DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Friday 5/28/21

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Pitchers

Gerrit Cole FD - P 12200 DK - SP 11200
Opponent - DET (Casey Mize) Park - DET
FD - 45.94 DK - 26.02

Let's start right at the top tonight with a Top 3 pitcher in the game who also draws the best matchup as a -230 favorite against the Tigers. After getting roughed up by the Rangers, Cole rebounded nicely in his last start holding the White Sox to just four hits and no runs while striking out seven over seven innings. On the season, he has held opponents to two or fewer runs in nine of his 10 starts(1.81 ERA/2.23 xFIP) while striking out 39% of batters he has faced. He is, by far, the highest-rated pitcher in our system tonight, and with the amount of value we have seen this season it shouldn't be an issue fitting him into our lineups.

Ian Anderson FD - P 9000 DK - SP 9700
Opponent - NYM (Taijuan Walker) Park - NYM
FD - 42.34 DK - 22.39

I don't blame you if you decide to fade Cole and his enormous price tag as it really limits the bats you can target. The good news is that we do have other, cheaper options and Ian Anderson is one that really stands out. He has been consistent all year with a 2.82 ERA/3.27 xFIP, hasn't given up more than six hits in a start, and has flashed some "Ace" upside holding opponents to one or fewer runs in five of his nine starts. What I like the most is the matchup against the Mets who rank dead last in runs scored over the last two weeks while striking out 28% of the time. Anderson is close to the top in PTS/$ rankings and is in play in all formats.

Catcher/First Base

José Abreu FD - 1B 3900 DK - 1B 5200
Opponent - BAL (Matt Harvey) Park - CHW
FD - 12.85 DK - 9.72
Andrew Vaughn FD - 1B 2500 DK - 1B/OF 2500
Opponent - BAL (Matt Harvey) Park - CHW
FD - 9.41 DK - 7.15

The White Sox offense has cooled off a bit lately but is back in the #1 spot in terms of implied runs tonight. They open as -210 favorites against Matt Harvey who has really struggled giving up 7+ hits and 5+ earned runs in three straight starts. Let's start with the reigning American League MVP who is really starting to heat up in May as he entered Thursday night with a .434 wOBA and 184 wRC+ with 20 RBI.

For Vaughn, it's all about the value as he continues to be massively underpriced in relation to his talent level and increasing opportunity as he climbs up the lineup card. You can also use both players in a White Sox stack as Vaughn is also eligible as an outfielder on both sites.

Paul Goldschmidt FD - 1B 3100 DK - 1B 3900
Opponent - ARI (Madison Bumgarner) Park - ARI
FD - 12.24 DK - 9.21

I get this isn't the Paul Goldschmidt of 2019 and prior but there are some signs of life as he went into Thursday's game with hits in six of his last seven games with three doubles but it's the advanced stats that really screamed a breakout, at least in the power department. Looking at MLB Statcast, he is 9th in average exit velocity(92.8 mph), 11th in Hard Hit %(52.8%), and 25th in Barrels per plate appearance(8.4). Best of all, he comes as the 20th and 15th most expensive option at the position on DraftKings and FanDuel which is too cheap.

Second Base

Tommy Edman FD - 2B 2700 DK - 2B/SS 4800
Opponent - ARI (Madison Bumgarner) Park - ARI
FD - 10.39 DK - 8.08

The Cardinals give us a ton of value almost every night and it starts with their leadoff hitter Tommy Edman. The upside has been somewhat limited due to the bats behind him(Goldy/Arenado) not quite finding their stroke yet but he has provided a nice floor recently with hits in eight of his last nine games with five extra-base hits. He is a switch hitter and has also been better against lefties with a .383 wOBA, 147 wRC+, and .250 ISO. He is in play in all formats, especially on FanDuel under $3K.

