MLB DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for May 26, 2018
Welcome back to another Saturday of MLB DFS. We’re back for another full slate of MLB DFS games scheduled for Saturday, 5/26/18. The main slate on DraftKings includes six games starting at 7:15 p.m. EST, while FanDuel’s main slate also includes six starting at the same time.
For today, we’re listing our top MLB DFS picks at pitcher, hitter, 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. This is important to consider when constructing a roster. 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 an unsuspecting 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.
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Best MLB DFS Pitchers for May 26, 2018
Jaime Barria vs. NYY ($5.3k DraftKings, $6.6k FanDuel)
With a six-game slate, we don’t have a lot of places to go for pitching. Barria gives you the salary relief you might need (especially on DraftKings where you roster two pitchers). On FanDuel, he’s an excellent leverage play. Why? Over his last two starts, Barria has racked up seven strikeouts in each, and the two teams were the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies, the latter taking place at Coors. Barria allowed one run and one walk in those two outings combined. Today, he gets a Yankees squad that has plenty of offense, but one that also is top 10 in strikeouts per game. What’s more, Barria shut down both the Rockies and the reigning champion Houston Astros.
Further, the Yankees just dropped two games in a row to the Texas Rangers before starting their series against the Angels last night. And they headed into this series with a 3-3 record over their last six. The Yankees may be showing some weak points at this juncture, and Sonny Gray could have his hands full against an Angels team he’s faced more than a handful of times. I like Barria, and the Angels, to escape Yankee Stadium with a win Saturday. He’s a strong GPP option across the industry, though he carries risk due mostly to his inexperience and the Yankees upside.
Alex Wood vs. SD ($10.1K DraftKings, $8.7k FanDuel)
Again, short slate, short list of options at the SP position. Wood left his last start due to cramps, but should be good to go at home against this San Diego Padres team that just loves to strike out (Ross Stripling had 10 last night against this squad). Over the course of the 2018 MLB Season, the Padres have racked up the third most strikeouts per game at 9.65, and in his last outing against them, Wood managed seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings in a game he’d ultimately end up winning. But to put your mind even more at ease, Wood has had a very strong May, having allowed five earned runs over four starts. Three of those games, the Dodgers won, and three of them were on the road. Wood’s last two home starts came against the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks, two teams that are vastly better than the San Diego Padres. Wood is one of the safer options on this slate, and his cost isn’t too obnoxious, so you can find a way to slot him in. I like the Dodgers starter in GPPs and cash games alike.
Jake Odorizzi @ SEA ($9.4k DraftKings, $8.0k FanDuel)
Odorizzi is not the sexy option, but he might be necessary on this slate. The former Tampa Bay Ray is looking to turn a corner in his career in Minnesota, and it isn’t off to a bad start, earning a 3-2 start with a 3.17 ERA over 10 starts. However, he carries some risk, as his strikeouts are rather unpredictable. In his last outing, he notched 10 SOs against the Milwaukee Brewers, but in his previous two starts (11 innings), he combined for 10 strikeouts. Now, one of those games was against Seattle, and he shut them out, so that also plays well in this conversation. But he’s racked up four or fewer strikeouts in four of 10 outings this season, so you we warned.
That said, and understanding Odorizzi is a GPP option only for me, I think his 6-inning shutout against the Mariners earlier this month bodes well for the pitcher in round two of this matchup. While Seattle has won 5 of their last 6 prior to this series against the Twins, without Robinson Cano, and considering recent history between Odorizzi and that team, I’m going with the pitcher in this one. Again, only in GPP.
Lance McCullers @ CLE ($11.0k DraftKings, $9.6k FanDuel)
I went back and forth between the starters in the final game of the slate, but ultimately landed on McCullers for a few reason. Let’s start with Carlos Carrasco. No, let’s start with the Houston Astros. I don’t like picking starters against them. Carrasco did play well against him in his last start at Houston, allowing three runs over 7.2 innings, but his 5.01 home ERA, coupled with his 4.40 ERA in May, tell a different story than that of a potential ace. Carrasco still has very real shortcomings. Meanwhile, McCullers has his own, as he has a much higher ERA on the road, but he’s also 4-1, and he has one of the most potent offenses in the game. Further, he just dominated Cleveland in his last start, shutting them out over seven innings of six-strikeout baseball. He also allowed only one hit. McCullers is in play across the industry in GPPs and cash games, but he’s expensive, so you can only go with him if you have value lined up elsewhere.
