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We have a monster 15-game slate to break down today, and there are some great options across the board. There are a few high-priced pitchers on the slate you should be looking to pay up for, along with plenty of bats you want to jam into your lineups.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/22/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
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 @DFS_Tom.
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DraftKings Starting Pitchers
Chris Sale - P, BOS @ TB (DK - $13,100)
Chris Sale is the most expensive pitcher on the slate, and I give him the edge over Cole for a few reasons, so let's take a look. Sale has pitched seven or more innings in three of his last four starts, compared to Cole's one game at seven or more innings in his last four starts. That might not seem like a big deal, but when you are paying up for a pitcher in this price range, you want to know they are going deep into the game, and not get pulled early. Sale is up against the Rays, who have a 23.5% strikeout rate vs left-handed pitcher this season, which is 11th worst in the league. This is a nice positive park shift in Sale's favor, as he is in Tampa and away from Fenway Park. Sale has racked up nine or more strikeouts in three of his last four starts, including two games with 12 or more.
Caleb Smith - P, MIA @ NYM (DK - $6,400)
Smith is a cheaper option at pitcher, who has a few factors going in his favor tonight. First off, he is up against the Mets, who have a 26.7% strikeout rate vs left-handed pitchers, which is third worst in the league. The first time Smith faced the Mets this season, he put up seven strikeouts in five innings, while allowing three earned runs. If he is able to limit the earned runs and squeeze out one more inning, we could be looking at some serious value for a pitcher who is under $7K. Great park factor in his favor should allow him to limit the damage.
DraftKings Infielders
Josh Bell - 1B, PIT @ CIN (DK - $4,100)
Bell and the Pirates will be in Cincinnati to face Matt Harvey, who will be making his first start at home for the Reds. This is one of the best hitter's parks in the league, and with how bad Harvey is, this likely won't end well. Bell comes in with a .314 wOBA and a .138 ISO vs right-handed pitchers this season, which is good, but not great, so use him in a stack compared to solo.
Jed Lowrie - 2B, OAK vs SEA (DK - $4,200)
Lowrie comes into this game with a .424 wOBA and a .273 ISO vs right-handed pitchers this season, which are truly great numbers for a second baseman. He is up against Mike Leake, who is giving up a .363 wOBA to lefties, along with 1.01 HR/9 this season. Some good numbers to pick on and Oakland can make a sneakier stack tonight.
Travis Shaw - 3B, MIL vs ARI (DK - $4,500)
Shaw is an absolute monster when facing right-handed pitchers this season, specifically at home this season as he has a .421 wOBA and a .326 ISO. Those are some massive numbers and we could easily be looking at a home run tonight, as he has one last night, and the last time he faced Matt Koch, back on the 16th of this month. Lot of things lining up for him tonight and really like a Brewers stack in GPPs.
Miguel Rojas - SS, MIA @ NYM (DK - $3,100)
Rojas offers a bit of salary relief on this slate and despite his lower price, he has some solid numbers as well. This season he has a .326 wOBA and a .160 ISO vs right-handed pitchers, which are solid numbers for a player on one of the weaker teams in the league. He has two home runs in his last 10 games and had one home run when he faced Zack Wheeler earlier this season #BvP.
DraftKings Outfielders
Mookie Betts - OF, BOS @ TB (DK - $6,000)
Betts is the most expensive hitter on the entire slate, but yeah...he is crushing it right now. Over his last 10 games, he has two home runs, six doubles, five RBIs, and 17 total hits. With that kind of production, you should be looking to get him into your lineups really anytime he is on the slate. Now his production will cool down at some point, but if he is this hot, you don't want to pass him up.
Leonys Martin - OF, DET @ MIN (DK - $3,800)
Martin is back from his injury, and even though he is cold right now, he has a good opportunity to bounce back. He comes into this game with a .384 wOBA vs right-handed pitchers and has hit four of his five home runs against them this season. He is up against Lance Lynn, who is giving up a horrendous, .446 wOBA to lefties this season, along with 2.09 HR/9.
