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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 5th, 2019. Justin Bales' MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have a solid eight-game slate that starts at 1 PM EST, meaning we're getting day baseball (as we do every Sunday)! There are no truly elite arms, and that's displayed with every pitcher being priced under $10K. That will allow us to spend up for batters, although this isn't a Coors slate, so we'll have to find expensive bats elsewhere.
There are a few questionable weather spots, as it looks like rain in the Tampa Bay/Baltimore and Washington/Philadelphia games. Keep in mind, weather can change throughout the night, though, so double check every game prior to lock.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/5/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. 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 @BalesSJustin.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Zach Eflin - P, vs WSH ($8,800)
Eflin has looked good early this season, but his 4.54 xFIP and 4.39 SIERA suggest he could see regression as he throws more innings. Today, he gets a plus matchup against the Washington Nationals, who are dealing with multiple injuries throughout their lineup. Eflin's strikeout rate is down to 18.1% this season, but his swinging strike rate still sits at 9.8%. In other words, he could see positive regression in terms of strikeouts, and the Nationals rank second on the slate in strikeouts per at-bat. Eflin is a -165 favorite in a game set at 8.5 runs, and he makes a strong option without many elite arms on this slate.
Jordan Lyles - P, vs OAK ($8,200)
Lyles is in a similar situation to Eflin. He has thrown well with a 2.42 ERA this season, but his 4.43 xFIP and 4.13 SIERA suggest that he has gotten a bit lucky. Still, Lyles' strikeout rate is up to 25.5% in 2019, although his swinging strike rate sits at only 8.8%. This may not be the game for strikeout regression, though, as his opponents, the Oakland A's, lead the slate in strikeouts per at-bat. Lyles is a +113 underdog in a game set at 8 runs, but he's a strong tournament option because of his strikeout potential.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
J.T. Realmuto - C, vs WSH ($4,500)
Realmuto has been at his best in Philadelphia early this season. Through 18 home games, he's hitting .308 with a .492 slugging percentage and a .871 OPS. He has also been playing well recently, as he's hitting over .300 over his last 10 games. Realmuto gets a plus matchup against Anibal Sanchez, and he enters this game with .087 wOBA and .061 ISO differentials against right-handed pitching. He can be considered in all leagues.
Jesus Aguilar - 1B, vs NYM ($3,900)
Aguilar got off to a slow start this season, but he's hitting .263 with three home runs and seven RBIs over his last 10 games. He also owns 42% hard hit and 47% fly ball rates with a 94 MPH exit velocity over the last 15 days. In 2018, Aguilar posted a .282 average with a .550 slugging percentage and a .929 OPS against left-handed pitching. Today, he gets an elite matchup against Jason Vargas, and he should continue his hot streak in this game.
Gordon Beckham - 2B/SS, vs KC ($3,700)
Beckham has played limited games this season, but he has posted elite numbers at home. Through only nine home games, Beckham owns a .333 average with a .583 slugging percentage and a .968 OPS. Over the last 15 days, he has posted 62% hard hit and 50% fly ball rates to go along with a 97 MPH exit velocity, although that is in limited games. Beckham gets a plus matchup against Brad Keller, and he makes a strong option in the Detroit Tigers offense.
Hernan Perez - 2B/3B, vs NYM ($3,900)
Perez is another Milwaukee Brewers bat that dominates left-handed pitching and will benefit the matchup against Jason Vargas. He enters this game with .103 wOBA and .114 ISO differentials against lefties, but his price tag doesn't represent that. Perez also owns 38% hard hit and 55% fly ball rates with a 93 MPH exit velocity over the last 15 days. The Brewers are surprisingly cheap today, and they have multiple players that can be considered.
Ronny Rodriguez - 2B/SS, vs KC ($4,000)
Rodriguez is another Detroit Tigers player that can be paired with Gordon Beckham. He's expected to hit fifth in the lineup, and he enters this game with 52% hard hit and 42% fly ball rates with a 97 MPH exit velocity over the last 15 days. Rodriguez has only played in 11 games this season, but he owns a .325 with a .725 slugging percentage and a 1.103 OPS. He has flashed both speed and power, and he can be considered in all leagues for a relatively low price tag.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Lorenzo Cain - OF, vs NYM ($4,600)
Cain has been a dominant option at home this season, where he owns a .320 average with a .560 slugging percentage and a .933 OPS. He also posted an elite .373/.528/.979 line against left-handed pitching in 2018. Today, he gets a matchup against Jason Vargas, who could find himself out of the starting rotation at some point this season. Cain is leading off for one of the top offenses on this slate, and he makes a strong option in all leagues today.
Curtis Granderson - OF, vs ATL ($3,500)
Granderson tends to go overlooked on a daily basis, but he offers quite a bit of fantasy potential. He has scored fantasy points in six of his last nine games, including a pair of games with 15+ fantasy points. He also owns 39% hard hit and 60% fly ball rates with a 94 MPH exit velocity over the last 15 days. Furthermore, Granderson enters this game with .036 wOBA and .099 ISO differentials against right-handed pitching, and he'll be leading off for the Miami Marlins. He's cheap enough to be considered in all leagues.
