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We've got a busy Saturday on tap for us on this Cinco de Mayo with four slates on DraftKings. All thirty teams are playing today, with the main slate starting at 7 pm eastern.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/5/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays across all slates.
You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @TroyKlauder.
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DraftKings Starting Pitchers
Charlie Morton, HOU (@ ARI) - $10,900
Morton is pitching like an ace this season and it doesn't take much more evidence than his last start to prove it. Against the Yankees, one of the most loaded lineups in the league, he struck out 10 over seven innings with just one earned run. Morton has an outstanding 31.0% K-rate on the year and just a 2.82 xFIP. He'll be in a great pitcher's ballpark against the Diamondbacks, as the newly installed humidor has turned the park to a very pitcher-friendly environment. It also helps that he's got one of the best lineups in baseball supporting him, so he has a good shot at landing the win.
Steven Matz, NYM (vs COL) - $6,200
Matz has had his fair share of struggles this season, but he's still got a strong 27.4% K-rate with a 3.81 SIERA, so he's got some positive regression on the way. Matz gets a fantastic matchup on Saturday against a feeble Rockies lineup that has just a .290 wOBA when they're away from Coors Field, ranking 26th in the league. They also strikeout 26.9% of the time against left-handed pitching, which is the fourth-highest mark in all of baseball. Matz is at an insanely cheap price and I recommend him in GPP contests for his high upside.
DraftKings Infielders
C - Tyler Flowers, ATL (vs. SF) - $2,600
Flowers is back from the disabled list and is way too cheap for the kind of numbers he put up last season. He was particularly effective against lefties in 2017, putting up a 127 wRC+ against them. He's in a hitter's park against lefty Ty Blach, who has just a 12.4% K-rate with a 9.3% walk-rate - an ideal pitcher to target tonight.
1B - Cody Bellinger, LAD (@ SD) - $4,200
There's never a bad time to get Bellinger into your lineups, especially at this price, but he's even more valuable on Saturday because of the special circumstances surrounding the Dodgers-Padres matchup. This game is being played in Monterrey, Mexico, which has an elevation of 1,772 feet. A high altitude means that lots of fly balls will turn into home runs. Padres starter Bryan Mitchell is already one of the worst starters on tonight's slate, with a 6.07 ERA through six starts, and the ballpark makes Bellinger an even better play.
2B - Cesar Hernandez, PHI (vs. ATL) - $3,900
Hernandez has quietly been putting together a nice season for the Phillies, putting up an extraordinary .406 OBP with a 17.3% walk-rate. He's in a great position to score some runs as the leadoff man for Philadelphia against Tanner Roark, who has a 4.74 FIP. Citizens Bank Park is a hitter's paradise, so the Phils should have a big day in the warm temperatures.
3B - Rafael Devers, BOS (@ TEX) - $4,200
Devers has crushed left-handed pitching throughout his time in the majors, as he's got a career .346/.404/.543 line against southpaws. He's facing Cole Hamels, who has some regression on the way, as evidenced by his 5.27 Deserved Run Average this season. Hamels also has a 1.82 HR/9 this year, so don't be surprised if Devers hits a home run tonight.
SS - Eduardo Escobar, MIN (@ CHW) - $3,800
It's tough to find a shortstop batting fifth at a price like this, which is what makes Escobar so valuable. Escobar has a 137 wRC+ this year and is in an ideal spot to rack up some RBIs against Hector Santiago, who is making just his second start of the year after putting up a 5.63 ERA last season.
DraftKings Outfielders
Gregory Polanco, PIT (@ MIL) - $3,700
Polanco is a great player to buy low on, as his batting average is being held down by a .215 BABIP, and he's got a career high 12.2% walk-rate. Miller Park is one of the best hitting environments in baseball, and Brewers starter Jhoulys Chacin has been getting lit up this season to the tune of a 4.54 ERA. Polanco is still batting second in the Pirates order, so he can give you plenty of production on Saturday.
Lorenzo Cain, MIL (vs. PIT) - $4,100
LoCain is another hitter who will be reaping the benefits of Miller Park as the Brewers leadoff man. It's insane that Cain isn't priced at much higher than he is, as Cain has a 138 wRC+ with four homers and eight steals this season. He's a five-category fantasy contributor, so he can rack up points for you in a variety of ways.
Leonys Martin, DET (@ KC) - $4,000
It's no coincidence that I've written up so many leadoff hitters, as they get more plate appearances than any other hitters, giving them more opportunities to score some points. Martin has made some significant plate approach improvements this season, as he's now walking more and striking out less than ever in his career. I love him in this matchup against Jason Hammel, who has just a 12.0% K-rate.
