DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Saturday 5/27/23

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Pitchers

Framber Valdez FD 11600 DK 10700
Opponent - OAK (Undecided) Park - OAK
FD - 33.31 DK - 17.45

On a slate lacking top pitching, Valdez stands out in a big way checking all the boxes. First of all, he is coming off a complete-game shutout against these very A's in his last start and has tallied 40+ DK/55+ FD points in two of his last three trips to the bump. He not only gives us a ton of innings(6+ in 8 of 10 starts), he has also provided a ton of upside with seven or more strikeouts in four straight and six of his last seven starts. The price is very reasonable considering the elite matchup and lack of top options putting Valdez in a tier of his own on Saturday and in play in all formats.

Josiah Gray FD 8900 DK 7200
Opponent - KC (Brady Singer) Park - KC
FD - 32.52 DK - 16.9

The system prefers paying up for both pitchers on DraftKings tonight but if you are looking for a value option, consider Josiah Gray. The price has come down after back-to-back starts allowing just one earned run and he now gets a terrific matchup against a Royals team that is bottom five in overall run-scoring and bottom three in wOBA(.282) and wRC+(74) against right-handed pitching. The walks can be an issue and the main reason for the gap in xFIP(4.93) and ERA(2.65) but more good news as KC walks the fourth-fewest so far this season. All things considered, Gray is my top value arm tonight.

Catcher/First Base

Joey Meneses FD 2800 DK 3200
Opponent - KC (Brady Singer) Park - KC
FD - 11.04 DK - 8.45

We have a very interesting slate in that almost all of the top offences are in tougher matchups while we get some value teams in great spots. This will make it much easier to load up on starting pitching and one of those value teams that make it easier to manage that build is the Nationals. As a team, they have been riding high lately(.364 wOBA/127 wRC+ last 14) and now get a plus matchup against Singer and his 7.48 ERA and 58% hard contract rate against. For Meneses, he has been very consistent lately with hits in 15 of his last 17 games while hitting .375 during that stretch and driving in 18 runs. At these prices, I will have exposure in all formats.

Second Base

Zach McKinstry FD 2700 DK 3900
Opponent - CHW (Jesse Scholtens) Park - CHW
FD - 10.34 DK - 7.95

After spending nearly seven years in the Dodgers system with a few appearances in the big leagues, McKinstry has been a pleasant surprise for the rebuilding Tigers. He has played his way into the leadoff role and is getting on base at a 43% rate since taking over back in late April and comes in with hits in 12 of his last 14 starts for a .397 wOBA/158 wRC+. He and the Tigers' offence could be a nice source of value on this slate facing a rookie pitcher in Scholtens and a bullpen with the 2nd worst ERA(5.21) behind the A's. I will have exposure to McKinstry in all formats.

Also Consider: Luis Garcia(WAS) as another value option who comes in red-hot hitting .395 with a .413 OBP over the last two weeks while hitting 2nd for the Nats

Shortstop

J.P. Crawford FD 2900 DK 3800
Opponent - PIT (Vince Velasquez) Park - PIT
FD - 9.78 DK - 7.53

The value continues on this early slate with J.P. Crawford who has settled in as the Mariners' leadoff hitter going back to early May. Since taking over the role, his stats haven't jumped off the page but he been consistent with hits in 11 of 15 games with five multi-hit efforts and faces Vince Velasquez who sits with an xFIP(4.50) nearly a run and a half higher than his ERA(3.06) and has struggled more against left-handed batters. Fire up Crawford in all formats.

Also Consider: Bo Bichette(TOR) who is back down in the low $5K range, leads the AL in average, and has hits in six straight with four multi-hit efforts

Third Base

Alex Bregman FD 3000 DK 4800
Opponent - OAK (Undecided) Park - OAK
FD - 1.62 DK - 1.21

Overall, it has been a disappointing start for Bregman who is hitting just under .220 but we are going to want plenty of exposure to the Astros who are in a great spot on this early slate. The bats have finally started to heat up as they sit Top 10 in wOBA and wRC+ over the last two weeks and they now face a bullpen game from the A's and they not only have the worst bullpen in the majors but their xFIP is nearly a full run higher than the next worst team. For Bregman, he has also started to heat up with hits in eight of his last 11 while getting on base in 10 of those with two doubles and two home runs. He is our top play at third base today.

Also Consider: Josh Jung(TEX) who doesn't get as good of matchup as Bregman but has been scorching hot with hits in nine straight and 13 of his last 14 games(.368/.410/.596 slash line) with seven multi-hit efforts

Outfield

Riley Greene FD 2900 DK 4800
Opponent - CHW (Jesse Scholtens) Park - CHW
FD - 10.37 DK - 7.99

If you told me earlier in the season there would be an article where the bats listed were mostly Tigers and Nationals I would have called you crazy. Well, here we are as those teams are top value landing spots for me on this early slate. Riley Greene was the Tiger's 1st round pick(5th overall) back in 2019 and after a slow start is proving he is a key piece in the rebuild. During the month of May, he has tallied hits in 17 of 21 games with an elite .373/.441/.578 slash line. He and the Tigers also get a plus matchup and is in play in all formats, especially on FanDuel where he remains under $3K.

Also Consider: Lane Thomas(WAS) who hits leadoff for the Nats and has hits in 11 straight with four doubles and four home runs

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