MLB DFS DraftKings & FanDuel Fantasy Lineups & Picks for May 31, 2018
We’ve got a great slate of MLB DFS games scheduled for Thursday, 5/31/18. The main slate on DraftKings includes nine games starting at 7:05 p.m. EST, and the FanDuel main slate also includes nine 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!
5/31/18 MLB DFS TOURNAMENT PICKS
Fastball: $33 entry, $200k guaranteed (DraftKings) – $30,000 to 1st!
Rally Cap: $8 entry, $100k guaranteed (DraftKings)
Grand Slam: $44 entry, $100 guaranteed (FanDuel) – $20,000 to 1st!
Rally: $9.99 entry, $100k guaranteed (FanDuel)
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Best MLB DFS Pitchers for May 31, 2018
Clayton Kershaw vs. PHI ($11.8k DraftKings, $11.0k FanDuel)
While he’s not necessarily going to break 100 pitches in his first start since May 1, Clayton Kershaw is available at a discount on DK tonight. He’s also looked human this year, but perhaps his bicep tendinitis played a factor in his 2.86 ERA and surprising 19.4% HR/FB ratio. The southpaw draws a good matchup to right the ship against a Phillies team that’s sporting the fifth-highest K-Rate (25.1%) and fourth-highest swinging strike rate (11.6%) in the Majors over the last 14 days. Also, Philly is posting the fourth-lowest ISO mark (.134) when facing LHPs and just sent its best right-handed bat in Rhys Hoskins to the DL. That should make it tough for any Phillies to leave spacious Dodger Stadium and help Kershaw meet his slate-leading projection of 32.1 DK points according to models on RotoQL.
Lance McCullers Jr. vs. BOS ($8.9k DraftKings, $9.0k FanDuel)
The Astros host the Red Sox tonight in the first game of a series between A.L. contenders. If you believe that playoff-like atmosphere will sharpen the focus of Lance McCullers Jr., then you’ll certainly be willing to take a chance on the inconsistent SP given his immense upside. The 24-year-old RHP is rocking a 26.4% K-Rate with a strong 83.7% Z-Contact Rate, but his 3.55 BB/9 ratio can lead to trouble. However, the Red Sox have the third-highest swing rate on pitches outside of the zone (31%), so McCullers should be able to get them to chase his slider and plus changeup. He’s also been far more comfortable with a 1.73 ERA and 2.07 FIP over four home starts this season.
Jose Quintana @ NYM ($7.5k DraftKings, $7.0k FanDuel)
This is a fantastic matchup for one of the most underrated and steady SPs in the Majors over the past few years. Jose Quintana is on pace to pitch 200 innings for the fifth time in the last six seasons and while his BB Rate (10.6%) is up, he’s allowing a career-best 19.2% line drive rate and posting decent K/9 numbers (8.72). Quintana is projected for 18.2 DK points on RotoQL tonight because he’s facing the worst offense against LHPs by the numbers. The Mets are somehow posting a .095 ISO mark with the lowest wOBA (.269) and the second-highest K-Rate (27.1%) when facing lefties this season. Plus, Yoenis Cespedes (hip) is on the DL. Citi Field is also quite spacious, and Quintana should have good run support with the elite Cubs offense facing converted reliever Seth Lugo.
Other pitchers to consider: Aaron Nola, Jack Flaherty, Sonny Gray, Jordan Lyles, Shane Bieber, Wade LeBlanc
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Best MLB DFS Hitters for May 31, 2018
Jose Altuve vs. BOS ($4.9k DraftKings, $4.4k FanDuel)
While he’s been less dangerous against LHPs this season, Jose Altuve has mashed lefties throughout his career and is definitely worth a look against vulnerable southpaw Drew Pomeranz. The Red Sox starter is allowing the highest Z-Contact Rate (92.1%) since his rookie year with a 2.19 HR/9 ratio and 6.15 FIP when facing righties. Altuve happens to be 7-for-17 in his career against Pomeranz and is raking against all comers right now with a .418 average and 1.121 OPS over the last 15 days.
Anthony Rendon @ ATL ($4.0k DraftKings, $4.0k FanDuel)
Another player who has crushed lefties throughout his career, Anthony Rendon has been more of a boom-bust play this season. He has a chance to flash his upside tonight along with several Nats against LHP Sean Newcomb, who struggled against the steady Red Sox lineup to disrupt his impressive start to the season. Rendon is a career .303 hitter against the platoon, and he’s starting to heat up lately with 8 hits, including 3 doubles and 2 HRs, over his last five appearances. He’s projected for 9.2 DK points on RotoQL tonight and could exceed value on that DFS site.
Harrison Bader vs. PIT ($3.8k DraftKings, $2.4k FanDuel)
The Cardinals continue to unearth gems from their farm system, as we’re seeing a young slugger in Tyler O’Neill, and now a steady contact hitter in Harrison Bader, get the Red Birds offense back on track. Bader is 7-for-15 with a SB and 2 HRs during a 5-game hitting streak and could keep rolling against vulnerable, young RHP Trevor Williams. The Pirates’ third-year man is posting a 4.65 xFIP and 4.75 SIERA overall and is allowing RHBs to post a 33.7% hard contact rate this year. Give Bader a look as one of the safer value plays on a Cards team that’s full of appealing young talents.
Freddy Galvis vs. MIA ($2.7k DraftKings, $2.5k FanDuel)
Finally, you can find some decent values in a game between bottom-feeding teams at Petco Park tonight, including a dirt cheap SS on DK in Freddy Galvis. The switch hitter has flashed more power with a .738 OPS against LHPs and faces a struggling southpaw tonight in Wei-Yin Chen. He is posting an unsightly 7.27 FIP with a 1.57 WHIP when facing righties this season. Galvis can’t be expected to flash much upside on his own but could jump in on any Padres rallies they manage against the light-tossing Chen.
Other hitters to consider: Ozzie Albies, Michael Brantley, Trea Turner, Anthony Rizzo, Didi Gregorius, Ian Happ, Mark Reynolds, Guillermo Heredia, Juan Soto, Yairo Munoz, Marwin Gonzalez
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MLB DFS Stacks to Consider for May 31, 2018
Yankees vs. Andrew Cashner (Orioles)
Astros vs. Drew Pomeranz (Red Sox)
Cubs vs. Seth Lugo (Mets)
Cardinals vs. Trevor Williams (Pirates)
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