Daily Fantasy MLB Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 5/2/16

I know it's Monday, but at least we have a 10-game slate on our hands! Most of the aces pitched yesterday, but we still have some nice pitching options for tonight. Make sure to check out our other MLB articles, as they will touch on weather/news, stacks and a few other pitching options. Now Let's get to our top plays for each position!

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Pitcher

Johnny Cueto FD 10600 DK 10800
Opponent - CIN (Finnegan) Park - @CIN
FD - 36.75 DK - 19.93
Johnny Cueto has been outstanding to start the 2016 season, and I don't see the Cincinnati Reds slowing him down tonight. Cueto looks like the Cueto we were all accustomed to seeing when he was in a Reds' uniform. He has a 3.4 BB% (6th in MLB), which shows the control he has in his pitches. Not only has Cueto shown us that he has control of his pitches, but has also shown us his ability to punch guys out, as he owns a 22.6 K%. Speaking of strikeouts -- the Reds have a 22.2 K% (10th in MLB) against right-handed pitchers, in 2016. I see Cueto dominating the Reds tonight and is our top pitcher of the night.
Dallas Keuchel FD 10500 DK 9900
Opponent - MIN (Berrios) Park - @HOU
FD - 36.15 DK - 19.12
Next up on our list is -- Dallas Keuchel. Sure, some people might be afraid to use him, as he has allowed 11 earned runs in his last two outings, but he was pitching on the road. Tonight, he will be pitching at home, which is where he is dominant. Since 2015, he owns a 2.04 FIP and a 0.89 WHIP when pitching at home. And to make things better for Keuchel and his beard, they will be going up against the Twins. They have had a rough start to the season and have struggled vs left-handed pitching. They have 69 wRC+ (26th in MLB) and a .266 wOBA (28th in MLB). Keuchel is in play tonight, especially pitching at home and going up against the struggling Twins.
Edinson Volquez FD 7800 DK 7300
Opponent - WSH (Gonzalez) Park - @KC
FD - 27.78 DK - 13.78
Outside of Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy, the Nationals have struggled vs right-handed pitching this season. They have 73 wRC+ (27th in MLB) and a .288 wOBA (28th in MLB). This puts Edison Volquez and his beautiful price tag in a perfect position. Volquez is not a guy with huge upside, as he owns a 18.4 K%, since 2015, but he is in a great spot to deliver a quality start. He is a great option tonight, especially on sites where you can roster two pitchers. He will allow you to pay up for some of those big-bats you love.
Also considered: Jonathan Gray, James Shields.

Catcher

Buster Posey FD 3400 DK 4400
Opponent - CIN (Finnegan) Park - @CIN
FD - 11.35 DK - 8.71
Buster Posey is in a great spot tonight going up against southpaw Brandon Finnegan. Posey has demolished left-handed pitchers throughout his career, as he owns a .357 wOBA and a .177 ISO. Not only does he have some power, but he owns a 6.6 K%, which shows how often he puts the ball in play. Posey has 11 hits in his last 10 games, so look for him to carry that momentum into tonight. He is hands down the top catcher on tonight's slate.
Jonathan Lucroy FD 3000 DK 3700
Opponent - LAA (Weaver) Park - @MIL
FD - 10.89 DK - 8.45
If you can't afford Posey, then Lucroy is the next best option on the slate. He will be going up against Jered Weaver, who has really struggled since 2015. He owns a 4.95 SIERA, 13.1 k% and a 47.3 FB%. Weaver has shown the inability to strike guys out and to keep the ball low in the strike-zone. Lucroy has looked great swinging the bat with a .299 AVG to start 2016, so look for him to take advantage of Weaver and his 83-
MPH fastball.

Russell Martin FD 2300 DK 2900
Opponent - TEX (Griffin) Park - @TOR
FD - 10.32 DK - 7.92
Russell Martin has really struggled to get things going in 2016, but he draws a nice matchup going up against A.J. Griffin. Griffin is very similar to Jered Weaver, as they both have trouble keeping their pitches down in the strike-zone. Griffin owns a 45.2 FB%, but also owns a 31.5 hard%. Playing in a friendly hitters park can only hurt Griffin and help Martin. Martin has a beautiful price tag tonight, and is worth a roster spot, especially if you are planning to stack the Blue Jays.
Also considered: Stephen Vogt and Jason Castro

