DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Saturday 5/6/23

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Pitchers

Alex Cobb FD 8300 DK 9000
Opponent - MIL (Colin Rea) Park - MIL
FD - 34.99 DK - 19.06

It is definitely not the best slate for pitching so we will start with one of the system's top plays in terms of PTS/$ value. Alex Cobb may only have one win on the season but is off to a fantastic start posting a 2.43 ERA backed up by a 2.98 xFIP and while he isn't an elite K guy, he has struck out seven or more batters in two of his last three starts. He comes into this one as a -174 home favourite facing a Brewers team that is league-average vs righties(.326 wOBA/103 wRC+) but has really struggled over the last two weeks with a combined .290 wOBA and 78 wRC+. Fire up Cobb in all formats.

Also Consider: Spencer Strider(ATL) who has ridiculous strikeout upside(41% K rate) but comes with a  sky-high price tag and faces an Orioles team that is 6th in runs scored on the season

Catcher/First Base

Vinnie Pasquantino FD 3300 DK 3600
Opponent - OAK (Ken Waldichuk) Park - OAK
FD - 15.07 DK - 11.4
Salvador Perez FD 3400 DK 4200
Opponent - OAK (Ken Waldichuk) Park - OAK
FD - 13.3 DK - 10.14

Despite sitting with the two worst records in the majors, the Royals and A's lead the way in terms of Vegas total(10.0) today after combing for 18 runs last night. The Royals are higher on our projections today sitting at #1 in implied runs and they have earned it scoring an average of 6.3 runs per game over the last week. The Pasquatch has played a huge part in the offence recently with hits in five straight, including four doubles and a home run, averaging 14 DK/18.9 FD points per game. It's a lefty/lefty matchup but I am not worried as he has tallied an impressive .397 wOBA/152 wRC+ in the split. For Perez, he is one of the highest power upside catchers in the game who is starting to really heat up. He comes into Saturday with hits in eight of his last nine games including four multi-hit efforts, four home runs, and averaged 12.6 DK/16.8 FD points per game. At their prices, I will be stacking 3-4 Royals in my lineup in all formats.

Also Consider: Ryan Noda(OAK) on the other side of this game as a punt play who is likely back hitting 2nd for the A's or Matt Olson(ATL) if wanting to pay up as he gets a great matchup vs a pitcher who struggles more against left-handed bats

Second Base

Ozzie Albies FD 3500 DK 4300
Opponent - BAL (Kyle Bradish) Park - BAL
FD - 9.97 DK - 7.67

The Braves have a very deep lineup and that has Ozzie Albies down in the lineup but the good news is that we aren't paying premium prices for switch-hitting second basemen. More good news as he comes in scorching hot with hits in five straight including four straight multi-hit efforts, five doubles, and two home runs. He and the Braves also get a plus matchup against Kyle Bradish who has given up 14 hits and 10 earned runs over his last two starts. Albies is my top play at second on this slate.

Also Consider: Mauricio Dubon(SFG) as a top value play who should be back in the leadoff spot for the Astros and has been very solid hitting .292 on the season with 20 runs scored

Shortstop

Bobby Witt Jr. FD 3500 DK 4800
Opponent - OAK (Ken Waldichuk) Park - OAK
FD - 16.07 DK - 12.44

As you can probably already tell, the system is very high on stacking the Royals for a second straight day and it makes sense as they lead all teams in implied runs. While getting a win is rare in KC this year, the offence has been a highlight scoring nearly 6.5 runs per game lately. Bobby Witt is the franchise player they will build around and there are multiple things to like about him today starting with the trading form as he has hits in three straight with a double, triple, home run and double-digit fantasy points in each. What's better is the fact the price keeps dropping despite and elite matchup. Lock and load in all formats.

Also Consider: Zach Neto(LAA) who has hits in four of six games since taking over as the Angels leadoff hitter. He makes a nice punt play if looking to get to Strider on the mound

Third Base

Emmanuel Rivera FD 2600 DK 3000
Opponent - WSH (MacKenzie Gore) Park - WSH
FD - 11.29 DK - 8.62

If not paying up for Devers in a lefty/lefty matchup or Austin Riley, who is much better against lefties, the position is pretty thin. With that, I will look to value and opportunity and Emmanuel Rivera checks a lot of boxes today. He got called up in the midst of a 12-game hit streak in AAA and has hits in all six starts in the majors. He not only comes very chap on both sites but has also been hitting second in the lineup while the D-Backs sit top 3 in implied runs on Saturday. I will have exposure to Rivera in all formats.

Also Consider: Josh Jung(TEX) as a value play on DraftKings and GPP play on FanDuel. What he lacks in consistency overall, he makes up for with huge upside against lefties as he enters with a .544 wOBA and 257 wRC+ in the split so far in 2023

Outfield

Masataka Yoshida FD 3700 DK 4900
Opponent - PHI (Bailey Falter) Park - PHI
FD - 12.77 DK - 9.67

Hard not to start with Yoshida who has been the hottest hitter in baseball over the past couple of weeks as he finds his way in the major leagues. He enters Saturday with a 15-game hitting streak and during that stretch, leads the league with an insane .521 wOBA, 235 wRC+, and 18 runs batted in! While you may think the lefty/lefty matchup would hurt, it is quite the opposite as he has posted a .386 wOBA/143 wRC+ in the split while Falter has given up an ugly .444 wOBA and .611 SLG to lefty hitters. Fire up Yoshida in all formats.

Also Consider: The Phillies outfield of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos. Castellanos is the best value and has been more consistent lately with hits in three of his last four. Schwarber hits leadoff and has endless power but is hitting just .183 on the season. Harper just returned from injury with no rehab start, no spring training but even with four hits in his last two games is GPP only for me today. 

For value, we can turn to Lourdes Gurriel(ARI) who is starting to heat up with a .391 wOBA/145 wRC+ over the last two weeks or Edward Olivares(KC) as a punt play who is projected to hit 2nd again for KC who is 2nd in implied runs

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