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DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Monday 5/30/22(Main Slate)
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Pitchers
Walker Buehler FD - P 10300 DK - SP 9200
Opponent - PIT (Zach Thompson) Park - LAD
FD - 46.39 DK - 24.85
The pitching on either slate was suspect today with a lack of top options and the ones we do get are either struggling or in a tough matchup. On the main slate, Buehler easily checks the most boxes but I can't say as I am overly excited about the price tag. While he has been consistent to start the year holding opponents to two or fewer earned runs in seven of nine starts(2.91), he has a sub 20% K rate. Tonight, I am willing to overlook that lack of upside given the matchup against the Pirates who are bottom three in almost every statistical category. Fire up Buehler in all formats.
Drew Rasmussen FD - P 8900 DK - SP 10100
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 31.84 DK - 17.48
It's a very similar story for Rasmussen tonight and while I am not a fan of the price tag on DraftKings, he comes at an excellent value on FanDuel tonight. He was fully converted into a starter ahead of the 2022 season and has flourished with a 2.68 ERA/3.11 xFIP, has won five of his last six starts, and struck out 14 over his last two. The only issue I have here is the matchup as the Rangers come in red-hot with a 126+ wRC+/.189 ISO over the last two weeks but on the positive side, they have struck out at a 25% rate in that time and have been worse against righties. Fire up Rasmussen in all formats.
Catcher/First Base
Pete Alonso FD 4100 DK 5300
Opponent - WSH (Erick Fedde) Park - WSH
FD - 12.59 DK - 9.4
Freddie Freeman FD 4100 DK 5500
Opponent - PIT (Zach Thompson) Park - PIT
FD - 12.51 DK - 9.43
Decisions, decisions, decisions. That is the case at first base tonight as even with a small slate, we have a ton of options whether wanting to pay up or pay down. Let's start at the top with Alonso who has been scorching hot over the last week and half with hits in eight of 11 games with six multi-hit efforts, and four home runs for an average of 13.2 DK/17.8 FD points per game. He gets a terrific matchup and is in play in all formats.
This is a 1A/1B situation at the top tonight and while Freeman hasn't been as productive in the short term, he is one of the most consistent bats in the big leagues. He is still looking for the power stroke(4 HR) but comes in hitting .306 with a .381 wOBA/149 wRC+ so I am not at all concerned about paying top dollar for Freeman in this matchup against Zach Thompson.
Edwin Ríos FD 2600 DK 3700
Opponent - PIT (Zach Thompson) Park - PIT
FD - 10.56 DK - 7.87
This one is interesting in that on DraftKings you have to choose between Freeman or Rios as both are 1B eligible only at the moment. He strikes out a ton(38%) but has been productive for fantasy lately with five home runs, 14 RBI and an average of 9.4 DK/12.6 FD points per game going back to May 9(14 games). It is nice to have options with a top projected offence but Rios's best value tonight is on FanDuel where he is multi-position eligible(1B/3B).
Second Base
Ketel Marte FD 3200 DK 4500
Opponent - ATL (Spencer Strider) Park - ATL
FD - 10.27 DK - 7.86
Marte got off to a very slow start in 2022 hitting just .146 in April but things have sure started to turn around for the switch-hitting second basemen. He enters Monday with an 11-game hit streak and has hits in 21 of his last 25 games going back to April 29(.340 average). We are still waiting for the power to emerge and he also has a lack of RBI opportunities on the Diamondbacks but is a consistent PTS/$ producer at these prices. If not paying up for Trevor Story tonight, Ketel Marte is a great option in the mid-tier on both sites.
César Hernández FD 2800 DK 3500
Opponent - NYM (David Peterson) Park - NYM
FD - 8.09 DK - 6.21
The middle infield, specifically second base, is a great spot to roster some value and tonight, one of my top PTS/$ values is Cesar Hernandez. Outside of price, he checks two other major boxes for me starting with form as the Nats leadoff hitter comes into Monday with hits in nine straight and 12 of his last 13 games including six-multi hit efforts, six doubles, and nine runs scored. Second, he is a switch hitter and much more productive against lefties with a .358 wOBA/128 wRC+(.295 wOBA/87 wRC+ vs RH pitching). All things considered, Hernandez is one of my top values on this slate.