First Base

Edwin Encarnacion FD 3400 DK 3800
Opponent - TEX (Griffin) Park - @TOR
FD - 13.65 DK - 10.23
I just mentioned Griffin's inability to keep the ball low in the strike-zone, so what better person to roster into your lineups than Edwin Encarnacion? We all know the damage he does against left-handed pitching, but he also has nice numbers against right-handed pitching. He owns a .269 ISO and a .383 wOBA against them, which not only shows us his power, but also his ability to get on base. This puts Ercanacion in the perfect spot to showcase his power, especially playing in Toronto, which is one of the friendliest parks to hitters.
Prince Fielder FD 3100 DK 3900
Opponent - TOR (Dickey) Park - @TOR
FD - 12.76 DK - 9.67
Prince Fielder will be heading to Toronto to go up against R.A. Dickey. Dickey has looked awful this season, and I don't see things getting better for him tonight. He owns a 6.75 ERA and opposing hitters have a .300 AVG, which puts Fielder in a great position. Fielder has a career .375 wOBA and .160 ISO against right-handed pitching. He has destroyed right-handed pitchers in his career and tonight should be no different. Dickey will be pitching in a dome, so he won't have his best friend with him -- the wind. The wind gives his knuckleball extra movement, but unfortunately, he won't have that extra help. Look for Fielder to take advantage of the struggling knuckle-baller.
Lucas Duda FD 3400 DK 4000
Opponent - ATL (Foltynewicz) Park - @NYM
FD - 14.52 DK - 10.9
I know this might surprise you, but not only is Lucas Duda my favorite first baseman of the night, he is also my favorite hitter. He eats right-handed pitchers for breakfast, and he will be going up against one in Mike Foltynewicz. Think of right-handed pitchers as Duda's scrambled eggs, but Foltynewicz are his pancakes and Orange Juice (It's a complete breakfast). Foltynewicz really struggles against left-handed batters, as they own a .401 wOBA (not a typo) and a .582 SLG against him. Duda has three homers in his last ten games, and I say he gets another one tonight. Today is -- Duda Dong Day!
Also considered: Brandon Moss.
Baseball season is here! Check out the bottom of the article for our MLB ebook on setting daily fantasy baseball lineups as well as our MLB DFS strategy articles coming in the next couple weeks.

Second Base

Robinson Cano FD 3600 DK 4900
Opponent - OAK (Graveman) Park - @OAK
FD - 10.59 DK - 8.34
Have you seen Robinson Cano's numbers this season? The .301 OBP is not that appealing, but his .516 SLG, 24 RBI and 8 homers are just insane! He is showcasing his power to start the year and he draws a favorable L/R matchup going up against Kendall Graveman. Since 2015, Cano has a .363 wOBA and .201 ISO against right-handed pitching, so don't be afraid to roster him in, especially wit his tremendous upside, which is hard to find at his position.
Neil Walker FD 4000 DK 4100
Opponent - ATL (Foltynewicz) Park - @NYM
FD - 13.51 DK - 10.4
I'm sorry Braves fans, but I am picking on Mike Foltynewicz once again. I mentioned how awful he has been against left-handed batters, so go ahead and add Neil Walker in your lineups (if you roster Duda, Walker has to be included). Think of it as cereal and milk. Duda is the cereal and Walker is the milk! You have to have them both! Walker is a switch-hitting second baseman, but most of his success comes from the left side of the plate. He has been phenomenal in a Mets' uniform, as he owns a .359 wOBA and a .264 ISO. I won't call a dong day for Walker, but look for him to have a nice night.
Rougned Odor FD 3900 DK 3700
Opponent - TOR (Dickey) Park - @TOR
FD - 10.2 DK - 8.23
I already mentioned how Dickey has struggled to get things going this season, so I won't bore you with his stats, but I will talk about Odor. Odor owns a .206 ISO and a .333 wOBA against right-handed pitching, since 2015. He is another guy (like Fielder) that could take advantage of one of Dickey's flat knuckleballs. Odor has recorded at least one hit in seven out of his last eight games, so go ahead and include him in your Rangers stack.
Also considered: Daniel Murphy and Omar Infante.

Shortstop

Troy Tulowitzki FD 3400 DK 3300
Opponent - TEX (Griffin) Park - @TOR
FD - 10.46 DK - 7.95
Tulo's price has dropped drastically, as he owns a .189 AVG to start the year, but he does have four homers. He will be going up against A.J. Griffin, who has had trouble keeping the ball on the ground, as he has a 45.2 FB%. Vegas has the Blue Jays scoring the most runs on the night with a run-total of 4.86, so including Tulo in your Blue Jays stack is the way to go.
Jonathan Villar FD 2700 DK 3600
Opponent - LAA (Weaver) Park - @MIL
FD - 10.3 DK - 9.21
Jonathan Villar is a guy with a high ceiling. When you think of a guy with a high ceiling, you tend to think of guys with tremendous power, but not for Villar. He has upside because of his ability to swipe bags. On Apr. 28, Villar swiped three bags, which was good for 32 fantasy points (Draftkings). He should have the green light today, going up against Weaver and his 83-MPH Fastball. Besides stolen bases, Villar is in a great spot offensively as Vegas has the Brewers scoring 4.30 runs (third-most on tonight's slate). Watch out for the speedster.
Asdrubal Cabrera FD 2900 DK 3300
Opponent - ATL (Foltynewicz) Park - @NYM
FD - 10.9 DK - 8.6
Damn Nick, back at it again with another Met! Yes I am, but this time it's with Asdrubal Cabrera. I am going with Cabrera for the same reasons I am going with Duda and Walker -- left-handed bats have a .401 wOBA against Foltynewicz. And just like Walker, Cabrera has been swinging the bat well for his new club. He has a .349 wOBA to go along with a 14.9 K%. He is putting the ball in play and is not getting enough love around the league for his play so far.
Also considered: Brandon Crawford.
 

