FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks (5/15/21): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

We have a large 10-game slate to work with on FanDuel tonight and there are a number of different ways we can build lineups. There are a few appealing pitchers on the high end in Bauer and Nola, but getting to one of the value pitchers allows you to jam in more expensive and higher-ceiling one-offs and stacks.

It's officially a Coors slate as the Rockies host the Reds in the league's most generous ballpark, while we also have the Nationals, Phillies, Astros, White Sox, and Yankees all in great spots to produce.

I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 5/15/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also check out today's DraftKings MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Let's get to it!

FanDuel DFS Pitchers

Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:

Trevor Bauer - LAD vs. MIA ($11,000)

This is one of those situations where the astronomical salary makes you do a double-take, but the more you look at it, the more it makes sense to pay up for Bauer on this slate. He has exceeded 40 FD points in seven of his eight starts, and he had 31 FD points in the one instance he fell short. His stats mirror that elite production, as he holds a 2.50 ERA (2.56 xERA), 34.7% K%, and a minuscule .175 xBA. The Marlins strike out at the eighth-highest rate against RHP (26%) and hold the lowest implied total on the slate at just 2.8 runs. Smash Bauer in this spot.

Alternate Play(s)

Aaron Nola - PHI vs. TOR ($8,800)   

Nola is the pay-up pivot off Bauer today. He comes in a lot cheaper and allows you to afford a more palatable lineup of bats, but he's also squaring off against a much more potent offense in the Toronto Blue Jays. They rank in the top-10 in most offensive categories and don't strike out at a high rate against RHP. However, Nola is fully capable of shutting them down as he does a great job at limiting hard contact (32.3% Hard Hit%) and barrels (6.2%). He also doesn't issue walks (4.1% BB%) and his 3.03 xERA indicates that he's pitching even better than his 3.59 ERA shows. Nola is a superb leverage tournament option today as he won't be very popular with Bauer and some appealing value pitchers on the slate.

GPP Dart-Throw

Triston McKenzie - CLE vs. SEA ($6,900)

McKenzie's control issues have been very apparent as he has issued four walks in five of his six starts, but he also flashes nice strikeout upside and is capable of shutting down weak offenses. He has at least five strikeouts in every start and allowed one run or fewer in outings against the Royals (twice) and the Reds. He has 30-40+ FD point upside in this spot as this is clearly the worst lineup he has faced so far this season. The Mariners strike out at the ninth-highest clip (25.1%) against RHP and the rest of their team stats aren't a whole lot better.

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FanDuel DFS Infielders

Andrew Vaughn - 1B, CWS vs. KCR ($2,400)

Vaughn remains far too cheap for what he can do. He's the #1 prospect in the White Sox organization for a reason, and while he's only at 81 at-bats, he ranks very high in Average Exit Velocity (96th percentile), Hard Hit % (94th), xwOBA (75th), Barrel % (75th), and BB% (85th). He has two homers so far but could certainly go yard against Mike Minor tonight as the veteran has been struggling in all aspects through seven starts this season.

Rhys Hoskins - 1B, PHI vs. TOR ($3,300)

Hoskins is affordable and has games of 25.7 and 15.7 FD points over his last three. He has eight homers on the season but hasn't hit one since April 26th, so he's due. Toronto starter Anthony Kay will be making just his third start of the year, and he hasn't been good. He holds a 10.24 ERA and 1.86 WHIP while allowing two homers in just 9 and 2/3 innings pitched.

Jose Ramirez - 3B, CLE vs. SEA ($3,600)

J-Ram has hit two homers in his last four games and has put up at least 18.7 FD points in three of his last five. He's still moderately priced and will face southpaw Justus Sheffield, who has been very vulnerable (.4.91 ERA, bottom-25th percentile in most advanced metrics).

Corey Seager - SS, LAD vs. MIA ($3,400)

Seager is only the sixth-most expensive shortstop on tonight's slate and he has a great opportunity to provide value at his price. He's averaging 10.9 FD points per game and has hit double-digits in four of his last five games. The Marlins are starting prospect Jordan Holloway on the mound tonight. He has been impressive, but this will only be his second MLB start after giving up three earned runs over 3 and 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks on May 10th. Seager and the Dodgers are a step up from the Diamondbacks, and I expect the Dodgers to put up plenty of runs tonight.

FanDuel DFS Outfielders

Juan Soto - OF, WSH vs. ARI ($4,000)

Soto is worth the price tag here. The D-Backs will be tossing out Seth Frankoff to kick off a bullpen game, but the thing is, their bullpen is terrible. Their 5.40 (relievers-only) team ERA ranks third-to-last in the league, while the rest of the stats (4.84 FIP, 4.41 FIP, .277 BAA, 1.55 WHIP, 21.3% K%, 1.56 HR/9) certainly don't paint a rosier picture. Soto is one of the top sluggers in the league and could erupt for a monster game here, while still providing a bankable floor.

Kyle Tucker - OF, HOU vs. TEX ($3,400)

Tucker has simply been on fire lately as he has put up between 9.2 and 47.6 FD points in each of his last six games played. That stretch includes three bombs, nine RBI, and 10 runs scored. His advanced metrics back up his recent surge (see below). Rangers starter Dane Dunning is solid, but he has allowed a lot of hard contact and these Houston bats have a shot at putting up a crooked number today.

*via Baseball Savant

Victor Robles - OF, WSH vs. ARI ($2,000)

The Nationals should score at least a handful of runs (5.2-run implied total) against Arizona and their subpar bullpen tonight, which means we can safely target a few bats here. There's a reason Robles is min-priced as he has been well below-average this year after a huge 17-homer, 28-steal campaign in 2019. He has shown a little life recently, though, knocking two doubles and two RBI for 22 FD points yesterday against these same D-Backs. Plug him in tonight as a value filler, and get him in those Washington wraparound stacks.