DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Thursday 5/19/22

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Pitchers

Early

Jordan Montgomery FD 8100 DK 7800
Opponent - BAL (Bruce Zimmermann) Park - BAL
FD - 34.07 DK - 18.16

We have options on this early slate but with some of the top pitchers in tougher matchups, I am going to lean on Jordan Montgomery as the Yankees are heavy favourites here. He hasn't popped off for one of those slate-breaking performances this season but he has been very consistent holding opponents to two or fewer earned runs in six straight starts while averaging 13.8 DK/25.3 FD points per game. The matchup is what really stands out however, as he faces an Orioles team that is 27th in wOBA and 28th in wRC+ against left-handed pitching while striking out at an ugly 28% rate in the split. All things considered, Monty is my top play on the mound on this early slate.

Main

Zac Gallen FD 10600 DK 10300
Opponent - CHC (Marcus Stroman) Park - CHC
FD - 34.75 DK - 18.19

Gallen is arbitration-eligible after this season and is about to get paid based on his early start to the season. He has been elite with five plus pitches and comes in tied with Pablo Lopez with a league-leading 1.05 ERA and has seen an uptick in K's recently with 16 over his last two starts(27% K rate on the season). He gets a matchup against a below-average Cubs offense that strikes out over 25% of the time against right-handed pitching. Even with the high price, I am on board in all formats.

Catcher/First Base

Early

Hunter Dozier FD 2700 DK 4400
Opponent - CHW (Vince Velasquez) Park - CHW
FD - 9.54 DK - 7.25

The early slate picks are going to be heavily tilted towards this White Sox/Royals game as both offences get favourable matchups. At first, I like taking the value with Hunter Dozier who was moved up the lineup at the start of May after a solid start to the season and comes in having got on base in eight of his last nine games. He has been better against lefties but still above-average against righties(108 wRC+) and faces Velasquez who has reverse splits and has given up a .458 wOBA to righties. Dozier is my top PTS/$ option at first on the early slate.

Main

Ty France FD 3200 DK 3800
Opponent - BOS (Rich Hill) Park - BOS
FD - 11.64 DK - 8.88

On the main slate, my top team is the Astros but not far behind are the Mariners for a couple of reasons starting with the PTS/$ value which is going to be needed to both fit Zac Gallen and also some Houston bats. Let's start with Ty France who is in the midst of a breakout season as he comes in with a sparkling .325/.398/.477 slash line and has hits in six of his last eight including five multi-hit efforts. The matchup isn't great, by any means, as Rich Hill has been very solid this season but this is more about DraftKings where France is still priced below $4K while almost touching $6K earlier this month. All things considered, he is my top play at first base on the main slate.

Also Consider: Yuli Gurriel(HOU) who is also in the sub $4K range on DK, has been better against righties lately, and has hits in six of his last seven games

Second Base

Early

Jeff McNeil FD 2900 DK 4100
Opponent - STL (Dakota Hudson) Park - STL
FD - 6.99 DK - 5.38

Let's step away from the White Sox/Royals game for minute(don't worry there will be lots more) and direct our attention to another hitter getting more hacks near the top of lineup. McNeil is not only a huge asset to the Mets playing so many positions but he has been very consistent with the bat as well hitting .318 with a 134 wRC+ on the season. He gets a matchup against an average arm in Dakota Hudson who has allowed 5+ hits and has more walks(8) than strikeouts(6) over his last three starts. If he is back up near the top of the lineup, he will be my top play at second today.

Also Consider: Whit Merrifield(KC) who has been terrific lately with hits in 10 straight

Main

José Altuve FD 4000 DK 5400
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 12.64 DK - 9.64

Now let's jump into the core of our exposure on this main slate as the Astros get the best matchup on the board. I will start at second with Altuve who appears fully recovered from the hamstring injury that sent him to the IL in late April as he comes into tonight with hits in 13 of 15 May games(.316 avg) with a whopping seven home runs. It didn't take long for the price to get back up into elite territory but considering the matchup, small slate, and lack of options at the position, Altuve is most definitely my top play at second in all formats.

