DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Thursday 5/12/22

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Pitchers

Early

James Kaprielian FD - P 7700 DK - SP 7500
Opponent - DET (Beau Brieske) Park - DET
FD - 29.7 DK - 15.5

This early slate is an interesting one and a case can be made for both pitchers in the Astros and Twins game so instead, I will go ahead and give you my favorite SP2, James Kaprielian. He was a first-round pick of the Yankees back in 2015 and has had cups of coffee in the majors with the A's but due to injuries has never really become reliable. We are only interested in one start for DFS and the good news is that he is coming off a fantastic start against the Twins in which he hit 99 pitches, struck out seven, and tallied 21.8 DK/35 FD points. He now faces a Tigers team that ranks dead last in runs scored and wOBA over the last two weeks while striking out 25% of the time. Kaprielian is my top value pitcher on this early slate.

Main

Zack Wheeler FD 8100 DK 8000
Opponent - LAD (Tyler Anderson) Park - LAD
FD - 31.78 DK - 16.85

Wheeler is back from the protocol list which does present some risk as he hasn't pitched in eight days but looking at the options on this small slate, the system and myself are loading up tonight. The good news is that his last two starts have been terrific as he allowed no earned runs while striking out 14 and tallying 27+ DK/48+ FD points in each game. The other risk here is the matchup against the Dodgers' loaded lineup but the good news is that they have been a slightly below-average offense over the last two weeks so Wheeler is getting them at the right time. All things considered tonight, Wheeler is my top pitcher on the main slate.

Catcher/First Base

Early

Pete Alonso FD - 1B 4200 DK - 1B 5100
Opponent - WSH (Joan Adon) Park - WSH
FD - 13.18 DK - 9.85

The price for doing business with Pete Alonso is going up and it's driven off his current play. The polar bear enters Thursday's game with hits in seven of his last eight games which includes five multi-hit efforts, two doubles, and four home runs. He and the Mets now get the best matchup on the slate as they face Joan Adon who has given up three or more earned runs in four of his five starts and leads all qualified pitchers with a 10.5% barrel rate against. Load up on Alonso in all formats.

Main

Rhys Hoskins FD - 1B 3200 DK - 1B 3800
Opponent - LAD (Tyler Anderson) Park - LAD
FD - 10.29 DK - 7.64

Overall it has been a rough start to the season for Hoskins who is hitting just .222 but the good news is that he has been better in the short-term with hits in four straight and home runs in three straight. More good news as he also gets a matchup against a lefty and has been very strong in the split with a .426 wOBA and 156 wRC+ going back to the start of the 2019 season. There is a chance he stays buried in the Phillies lineup but at his DK price, he is in play in all formats.

Second Base

Early

César Hernández FD - 2B 3000 DK - 2B 4100
Opponent - NYM (Taijuan Walker) Park - WSH
FD - 9.31 DK - 7.14

This game definitely presents the best matchups on the early slate and while I don't expect Taijaun Walker to blow again, I also don't expect him to return to CY Young status either(lol). This is more about Hernandez and his own opportunity as the Nats leadoff hitter and more importantly, coming to us at a value on this small slate. He also comes in red-hot with hits in 14 of his last 16 games with seven multi-hit efforts. I will have exposure in all formats.

Main

Jean Segura FD - 2B 3300 DK - 2B 3900
Opponent - LAD (Tyler Anderson) Park - LAD
FD - 8.63 DK - 6.69

It's not that I am targeting Tyler Anderson on purpose as he has been very good this season; It's more about trying to fill a very tough position on this small slate. Alec Bohm has taken over near the top of the lineup which does hurt the value some here as well but I mentioned Hoskins above and if looking for sequence and correlation, they hit back-to-back, and both hit lefties very well. Segura also comes in hot with hits in nine straight with four multi-hit efforts, three home runs, and eight runs scored.

Shortstop

Early

Francisco Lindor FD - SS 3800 DK - SS 5300
Opponent - WSH (Joan Adon) Park - WSH
FD - 12.32 DK - 9.35

The shortstop position is a dead zone on this slate so let's just pay right up for Lindor. He hasn't been overly consistent to start the 2022 season(.246 avg/.326 OBP) but has provided a ton of concentrated fantasy value with five home runs, 18 RBI, and 17 runs scored. He is a switch hitter and the good news is that he has been slightly better against righties striking out 6% less in the split with a better wOBA and wRC+, as well. All things considered, he is our top play at shortstop on this slate.

Main

Tim Anderson FD - SS 3900 DK - SS 5200
Opponent - NYY (Luis Gil) Park - CHW
FD - 11.2 DK - 8.73

The White Sox open a weekend series at home against the Yankees and get a plus matchup in game one. They face Luis Gil, who does have a ton of K upside but has struggled with control at the minor league level(15% BB rate and a 1.74 WHIP) and has given up 18 earned runs over five starts at AAA. While Corey Seager comes cheaper and the Rangers have a higher runline, I prefer Anderson at shortstop here as he has been extremely consistent with a .347 average, .400 wOBA, and 174 wRC+ on the season. I will likely end up with split exposure but lean Anderson if playing just one lineup.

Third Base

Early

Sheldon Neuse FD - 2B 3200 DK - 1B/3B 3800
Opponent - DET (Beau Brieske) Park - DET
FD - 6.89 DK - 5.33

Finding value on these smaller slates can be tough so when we get one that is hitting near the top of the lineup, we have to take advantage. For Neuse, he moved up to the two-hole for the A's back in mid-April and has been solid hitting .286 and has been more consistent in the short-term with hits in six of his last seven games. The A's also get a plus matchup to give my top pitcher on this slate some run support as they face Beau Brieske who has struggled to a 4.2 ERA/5.84 xFIP through three starts giving up five home runs already. Lock and load in all formats at these prices.

Main

Bobby Witt Jr. FD - SS 2800 DK - 3B 3700
Opponent - TEX (Taylor Hearn) Park - TEX
FD - 9.37 DK - 7.21

Getting exposure to the Royals' offense is never really at the top of my list but top prospect Bobby Witt Jr. provides some much needed value on this small slate. Hitting .220 is probably not the start to the career he wanted but the talent is there 100% and best of all for us in fantasy, outside of the price, is the fact he has been moved up into the leadoff spot. Finally, he also gets a plus matchup here against Taylor Hearn who has put a ton of runners on base(1.84 WHIP) and has been punished to the tune of a 6.53 ERA and 52% hard contact rate. All things considered, Witt is our top PTS/$ value on this slate.

Outfield

Early

Tony Kemp FD - 2B 2700 DK - 2B 3700
Opponent - DET (Beau Brieske) Park - DET
FD - 7.97 DK - 6.14

Loading up on the Mets' big bats on this smaller slate is much easier today thanks to the value with the top of the A's lineup. I talked about Neuse earlier and I will be pairing him with Tony Kemp who has a hold on the leadoff spot and has gotten on base in four straight with hits in three of them including his first home run of the season. Given the matchup and value price tag on both sites, Kemp is one of our top PTS/$ plays on this slate.

Main

Luis Robert FD - OF 3800 DK - OF 4900
Opponent - NYY (Luis Gil) Park - CHW
FD - 11.07 DK - 8.47

I am going right back to the White Sox here to close things out and love stacking the top of the lineup. Right behind Anderson as my favorite is outfielder Luis Robert who is finally healthy in 2022 and ready to explode. It has been a terrific start, especially recently as he enters Thursday with hits in nine straight and 10 of his last 11 games pushing his average up to .282 on the season. The consistency appears to be here and now we just await the immense power upside which is in his arsenal as well. I will have exposure in all formats.

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Chris Durell