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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/25/21. Brian Entrekin's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have a 14-game main slate on tap tonight, and it's a doozie. There are a lot of strong pitching options, and most are priced quite affordably. Deciphering between which pitchers to use may be one of the tougher parts of the slate, but do not worry, all the content at RotoBaller has you covered. After you decide which pitchers you are building around, then it's all about the bats. Do we stack Coors Field or Coors Northeast? Both great places for bats, but on a 14-game slate, there are many places to look for bats, and some much more affordable than the Coors games.
The slate starts with which pitchers to build around. With no real targets over $10K and most of the main pitching targets in the low $9K and the $8K range, it will be quite easy to get two solid arms with nice bats. The bats will be some cheap Rangers in Coors, the Rockies, and many, many more. Listen in to MLB DFS Quick Hits to get the whole run down, including this Giants' fans, love of the Dodgers tonight.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/1/2021. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also check out today's FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. It’s also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, contact me on Twitter @bdentrek.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Robbie Ray - P, TOR vs. MIA ($8,500)
Ray has put together quite the season this year, largely due to the lack of walks. Walks have always been a problem for Ray, but he has a 6.1% BB rate this season after rates of 10% or higher for four straight seasons. He also limits the damage by allowing three earned runs or less in seven of nine starts, including starts in wonderful Coors South, aka Dunedin. He has thrown six innings or more with seven strikeouts or more in five of his last seven starts. Tonight he takes on a Marlins team that is beaten up. They are missing Brian Anderson, Miguel Rojas, and Jazz Chisholm may sit as well. In May, the Marlings struck out 31.2% of the time versus LHP while hitting .210. The Fish struggled mightily and may continue those trends tonight. Ray usually goes low due to his past and volatility, but his strikeout upside is huge tonight, and his price is not too bad. Ray is one of my top SP options tonight and should absolutely shove versus the Marlins.
German Marquez - P, COL vs TEX ($6,700)
Let's have some fun tonight. Let's play a pitcher in Coors. Marquez has been outstanding this season, yet many still stay away. He has allowed four earned runs or less in 10 of 11 starts and three or less in eight of 11 starts. That's pretty darn good, considering he makes many starts in Coors. Marquez even has four quality starts in his last six Coors starts. Marquez has only allowed two home runs in Coors on the season while striking out 23.6% of the batters faced. Marquez is even keeping the ball on the ground with a 59.6% ground ball rate at home. He'd really be rolling if he can limit the walks and lower the 13% walk rate. Tonight he takes on a struggling Rangers offense. A Rangers offense that struck out 23.6% of the time in May with a .222 average and 88 wRC+. There is always a risk with any pitcher in Coors, but you have Marquez, who has scored 18 or more DK points in four of his last five Coors starts and should be in line for another gem tonight.
Other Options: Tyler Glasnow (TB at NYY) $9,800, Chris Bassitt (OAK at SEA) $9,100, Sonny Gray (CIN vs PHI) $8,900, Alex Wood (SF vs LAA) $8,700, Marcus Stroman (NYM at AZ) $8,300
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Mitch Garver - C, MIN at Bruce Zimmermann ($4,600)
Garver does not play every day, but when he does, he has been hitting. Garver has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, good for a .360 average. He has two home runs, five doubles, and a .440 ISO over the stretch. Garver is also walking 30.6% over the last 10 games, helping rack up a 1.356 OPS. He takes on the lefty Zimmermann tonight, and Garver has faired well versus LHP this season with a .321 ISO and a 31.3% HR/FB. Garver is left out of Twins' stacks by many, so do not forget him tonight if you go back to the Twins who let so many down on Monday.
Kris Bryant - 1B/OF, CHC vs. Ryan Weathers ($5,400)
There have not been many hotter hitters in baseball than Bryant, who is coming off another monster game on Monday. Bryant brings a 13 game hitting streak into tonight's game versus the Padres. A streak that has seen Bryant hit .377 with a .170 ISO and a 0.978 OPS. He takes on the lefty Weathers tonight, before a lot of likely Padres bullpen, and has crushed LHP this season. Bryant is hitting .432 versus LHP with a .523 ISO and a 35,3% HR/FB. That is some straight hammering of LHP. Bryant's price keeps going up, and he keeps hitting, so do not miss out on another big Bryant night as he extends his hit streak to 14 games.