Also Consider: Adam Frazier(SEA) who gets hits leadoff for the M's and despite the lefty/lefty matchup, has a .350 wOBA/140 wRC+ in the split

Shortstop

Early

Tim Anderson FD 3600 DK 5200
Opponent - KC (Carlos Hernández) Park - KC
FD - 12.11 DK - 9.44

I will have a lot of exposure to this entire game but prefer the White Sox side a little bit more and it comes down to the matchup. They face Carlos Hernandez who has been nothing short of a disaster this season allowing 6+ hits and 3+ earned runs in five of his six starts and has more walks(15) than strikeouts(13) on the season. To top it off, his splits against righties have been even worse(.419 avg/.457 wOBA against) and he faces Anderson who is one of the best and most consistent hitters in the league. The price is back up over $5K on DraftKings but he is still a top play in all formats.

Main

Geraldo Perdomo FD 2100 DK 2600
Opponent - CHC (Marcus Stroman) Park - CHC
FD - 7.67 DK - 5.92

This pick is more about necessity as we have a very small, three-game slate with limited value. Perdomo is getting a chance to start every day for the time being after Nick Ahmed was placed on the IL earlier this week. The upside is most definitely capped but the good news is that he is gaining some confidence and has hits in two straight games coming into Thursday night. At nearly min price on both sites, I will be punting Perdomo in all formats.

Also Consider: Xander Bogaerts(BOS) or Corey Seager(TEX) who are both in the sub $5K range on DraftKings and elite plays almost every day

Third Base

Early

Yoán Moncada FD 3400 DK 3600
Opponent - KC (Carlos Hernández) Park - KC
FD - 11.49 DK - 8.69

The White Sox love continues here and it comes with some excellent PTS/$ value considering Moncada is hitting in the two-hole in this terrific matchup today. He is coming off an 0 for 4 night but since making a late start to the season, has hits in six of eight games with two home runs. He is a switch hitter that has been slightly better from the left side for his career and has a .359 wOBA/128 wRC+ in the split since the start of 2019. He is in play on both sites but his best value is easily on DraftKings where he is my top shortstop on this slate.

Main

Abraham Toro FD 2400 DK 3200
Opponent - BOS (Rich Hill) Park - BOS
FD - 8.03 DK - 6.12

If you have found enough value elsewhere, Alex Bregman is at the top of my list at third tonight but if still in need of some value, Toro is very high on my PTS/$ rankings. You ask why as he is only hitting .167 on the season but it comes down to opportunity as he is projected to hit leadoff tonight as he often does against lefties and a little more good news as he comes in with hits in three of his last four games. I will take what I can get and Toro checks enough boxes that if he is back leading off, he will be in my lineups in all formats to free up some salary.

Outfield

Early

Luis Robert FD 3800 DK 4300
Opponent - KC (Carlos Hernández) Park - KC
FD - 12.64 DK - 9.67

Let's cap off this early slate with one more White Sox bat and it's Luis Robert who continues to come cheap on DraftKings. The ceiling is sky-high with his raw power and he is having a solid start to his third season in the bigs hitting .286 with a 125 wRC+, five home runs and 20 runs scored. Just like his teammates, the stack comes down to the matchup which is best on the slate facing Carlos Hernandez who is nearly touching a 10 ERA and has given up a .452 wOBA and .559 slugging % on the season. Fire up Robert in all formats.

Main

Yordan Alvarez FD 4500 DK 5200
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 12.79 DK - 9.59
Michael Brantley FD 3000 DK 4000
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 10.16 DK - 7.85

The Astros are at the top of my list for bats on this main slate so let's finish things off with a pair of outfielders. I will start with Michael Brantley who is my top choice in terms of PTS/$ value which is much needed on this small slate. The ageless Brantley is having another very productive season coming in with hits in eight straight and 12 of his last 13 games and is now hitting .285 with a 135 wRC+. He hits second in the lineup and with that discounted price on both sites, is my top outfielder tonight. For GPP, I will most definitely be trying to stack as many Astros as possible and that includes Yordan Alvarez. He isn't nearly as consistent as Brantley but more than makes for it with this immense power upside(12 HR and a 171 wRC+ on the season).

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