Shortstop
Xander Bogaerts FD 3900 DK 5400
Opponent - BAL (Tyler Wells) Park - BAL
FD - 13.05 DK - 9.92
I have yet to touch on my top stack, the Red Sox, but buckle up as the floodgates are now open. After a brutal start to the season, they have come on like gangbusters lately winning nine of their last 12 games led by an offence that has scored an average of 8.2 runs per game. Bogaerts has been a huge part of the surge as he enters the night with an elite .328/.395/.480 slash line on the season and has four extra-base hits in his last four games. The price is close to peaking here but the good news is that he is the third most expensive shortstop on this slate(DK) despite being one of the most consistent hitters in the game. Lock and load in all formats.
Luis Guillorme FD 2000 DK 3300
Opponent - WSH (Erick Fedde) Park - WSH
FD - 9.18 DK - 7.05
This one is a bit speculative as both Jeff Mcneil and Brandon Nimmo sat out Sunday with minor injuries and remain questionable to start the week. Either way, Guillorme may get another chance to leadoff after doing so in both Saturday and Sunday's games while recording multi-hit efforts in both games and reaching base six times. He also provides us versatility with his min price as he is available to roster at every infield position between the two sites. Stay tuned for starting lineup as he is an elite value if back in the leadoff spot.
Third Base
Rafael Devers FD 4200 DK 6000
Opponent - BAL (Tyler Wells) Park - BAL
FD - 14.6 DK - 11.03
The Red Sox love continues as there is no way we can ignore Devers MVP form to start the season. Not only has he reached base in 44 of 48 games but enters Monday with an eye-popping .345/.376/.611 slash line and a major reason the Red Sox have put themselves back in the AL East race as we approach June. Tonight, they sit atop the projected run rankings as they face Tyler Wells who isn't walking anyone but also isn't striking anyone out(16% K rate) and enters with a 4.30 ERA/4.45 xFIP. The options are fairly limited at third base on the main slate putting more emphasis on paying up for Devers in all formats.
Mike Brosseau FD 2300 DK 3100
Opponent - CHC (Matt Swarmer) Park - CHC
FD - 9.49 DK - 7.13
If you just can't quite get up to the enormous price on Devers there are some excellent value options at the position. For me, Brosseau tops the list as the Brewers will face left Drew Smyly in game two of the double-header and he has been money against southpaws with a .372 wOBA/138 wRC+/.200 ISO in the split this season. Against lefties, he almost always gets the bump up the batting lineup as well and if there again, will be one of our top PTS/$ plays on the slate.
Outfield
J.D. Martinez FD 4000 DK 5700
Opponent - BAL (Tyler Wells) Park - BAL
FD - 12.54 DK - 9.49
Enrique Hernández FD 3000 DK 3800
Opponent - BAL (Tyler Wells) Park - BAL
FD - 10.86 DK - 8.19
Oh, you thought I was done with the Red Sox. Seriously, though, they are in a great spot tonight and the best part about them is the fact they have plays at all price points and that is especially true in the outfield. Let's start with J.D. Martinez who may be still looking for the power stroke but in the meantime, he is leading all of baseball with an elite .379 average and is #2 in wOBA(.444) and #3 in wRC+(195) on the season.
Up next we have Kike Hernandez who the sites have failed to raise the price on despite him hitting leadoff on the hottest team in baseball. Adding to the odd price is the fact Hernandez has hits in 10 straight and 16 of his last 17 games. All things considered, he is my top PTS/$ cash game play for the Red Sox tonight and an excellent starting point to a top-of-the-order stack.
Austin Hays FD 3000 DK 3700
Opponent - BOS (Rich Hill) Park - BOS
FD - 10.57 DK - 8.13
I am fully expecting the over to hit in this game and while the Red Sox likely do most of the damage, I think the O's get score some runs against Rich Hill, as well. There are multiple directions we can go in the outfield as all three of them hit in the top four of the lineup but I will go with Hays who has been the best of the bunch in the short term. He comes in hot with hits in 10 straight and 11 of his last 12 games(.341 average) with two home runs and 10 RBI(.397 wOBA/164 wRC+). He is in play on both sites but his best value comes on DraftKings in the sub $4K range.