Josh Rojas FD 2300 DK 3600
Opponent - STL (Johan Oviedo) Park - STL
FD - 9.89 DK - 7.6

It has been a very solid start to the season for Rojas who enters the night with a .291/.358/.480 slash line and sits third on the team with 25 runs scored. Even with Ketel Marte back in the lineup, Rojas has pushed his way up to the leadoff spot and if he is there again tonight as projected he will be one of the top PTS/$ plays on the slate and a great source of value to fit Gerrit Cole in cash games.

Shortstop

Marcus Semien FD 3800 DK 5300
Opponent - CLE (Eli Morgan) Park - CLE
FD - 11.28 DK - 8.55
Bo Bichette FD 3500 DK 5700
Opponent - CLE (Eli Morgan) Park - CLE
FD - 12.06 DK - 9.26

After taking a couple of days off paying up at the position, I am right back there on Friday and can't resist talking about the Blue Jays right now. The pitching has dealt with a ton of injuries this season but no worries as the offense have put the team on their backs and it starts at the top. With George Springer on the IL, Semien has been the everyday leadoff hitter and is having a tremendous start to the season with a .385 wOBA, 147 wRC+, and has tallied 30+ RBI and runs scored. Bichette hits right behind him and while he hasn't been as consistent(.349 wOBA)/123 wRC+), he has been better over the last couple of weeks with hits in 14 of 17 games with six multi-hit efforts. They come very pricey on DraftKings and are likely limited to GPP only if targeting Cole at SP but on FanDuel the prices are much more fair putting them in play in all formats vs. a rookie pitcher making his debut.

Adalberto Mondesi FD 3000 DK 2800
Opponent - MIN (Randy Dobnak) Park - MIN
FD - 9.57 DK - 7.42

Mondesi is back after missing close to two months to start the season and looks pretty good picking up hits in two of three games including two doubles in his debut. What stands out is the price which is still suppressed on both sites but I doubt it will be for much longer as Mondesi is a very talented player and core piece of the Royals lineup. He likely makes his way back up the lineup where he has spent most of his young career and if it's tonight he will be a top PTS/$ play. If not, he is still in play as a punt to help fit top pitching and other top bats.

Third Base

Austin Riley FD - 3B 3500 DK - 3B 4100
Opponent - NYM (Taijuan Walker) Park - NYM
FD - 7.89 DK - 5.95

I have been pumping Riley's tires for a while now and while his FanDuel price has caught up to the breakout, DraftKings is still lagging behind. And what a breakout it has been as he enters the night with a .313/.407/.550 slash line with 10 home runs, 22 RBI, and 28 runs scored. The matchup doesn't jump off the page as Taijuan Walker has been above average this season but the good news is that Riley has crushed righties to the tune of a .410 wOBA. You know what to do.

Also Consider: Nolan Arenado(STL), who crushes lefties(.411 wOBA/185 wRC+), to fit with the three Cards I listed above or Ty France(SEA) as a low-end value play who has hits in five of his last six games and gets a plus matchup vs. Jordan Lyles

Outfield

Mitch Haniger FD 3300 DK 4900
Opponent - TEX (Jordan Lyles) Park - TEX
FD - 10.99 DK - 8.28

If loading up on pitching tonight, the Mariners are my top PTS/$ value stack in a plus matchup. They go up against Jodan Lyles who gives up a ton of scoring opportunities with an ugly 1.54 WHIP and has been punished for it with a 5.94 ERA/4.74 xFIP and has given up at least one home run in eight of 10 starts. Haniger started the year as the leadoff hitter before top prospect Jarred Kelenic was called up and he is now rolling in the two-hole and has since picked up hits in 10 of 13 games with six doubles and three home runs. All things considered, he is in play in all formats.

Anthony Santander FD 3100 DK 3000
Opponent - CHW (Dallas Keuchel) Park - CHW
FD - 8.9 DK - 6.78

I talked about Keuchel as a possible value pitcher but also mentioned he doesn't K anyone which does open him up to being hit hard at times. The Orioles are not my favorite team but if you need some value in the outfield, Santander and his nine-game hit streak stand out like a sore thumb at $3K on DraftKings. He is also a switch hitter that has been slightly better against lefties.

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