but I love it. It is crazy enough to scare me away in cash games, but in GPP games you can end up looking like a genius when Aoki hits 2016 HR number one and two today.

 

Matt Holliday, STL (OF)

FanDuel: $2,800/ DraftKings: $3,700

Just 34 games into the 2016 campaign, and Holliday already has two more HR than he did in 73 games last season. Three of his six dingers have come in his last five games, accompanied by a .333/.417/.857 slash. Oddly enough, he has yet to take a southpaw yard this year, but today might change that split. He has two HR in only 11 career PA versus Jeff Locke. Holliday makes for a great cash game pick today.

 

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