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Hello there, MLB DFS grinders! We have a split Thursday slate and the focus on this article will on the four/five-game early only slate for both DraftKings and FanDuel. With the Mets and Colorado game being included on DK, they decided to make their slate a five-game slate but the only interest I have in that particular game would be Marcus Stroman. Outside of that, I am planning on drilling down and focusing on those other four games.
While most of our MLB DFS coverage here at RotoBaller is geared towards the main slate, I wanted to give you some of my favorite pitchers and bats for these early games that will help you cash in tournaments and cash game contests. I'll highlight my favorite pitching options here first and then give you some hitters at each price tier to consider as well as my favorite teams to stack up! You can read our DraftKings DFS lineup picks for the main slate and FanDuel DFS lineup picks for the main slate as well.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel and DraftKings early only slate at 12:10 PM on 5/27/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also check out today's MLB DFS lineup picks for the main slate here, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Let's get to it!
MLB DFS Pitchers
Shane Bieber @ DET ($10,800 DK, $11,300 FD)
Bieber is the top option on both sites so paying up for him would be the move, especially in cash game formats. The Tigers as a team have the third-most strikeouts against right-handed pitching and Bieber is generating a 34.3% outside the zone swinging percentage and is getting ahead in the count over 55% of the time. Bieber has had at least six strikeouts in every start this season and in his lone start against the Tigers, he went six innings while giving up three runs on five total hits and striking out 12 so there is a high ceiling for this matchup.
Pablo Lopez vs. PHI ( $9,400 DK, $8,900 FD)
Another option to consider on this slate is Pablo Lopez. Lopez will be pitching in his home park down in Miami which has generally been viewed as a pitcher's park and gets a lineup that is missing its most dangerous bat in Bryce Harper. The Phillies lineup is generating a 25% strikeout percentage against right-handed pitchers and has a team ISO of just .146 against this handedness. Lopez looks to be in good form right now as he is coming off his best start of the season where he went seven innings and struck out eight batters while allowing just four hits to the Mets so riding the hot hand and good form could be the way to go on this slate.
Others to consider: Matt Boyd vs. Cleveland
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MLB DFS "Bats Worth Paying For"
Willson Contreras – C, CHC @ PIT ($5,200 DK, $2,900 FD)
Contreras looks to be a steal over on FD whereas on DK he is certainly a bat that you will need some salary for but regardless, he is one to really look at paying up for and rostering. Contreras is hitting .348 against lefty pitchers this season and is tied with Kris Bryant for the most home runs off of a lefty pitcher this season with five. Contreras profiles well against Anderson and has great numbers against his cutter as he has an XwOBA of .710 against that specific pitch type.
Jake Cronenworth – 1B/2B, SDP @ MIL ($5,400 DK, $3,200 FD)
As shocking as this might be, Cronenworth leads the Padres with a .315 batting average against right-handed pitchers, and all five home runs that he has hit this season have come off of this handedness. Houser has been able to work around right-handed batters but has struggled against lefties as they are hitting .303 against him this season which bodes well for Cronenworth. He has an ISO of .232 and an XwOBA of .420 against this handedness and Houser allows lefties to have an ISO of .208 against him this year.
Kris Bryant – 3B/OF, CHC @ PIT ($5,600 DK, $4,100 FD)
Bryant looks to be one of the best plays on the entire slate and he could be used in all types of formats. In his career at PNC Park, Bryant is hitting .347 with four home runs and when it comes to facing left-handed pitchers there, he is hitting .419 with three home runs in just 52 plate appearances. Bryant has a .337 ISO and a .482 XwOBA against this handedness and profiles well against both Anderson's fastball and cutter as he has a .600+ ISO and a .562 XwoBA against both pitches and Anderson throws them for a combined 57% of the time to right-handed batters.
MLB DFS Values
Adam Frazier – 2B/OF, PIT vs. CHC ($3,800 DK, $2,800 FD)
Frazier is usually featured at the top of the order for Pittsburgh and when considering his pricing and how poorly Hendricks has pitched to left-handed pitchers, Frazier looks to be a solid value on both sites. Frazier only has an 11% strikeout rate against this handedness and has been one of the lone bright spots on this Pirates squad as he is hitting .328 on the year while also hitting .331 against right-handed pitchers.
Gregory Polanco – OF, PIT vs. CHC ($2,300 DK, $2,400 FD)
Rostering Polanco is more of a tournament play based on his poor hitting this season but there a few things to like about this matchup against Kyle Hendricks. He has a pretty decent sample size against Hendricks and is hitting .353 against him in over 34 at-bats and Hendricks has struggled against lefty batters all season long as he is allowing them to hit .381 off of him this season with five home runs. All four of Polanco's home runs have come from right-handed pitchers and he is dirt cheap on both sites so he is worth taking a stab at in tournament builds.
Avisail Garcia – OF, MIL vs. SDP ($3,100 DK, $3,100 FD)
Garcia carries a big discount over on DK and would be a very good value play on that site. He is hitting .290 against left-handed pitchers and draws a solid matchup as Weathers has allowed all three of his home runs to come from the right side of the plate. He throws his fastball over 50% of the time to right-handed batters and Garcia has a .222 ISO and a .614 XwOBA against that pitch type.
Also Consider: Hernan Perez vs. Ryan Weathers, Corey Dickerson vs. Spencer Howard
MLB DFS Hitter Stacks
Chicago Cubs vs. Tyler Anderson
The Cubs face off against a lefty in Tyler Anderson and they have some lefty mashers in their lineups. When looking at their potential lineup, the top of the order would be the guys we would want to roster as Bryant, Rizzo, and Contreras all have a batting average above .300 against lefties this year. Anderson is sporting an ISO of .211 against right-handed batters and has allowed seven home runs in 39 innings pitched to right-handed batters so rostering some of the Cubs righties as well could be a way to target Chicago on this slate.
San Diego Padres vs. Adrian Houser
The Padres have a very good offense, especially when fully healthy, and they look like they could be a top stacking option on this slate. Adrian Houser will be on the bump for the Brewers and he has been tough on right-handed batters but has served it up to lefties as they are batting .303 against him this season. When looking at this Padres stack, guys like Cronenworth, Hosmer, and Profar would be guys to include in your stack while also paying up for Fernando Tatis Jr.
Other stacks: Miami Marlins vs. Spencer Howard, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Ryan Weathers
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