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A small slate of games is fine every once in a while, but I'm glad we're back to 15 games tonight. First pitch is at 7:05 eastern. Get your lineups set! Here are my Fanduel MLB DFS Lineup recommendations for May 19th, 2015.
FanDuel DFS Starting Pitchers to Target
James Shields - SP - Padres ($8,800)
I definitely wasn't mad to see Shields isn't the most expensive pitcher on the board today. In fact, he's not even in the top three. More money for you and me to load our lineups with offense. Shields may not be the safest bet tonight, but he's got the greatest potential for double digit scoring. He's averaging 11.92 K/9 and his changeup has been devastating to opposing hitters this season. He has been a little home run prone this year, but he's pitching tonight in spacious Petco Park against a Cubs team that is striking out in 25.4% of their at-bats against right-handed pitching, the second worst mark in the majors.
Michael Wacha - SP - Cardinals ($8,400)
It's not nice to pick on the Mets' hitters two days in a row, but we aren't here to be nice. Wacha doesn't hold the high-strikeout potential James Shields has, but he has been pretty dominant otherwise this season. He's got a 2.06 ERA and 1.08 WHIP and nothing in his peripheral statistics to suggest this has been a fluke. The right-hander has been inducing ground balls at a good rate (51.5%) and he faces a Mets team 28th in slugging versus RHP at .342. I think Wacha has an above-average shot at a win today, too.
FanDuel Offenses to Target for Stacking
Top of the Orioles lineup versus Taijuan Walker
The Orioles lineup hasn't been stellar in the past week or so, but they're oh so capable of exploding at any minute, especially at home, where they average an MLB best 5.56 runs per game. They're also 4th in the league in slugging versus right-handed pitching (.428) and face off against a struggling Walker, owner of a 7.22 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 1.6 HR/9 in their hitter friendly park at Camden Yards. Target Jimmy Paredes ($3,200), Manny Machado ($3,500) and Alejandro De Aza ($2,300). Throwing in a slugger out of Adam Jones and Chris Davis with any of the previous three guys mentioned isn't a bad idea either.
Jays RHB versus Hector Santiago
For whatever reason, the Blue Jays' heavy hitters - all right-handed batters, essentially - love facing pitchers who deal from the same side. I've stopped trying to wrap my head around it and now just accept it. When facing RHP, the Jays' righties own a .445 slugging percentage, .195 ISO and they've clubbed the most home runs - by far - of any squad with 30. I'm targeting Edwin Encarnacion ($4,200), Josh Donaldson ($3,600), Russell Martin ($3,600) and Jose Bautista ($4,500).
FanDuel Catchers to Target
Robinson Chirinos - C - Rangers ($2,500)
Chirinos has himself a nice matchup today against Wade Miley in Arlington. He's swinging a hot bat over the past two weeks (4.06 OBP) and he's slugging .469 against left-handed pitching this season.
Russell Martin - C - Blue Jays ($3,600)
I like Martin as part of a stack today, but he makes for a solid cash play, too. He's got great potential for going yard tonight in Toronto and he's slugging .689 in the past two weeks.
FanDuel Infielders to Target
David Ortiz - 1B - Red Sox ($2,900)
Ortiz hasn't quite been his normal self this season, but he's had a few days to rest, is playing at home in Fenway and happens to be a .558 slugger against right-handed pitching this season. It's also an incredible price point when you consider his potential this evening.
Ryan Howard - 1B - Phillies ($3,400)
You know the Coors Field drill by now. Howard's bat has come alive this season after being dormant for quite some time. He has the handedness matchup you want and is batting .532 against righties, with three home runs in the past 14 days.
Robinson Cano - 2B - Mariners ($3,000)
It's not often you can get a quality hitter like Cano at this price point, nevermind the fact he has the handedness matchup we're all after.
Dan Uggla - 2B - Nationals ($2,600)
Uggla is definitely of the boom-or-bust contingent, but he's a solid play today if you're a) strapped for cash (or punting second base) and b) looking for home run potential as he's a .456 slugger against right-handed pitching.
Adrian Beltre - 3B - Rangers ($3,200)
Beltre squares off against the erratic and unpredictable Wade Miley and enters the game on quite the hot streak, going yard three times and slugging .593 over the past two weeks. He would play nicely with Chirinos in a mini-stack.
Brad Miller - SS - Mariners ($3,000)
I certainly don't love playing a guy who hits in the bottom of the order, but the combination of Camden Yards, his recent hot streak and facing a so-so pitcher is too much to ignore. He's not as cheap as I was hoping for, but hit four home runs in the past 14 days and your price is going to climb.
FanDuel Outfielders to Target
A few cheaper options for you tonight - all with high upside.
David DeJesus - OF - Rays ($2,700)
DeJesus squares off against a rookie pitcher and he's a .453 slugger against right-handed pitching.
Jake Smolinksi - OF - Rangers ($2,200)
He's hitting in home run friendly Fenway tonight and he's also the owner of a .560 slugging percentage against lefties. There's a good chance he ends up playing wall ball with the Green Monster.
Gerrardo Parra - OF - Brewers ($2,900)
Parra has a .571 batting average against Anibal Sanchez dating back to 2008 and is slugging .655 over the past two weeks and .425 this season against right-handers.
DFS Chat Room (Expert Q&A Tonight (5/19) at 5PM EST)
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