MLB DFS DraftKings & FanDuel Fantasy Lineups & Picks for May 18, 2018

We’ve got a great slate of MLB DFS games scheduled for Friday, 5/18/18. The main slate on DraftKings includes 15 games starting at 7:05 p.m. EST, and the FanDuel main slate also includes 15 starting at the same time.

For today, we’re listing our best MLB DFS pitchers, hitters, and stacks to target in Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. The info below can also be used for crafting your daily fantasy baseball strategy at FantasyDraft.

Please note the advice below is relevant for daily fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, and lots of other factors. Remember that more than in other sports, variance is a huge part of baseball. Even Mike Trout can go 0-for-4 on a given night, and Max Scherzer can get lit up by a weak team.

Weather can also play a huge role in MLB DFS on a nightly basis, and lineups are constantly shifting. So always, always check the starting lineups and weather reports when playing for an MLB slate. If a game gets rained out, your player gets zero points! There are several weather concerns tonight, so please check the weather reports as we get closer to lineup lock.

5/18/18 MLB DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS

Medium 8’s: $88 entry, $375k guaranteed (DraftKings)  – $50,000 to 1st!
Rally Cap: $8 entry, $225k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Grand Slam: $47 entry, $200k guaranteed (FanDuel) – $50,000 to 1st!
Rally: $9.99 entry, $115k guaranteed(FanDuel)
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Best MLB DFS Pitchers for May 18, 2018

Max Scherzer vs. LAD ($14.0k DraftKings, $11.6k FanDuel)

With several aces struggling over the first two months of the season, Max Scherzer is arguably pitching as well as he has throughout his Hall-of-Fame-caliber career. He’s sporting a league-best 13.96 K/9 ratio with an absurd 26 Ks over his last two outings. He’s also posting a 1.70 ERA over his last seven starts. The Nats offense has come alive winning 12 of 14, so Scherzer is almost a lock for a win with ample run support likely coming off vulnerable young RHP Ross Stripling. Unlike their rivals, the Dodgers have not pulled out of a season-long tailspin and are posting sixth-lowest wOBA (.297) with the fifth-fewest runs scored (40) over the last 14 days. Current Dodgers are 17-for-105 (.162) with 39 Ks and just 1 HR in their careers against Scherzer. The ace is projected for a hefty 29.4 FPs tonight according to models on RotoQL.

**GAME HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER**

Charlie Morton vs. CLE ($12.2k DraftKings, $9.7k FanDuel)

If Scherzer is not an option due to storms in the D.C. area, Charlie Morton could emerge as the top SP tonight in terms of upside. At 34 years old, he’s suddenly found the fountain of youth and is posting his second consecutive campaign with increased strikeout numbers (11.47 K/9 ratio) while notching a stellar 77.4% Z-Contact Rate. With a curveball that rated 14.2 runs above average last year, according to Brooks Baseball, Morton has been very tough on lefties. He is holding LHBs to a .132 average with a whopping 44.3% K-Rate this year. That bodes well for his chances against Cleveland’s lefty-heavy lineup. Plus, few of them have seen the N.L. import much at all.

Jacob deGrom vs. ARI ($9.8k DraftKings, $10.0k FanDuel)

After struggling during a 45-pitch first inning, Jacob deGrom never got a chance to return to action in his last start due to a lengthy rain delay. That affords him some extra rest ahead of tonight’s plus matchup. He faces a Diamondbacks team posting the lowest collective batting average (.178) and wOBA (.244) by far over the last 14 days. Furthermore, Arizona just lost its second-best hitter for up to two months with A.J. Pollock (thumb) suffering another hard-luck injury. The D’Backs are also posting the third-highest K-Rate (25.7%) in the Majors this year. When healthy, deGrom has been even filthier this season with an 11.37 K/9 ratio and 14.7% swinging strike rate. He could certainly exceed value on DK considering his projection of 25.1 FPs on RotoQL.