Other pitchers to consider: Carlos Carrasco, Tyler Anderson, Jose Quintana
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Best MLB DFS Hitters for May 26, 2018
Buster Posey vs. CHC ($3.7k DraftKings, $2.7k FanDuel)
Jose Quintana has allowed 14 earned runs in 20 innings at Wrigley Field this season, and he’s allowing a .857 OPS to right-handers vs. a .483 OPS to left-handers. As such, I’m targeting righties in the Giants lineup today, and Buster Posey sticks out. The veteran catcher is extremely cheap at FanDuel, while he’s reasonably priced at DraftKings where you need to roster a catcher. This season, Posey has earned a .913 OPS against lefties, and his two home runs on the season each came against a pitcher of that handedness. Further, Posey is 22-for-63 in May with a .868 OPS, and in six career at bats against Quintana, Posey has shown off his slugging with a home run and a triple, along with three RBI. Posey is a fine cash option, but he’s a very intriguing sleeper on FanDuel where he’ll likely go majorly overlooked.
Ian Happ vs. SF ($4.1k DraftKings, $3.4k FanDuel)
Across from Quintana, Chris Stratton will take the mound yet again for the Giants, having won three of his last four, pushing his season record to 7-3. But after a fairly remarkable 4-1 record to open the season, Stratton has seen his ERA jump from 3.90 in April to 6.53 in May. And in his last four starts, he’s allowed home runs to Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, Tucker Barnhart, and Scott Schebler, all left-handed bats. The only right-hander to take him yard was Maikel Franco in an outing in which Stratton allowed five earned runs and collected the loss. The TLDR version: Stratton is regressing. He’s worse against left-handed bats in terms of OPS, and he faces a Cubs team with plenty of lefties. Happ is having a very solid month with five home runs, one triple, and four doubles across 13 hits in 49 at bats. He also is the type of left-handed bat that really gives RHPs problems, and Stratton’s recent trip back to Earth could come to a head today against the Cubbies firepower. Look to Happ (and other Chicago lefties), but stick to GPPs.
Charlie Blackmon vs. CIN ($5.6k DraftKings, $4.8k FanDuel)
We’re going to start out by examining the opposing pitcher first once again. Tyler Mahle is dreadful against left-handed hitters, allowing an OPS of .966 to batters of that handedness this season. That’s partly driven by the nine home runs he’s allowed to lefties across 102 at bats, as well as the five doubles and .378 OBP. Adding to the potential blowup, the wind is expected to be blowing out in Coors Field (at speeds around 14 mph). That opens up all starting Colorado lefty bats, including Charlie Blackmon, who somehow only has one home run at home this season out of 12 total. Blackmon hasn’t had a terrific season thus far, and I imagine daily fantasy players are starting to turn away from the dynamic outfielder. But in a matchup with an exploitable RHP who is terrible against lefties, with the wind blowing out at Coors Field? I like Blackmon in cash and GPPs alike. If you want a contrarian play, Tony Wolters at the Catcher position is interesting on FanDuel, but I’m staying away from one lefty: David Dahl. He’s been pretty terrible this season, and I’d rather pivot to Gerardo Parra if I can’t afford Blackmon.
Eugenio Suarez @ COL ($4.9k DraftKings, $4.4k FanDuel)
Did I mention the wind is expected to blow out in Colorado today? Eugenio Suarez has faced Tyler Anderson three times, and he’s earned two hits in those three appearances, one leaving the yard. And over his last three outings, Anderson has allowed 13 runs in 16 innings. At Coors this season, he’s had three starts, allowing three home runs and racking up a win-loss record of 1-1.
But what should really get you excited is Suarez’ insane splits, although I’ll caveat it’s a limited sample size. Across 27 at bats against LHPs this season, Suarez has earned an OPS of 1.531 thanks in part to four home runs and three doubles. Anderson does have his moments, but the elements seem stacked against him in this one. The Cincinnati Reds offense is also hit-and-miss, but they’re at least playing average baseball of late, even stealing two of three from the Pirates before their trip to the Rockies. But don’t get too excited about them. Instead, get exposure to this offense through Suarez, who has terrific upside on this slate.
Other hitters to consider: Tony Wolters, Ben Zobrist, Anthony Rizzo, Andrew McCutchen, Josh Reddick, Marwin Gonzalez, Mike Trout, Gary Sanchez, Tucker Barnhart, Gerardo Parra, Cody Bellinger, Christian Villanueva, Jean Segura, Brian Dozier, Eduardo Escobar
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MLB DFS Stacks to Consider for May 26, 2018
Cubs vs. Chris Stratton (Giants)
Angels vs. Sonny Gray (Yankees)
Rockies vs. Tyler Mahle (Reds)
Dodgers vs. Jordan Lyles (Padres)