Max Muncy - 2B, LAD vs. John Gant ($5,300)
Speaking of insanely hot hitters, let's talk about Max Muncy. Muncy hit .330 in May with 10 home runs and continued to walk 14.7% of the time. He put up a .385 ISO, 1.154 OPS, and 212 wRC+. The contact quality was on point, with a 22.7% barrel rate and a 50% hard-hit rate. Muncy was absolutely locked in, and that should continue tonight versus one of the luckiest hitters in baseball in Gant. Everyone sees Gant's sub 2 ERA but let's look at the 5.03 xFIP, 5.61 SIERA, 17.4% strikeout rate, and 15.4% walk rate. Gant has walked a fine line this season, and that is going to come to a big end on Tuesday. Muncy is in for a huge night along with Gavin Lux and many other Dodgers so STACK THEM UP!!!!!
Willy Adames - SS, MIL vs. Matt Boyd ($4,100)
Adames was having a good season with the Rays but has really got the bat going since traded to the Brewers. Since the trade, he has hit safely in seven of the 10 games, good for a .324 average. Adames even has two home runs to go with a .235 ISO over the last 10. It is not all about putting the ball in play for Adames, as his plate discipline has been great with a 12.8% walk rate to help with a 0.969 OPS. Adames is doing it all and gets a nice matchup at home versus Boyd tonight. Adames usually hits LHP well, and even though the average is down this season, the power is still there. Adames has a .311 ISO versus LHP this season with a .508 SLG and five of his seven home runs. Adames is in another great spot tonight and will likely come in lowly rostered.
Hunter Dozier - 3B/OF, KC vs Wil Crowe ($2,600)
We meet again, old friend, and yes, I just can't quit Dozier. The talent and hard-hit skills are no joke. What has been a joke is his health this year. Dozier collided with Jose Abreu a few weeks ago and just returned from the IL four games ago. Dozier has hit safely in three of the four games, including a double and a home run in the last two games. He has also walked 12.5% of the time over the last four games and scored five runs. The quality of contact mentioned earlier is still there as he is barreling the ball 11.1% of the time with 55.6% of the time. Dozier is essentially free tonight and faces Crowe, who has allowed four home runs in his last three starts while allowing RHH to hit .338 against him this season with a .554 SLG. The Royals are sneaky live tonight, and Dozier comes in free of charge.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Kyle Tucker - OF, HOU vs. Garrett Richards ($3,700)
DK loves leaving some players too cheap, and Tucker is one of those players. Tucker has hit safely in seven of his last 10 games, good for a .293 average. He has five extra-base hits over the stretch, three stolen bases and is walking nearly 11% of the time. Oh, and he is only striking out 8.7% of the time, so that's a whole lot of balls in play which is really good with a 51.4% hard-hit rate over the ten-game stretch. He will face Richards tonight, who is allowing LHH to hit .291 with a .437 SLG. Tucker makes for a nice cash game play and a cheap piece in a good Astros' stack.
Kyle Garlick - OF, MIN at Bruce Zimmermann ($3,000)
The Twins have used Garlick this season as a platoon piece versus LHP, even leading him off of late versus lefties. It makes sense as Garlick is hitting .304 versus LHP with a .261 ISO and a 143 wRC+. He takes on Zimmermann tonight, allowing lefties to hit .293 with a .514 SLG and 2 HR/9. The Twins should be very popular tonight, even after letting many down on Monday. Enjoy Garlick as a cheap leadoff piece in your Twins' stacks or even as a cash game one-off.
Austin Slater - OF, SF vs. Andrew Heaney ($3,300)
Talking about hitters that love facing lefties, look no further than Slater. Versus LHP this season, Slater is hitting .259 with a .296 ISO and a 45.5% HR/FB rate. Nearly half of Slater's fly balls versus lefties leave the yard, just crazy. He will likely lead off tonight versus Heaney, and that could lead to a big night. Heaney is allowing RHH to slug .434 and hit 2.3 HR/9. Heaney has allowed three or more runs in four of his last five starts while also allowing eight home runs over that stretch. The Giants are one of the best teams in baseball versus LHP and should have another nice night versus the struggling Heaney. Slater will likely lead them, so get him while he's cheap.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Coors Field- Texas Rangers at Colorado Rockies (Dane Dunning, RHP at German Marquez, RHP)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (John Gant, RHP)
- San Francisco Giants (Andrew Heaney, LHP)
- Sneaky Stack- Kansas City Royals (WillCrowe, RHP)
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