Kyle Hendricks @ CIN ($8.3k DraftKings, $8.1k FanDuel)

Targeting teams with little vested interest in winning baseball games is a good way to get some cheap arms into your DK lineups. Kyle Hendricks has been a solid Cash play over the past few seasons and seems to have regained his consistency with 19 Ks, 2 BB and a 2.20 ERA over his last four outings. He’s 3-1 with a 3.40 ERA and 8.20 K/9 ratio over his last eight against the Reds. Plus, Cincinnati fields a weaker lineup than in years past. The Cubs (-180) are heavily favored on the road and could be all over vulnerable veteran Homer Bailey.

Other pitchers to consider: Zack Godley, Michael Wacha, Kyle Freeland, Kyle Gibson

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Best MLB DFS Hitters for May 18, 2018

Ozzie Albies vs. MIA ($5.5k DraftKings, $4.8k FanDuel)

As the leadoff man atop the hottest offense in baseball, Ozzie Albies has established an elite floor-ceiling combination. He’s currently leading the N.L. with 40 runs scored. With a .315 ISO Mark and ample speed (6 SB), he has tremendous upside, and he’ll have the platoon advantage in tonight’s matchup. Marlins RHP Dan Straily has struggled with the long ball in consecutive seasons and has given up 4 HRs through three appearances to begin 2018. Albies happens to be 4-for-8 with 2 HRs and 2 SB in a tiny sample size against Straily. You can’t put too much stock in those numbers but can certainly pay up for him and hope for more category juice atop a Braves stack.

J.D. Martinez vs. BAL ($5.3k DraftKings, $4.9k FanDuel)

This is likely what the Red Sox envisioned when they signed J.D. Martinez for $110 million this offseason — a can’t-miss slugger facing a weak A.L. East SP in a hitter-friendly ballpark. The Red Sox terrorized Alex Cobb in his last trip to Fenway Park, and it’s hard to imagine tonight going much differently. Cobb’s posted a 20% HR/FB ratio, 7.06 ERA, and a weak 5.8% swinging strike during a 0-5 start. His splitter rates 4.7 runs below average, and he’s throwing that pitch or his straight-line fastball 76.8% of the time this year. Martinez rated 24.2 runs above average against fastballs over his last two seasons, so it’s no surprise he’s 6-for-10 with 2 doubles and a HR in his career off Cobb. Martinez is accordingly projected for 11.1 FPs tonight on RotoQL.

Kyle Schwarber @ CIN ($4.4k DraftKings, $3.8k FanDuel)

As mentioned above, the Cubs could be all over Homer Bailey, who is somehow posting even worse numbers than he did in his disastrous 2017 campaign. Bailey is walking fewer batters but getting drilled with a 91.7% Z-Contact Rate and 17.4% HR/FB ratio. He’s given up 8 HRs (3.13 HR/9 ratio) with a 7.32 FIP when facing LHBs this season. Now, Kyle Schwarber is a cheap alternative to Anthony Rizzo if you’re looking to target him with a powerful lefty. Schwarber is in a bit of a power drought after launching 7 HRs in the first month of the season. He should have light ownership despite his ample upside at a ballpark with a high HR Factor for lefties.

Justin Smoak vs. OAK ($3.7k DraftKings, $3.6k FanDuel)

It’s tough to count on his teammates offering much support, but Justin Smoak is a good stand-alone play against a vulnerable LHP tonight. Brett Anderson is giving up a 27.3% HR/FB ratio when facing RHBs in a limited sample size this season. That’s become the norm for the injury-plagued southpaw over three partial seasons since 2016. Smoak is a switch hitter who does far more damage from the right side of the plate, hitting .351 with a 1.026 OPS at home against LHPs this year. He’s 5-for-19 with 2 doubles and a HR over his last four appearances and is likely the best option in a Toronto uniform with Josh Donaldson slumping.

Other hitters to consider: Manny Machado, Freddie Freeman, Javier Baez, Hanley Ramirez, Trevor Story, Denard Span, Teoscar Hernandez (If active), Shin-Soo Choo, Jeimer Candelario, Nicky Delmonico

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MLB DFS Stacks to Consider for May 18, 2018

Red Sox vs. Alex Cobb (Orioles)
Braves vs. Dan Straily (Marlins)
Cubs vs. Homer Bailey (Reds)
Blue Jays vs. Brett Anderson (Athletics) – GPP Only

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