We've got nearly a full slate tonight with 28 teams in action. FanDuel has broken tonight's contest options into two groups - Early Only (7 games) and Main (14 games).
As for Vegas insights, we've got three games with projected run totals of nine runs or greater, starting with the Twins at Tigers (9.5), Mariners at Orioles (9), and Cubs at Brewers (9). The teams and sides with the greatest positive park factors on the night are, in descending order, the Seattle and Baltimore left-handed batters, the Houston and Chicago (AL) right-handed batters, the Milwaukee and Chicago (NL) left-handed batters and the Tampa Bay and Toronto hitters.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball MLB lineup picks for FanDuel on 5/17/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from high-priced to low-priced options and identify options who will out-perform their expectations, including sleepers and value plays on FanDuel.
DFS Lineup Stacks to Target for FanDuel
Chicago Cubs versus Chase Anderson
The Cubs have a wonderfully optimal matchup in a great power hitter's park today up in Milwaukee. Opposing pitcher Chase Anderson has been pretty awful this season and in addition to giving up a lot of big innings (1.46 WHIP), he has a lot of trouble keeping the ball in the yard with his 1.57 HR/9 average. As a team, the Cubs boast an impressive .302 wOBA against right-handed pitching. The players I'm eyeing the most are Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Tommy La Stella.
Detroit Tigers versus Phil Hughes
This game boasts the highest over/under of the day at 9.5 and I'm expecting there to be a lot of punch from both offenses. So far this season, Hughes' strikeouts have been down (5.5 K/9) and the home run numbers he's allowing are up to up to a 1.69 HR/9 average. This bodes well for the Tigers lineup, one that is loaded with right-handed batters with big swings. The hitters I have my eye on the most are Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez.
Also Consider: Baltimore Orioles versus Wade Miley
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider for FanDuel
Madison Bumgarner (SP, SFG) - $12,100
Madbum might not be the best pitcher taking the bump today, but he's certainly the one with the greatest matchup and opportunity ahead of him. Bumgarner has dominated in three of his last four starts and I don't think any of those matchups were quite as strong as today's. Madison and the Giants have the pleasure of taking on the Padres and their league bottom offense. The Padres have struck out in nearly 28% of their at-bats and he should be able to keep pace or outperform his current 10.44 K/9.
Also Consider: Clayton Kershaw (SP, LAD) - $13,000 and Jaime Garcia (SP, STL) - $8,900
DFS Infielders to Consider for FanDuel
Catcher (C)
Chris Herrmann (C, ARI) - $2,900
Herrmann is in play with a very affordable price tag and enters the day swinging a hot bat. The catcher has exceeded value in six of his last 10 games by an impressive margin of more than six fantasy points a night. He has pop against right-handed pitchers (.247 ISO) and faces one in Michael Pineda that has been allowing 1.69 HR/9 this season.
First Base (1B)
Anthony Rizzo (1B, CHC) - $4,800
Sticking with the hot bats, we have Mr. Rizzo with a pretty large price tag. He's worth paying up for in this situation thanks to a number of factors, though. On the season, he's slugging .548 with a .279 ISO against right-handed pitching. He's facing a RHP in Chase Anderson that struggles to retire batters and is currently averaging 1.57 HR/9. They also happen to be playing this one in Milwaukee, a homer friendly park.
Also Consider: David Ortiz (1B, BOS) - $4,300
Second Base (2B)
Tommy La Stella (2B, CHC) - $2,600
La Stella has been sitting on the bench and only rising for pinch-hit opportunities for about a week now and he's due for a start against Chase Anderson. Not only is he due in terms of playing time, but Zobrist has been playing second base for a week straight, and his numbers against right-handed pitching aren't as strong as La Stella's, who owns a .381 wOBA and .215 ISO. He's an excellent cheap option who should find his way into the middle of the order.
Shortstop (SS)
Corey Seager (SS, LAD) - $4,100
Dollar for dollar, Seager and his hot bat is the best middle infield option today. The park isn't optimal, but Seager has fantastic splits against right-handed pitching - .392 wOBA and .213 ISO - and faces a pitcher in Jered Weaver that isn't throwing any harder than batting practice fastballs.
Third Base (3B)
Todd Frazier (3B, CHW) - $4,200
Mr. Toms River has been scorching hot as well, and he's playing at home in a park that's fairly ideal for right-handed sluggers. Dallas Keuchel can be a fairly tough matchup, but he hasn't been himself this season and I'm a big fan of Frazier's season .364 wOBA and .306 ISO against southpaws.
Also Consider: Kris Bryant (3B, CHC) - $4,300
DFS Outfielders to Consider for FanDuel
George Springer (OF, HOU) - $4,200
Like Frazier this season, Springer is a guy I love to roster when facing a lefty. Springer enters tonight having exceeded value in three of his last five and I like him to continue the trend this evening. Springer's splits this season against southpaws are very impressive - .430 wOBA and a .234 ISO.
Mark Trumbo (OF, BAL) - $3,700
While it's not a great park for power hitters, I can't resist Trumbo at a sub 4K price with the matchup that he has. Wade Miley has trouble keeping the ball in the yard and Trumbo's splits against lefties are impressive in the power department - .249 ISO and a .512 slugging percentage.
Stephen Piscotty (OF, STL) - $3,500
Piscotty is an excellent cash game option today against a sub par pitcher in Chris Rusin. Piscotty's season wOBA against lefties is monstrous with his .428 wOVA.
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