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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 23, 2018. Kevin Luchansky's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
The folks at DraftKings got this one right - all 15 games taking place today are part of good slates with big prize money. We have an Early Only slate consisting of the five afternoon games, and the other 10 are part of the Main slate that begins at 7:05 EDT.
Things are sure to fluctuate in Vegas, but as of this writing, we have four teams with run projections of 4.7 or more and five teams that are -165 or greater (as favorites) on the moneyline. The loftiest run projections belong to the Yankees (5.8), Orioles (5.1), Pirates (4.9) and the Astros (4.7). The biggest favorite is the Astros (-259), the Mets (-210), the Cardinals (-1810, Yankees (-179) and the Cubs (-168).
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/23/18. 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 @kpLuch.
DraftKings Starting Pitchers
Jacob deGrom - SP, vs MIA ($13,200)
deGrom went out and essentially proved he's just fine, putting together a masterful performance his last time out. I had some concerns, seeing as he was a "healthy" pull the start before after just 45 pitches, but he eased those concerns with a 13 strikeout performance against the Diamondbacks. He is one of the safer plays of the day, and my particular favorite of the spend-up pitchers. Justin Verlander is most certainly in play, but deGrom has the edge today in the park factor and faces a team who's projected lineup has a higher strikeout rate (26% compared to 23.5%) and lower wOBA (just .282 compared to .323). On the season, deGrom has posted a 10.7 K/9 and has allowed only a 28% hard contact rate.
David Price - SP, at TBR ($8,800)
Price has had a few hiccups this season, and those inconsistincies between starts are likely what's keeping his ownership down. Overall, though, he is having a pretty strong 2018 campaign. Some might even call it a bounceback campaign. Thanks to the projected low ownership and big strikeout upside, I like him quite a bit in tournaments tonight. The projected lineup for the Rays tonight has a very attractive 29% K rate and their run projection is just 3.4 runs. In addition to that, my interest is piqued as he's limited baserunners better of late (just three walks over his last two starts) and the opponent hard hit rate in that span stands at just 24%.
DraftKings Infielders
Wilmer Flores - 1B/3B, vs MIA ($3,200)
Flores and his Mets teammates take on Dan Straily, he who has been giving up quite a bit of hard contact of late - 67% over his last two starts to be exact. Flores happens to be a reverse splits guy, so this matchup - one he brings a .349 wOBA and .230 ISO over the last year into - suits him pretty well.
Matt Carpenter - 2B/3B, vs KCR ($3,700)
We're starting to see Carpenter's price climb a bit - which is warranted if you dig through his past four games - but it's still not the point where I don't think he can provide plus value on the price. He and his .362 wOBA and 58% hard hit rate (over past 15 days) headline what is a fairly weak third base group.
Didi Gregorius - SS, at TEX ($4,600)
Didi against a right-handed pitcher in a great hitter's park is pretty dreamy - even moreso when that pitcher is Doug Fister and the Yankees have the highest run projection of the day. Gregorious should have a few opportunities to pile on the points. His .375 wOBA is strong and his hard hit rate - 36% in past 15 days - is creeping back up after a mini slump.
DraftKings Outfielders
Aaron Judge - OF, at TEX ($5,600)
Judge's price is steep, but the upside he brings is massive and his matchup is better than most (if not all) in his price tier. Fister is the type of pitcher we can target against, and Vegas certainly sees the Bronx Bombers plating quite a few runs tonight. Judge has an ISO split over .300 and his batted ball data over the past 10 days is incredible - 60% hard hit rate and an average exit velocity of 98 mph.
Mark Canha - OF, vs SEA ($3,500)
Canha is in a great value spot in tournaments tonight. Due to the park favoring pitchers, he may go overlooked, but he is a lefty hitting specialist. He has a pretty good wOBA split (.327) and boasts extra-base hit upside with his .211 ISO mark.