Third Base

Matt Carpenter FD 3900 DK 4200
Opponent - PHI (Hellickson) Park - @STL
FD - 10.98 DK - 8.53
Jeremy Hellickson has been inconsistent to start the year, so look for Matt Carpenter and the Cardinals to take advantage. Hellickson has struggled throughout his career against left-handed batters. They have a .343 wOBA and .453 SLG against him, which sets up Carpenter and the rest of the Cardinals' left-handed bats. Carpenter has a 40.8 HB%, .286 ISO and .383 wOBA against right-handed pitching , since 2015. Carpenter will be over-looked tonight and should have himself a nice night.
Kyle Seager FD 3300 DK 4000
Opponent - OAK (Graveman) Park - @OAK
FD - 10.75 DK - 8.45
Seager is in a very similar spot as Cano, and not just with the matchup against Kendall Graveman. They both have struggled hitting for average, but have hit for power. Seager has 5 homers to start and draws a favorable L/R matchup just like Cano. Seager has a .324 wOBA and a .179 ISO against right-handed pitchers, in his career. Seager is a guy with a high ceiling, so go ahead and roster him in a couple of tournament lineups.
Adrian Beltre FD 3400 DK 3600
Opponent - TOR (Dickey) Park - @TOR
FD - 10.71 DK - 8.2
Adrian Beltre will be going up against R.A. Dickey and his 4.90 FIP, so he's another guy on the Rangers worth mentioning. The Rangers are projected to score 4.16 runs tonight, so don't be afraid to roster the 37-year-old into your lineups. He owns a .350 wOBA against right-handing pitchers in his career and will be playing in Toronto, which is friendly to hitters. Beltre might be old, but his .803 OPS indicates he hasn't lost it completely.

Also considered: David Wright and Chris Coghlan.

Outfield

Jose Bautista FD 4300 DK 4100
Opponent - TEX (Griffin) Park - @TOR
FD - 13.85 DK - 10.4
Jose Bautista is a guy to always consider penciling into your lineups, and tonight is no different. He will be going up against A.J Griffin, which sets him up with a sweet matchup. Griffin has struggled through the course of his career to keep the ball down in the zone, as he owns a 45.2 FB% and a 31.5 hard%. We all know the power Bautista has, so don't be surprised if Bautista takes advantage of one of Griffin's pitches that he leaves up in the zone.
Curtis Granderson FD 3600 DK 4500
Opponent - ATL (Foltynewicz) Park - @NYM
FD - 14.45 DK - 11.26
Michael Conforto FD 4300 DK 3800
Opponent - ATL (Foltynewicz) Park - @NYM
FD - 14.44 DK - 11.15
I promise this is the last time I am picking on the Braves! What can I say -- I love all of the Mets left-handed bats going up against Foltynewicz. I know I sound like a broken record, but he owns a .401 wOBA agaist left-handed batters and all of the Mets' lefties have been off to a strong start. Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto are very similar to Lucas Duda. They all have tremendous power! Conforto has a .288 ISO and Granderson has a .224 ISO. Both of these guys are great plays and I don't like one more than the other.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis FD 2000 DK 3500
Opponent - LAA (Weaver) Park - @MIL
FD - 8.75 DK - 6.93
Domingo Santana FD 2600 DK 3300
Opponent - LAA (Weaver) Park - @MIL
FD - 11.27 DK - 8.74
I'm not 100% sure on how the starting lineup is going to look for the Brewers, but our projection system really likes Domingo Santana and Kirk Nieuwenhuis. They will be going up against Jered Weaver, who struggles striking out batters, with his velocity and command. He owns a 14.6 K%, since 2015, so look for whoever gets the nod to put the ball in play. Between these two guys, I give the edge to Kirk, as he draws the L/R matchup. It will be interesting to see what the Craig Counsell decides to do with his outfielders, so make sure to look for their starting lineups prior to 7:05 ET.
Also considered: Matt Holliday, Josh Reddick and Mitch Moreland

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