FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks (5/2/21): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

As is customary on Sundays, we have a very large slate to dissect with lots of batting and pitching options for us to consider. We have some top arms like Scherzer, Berrios, and Giolito while we also have some great offenses like Atlanta, Minnesota, Boston, and Los Angeles to choose from. 

I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 5/2/2021. 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:

Max Scherzer- WSH vs. MIA ($12,000)

Scherzer checks in as the priciest pitcher on the slate and despite him coming off of a rough outing against Toronto in his last start, this could be a great chance for a bounce-back game for him against Miami. In 90 at-bats against Scherzer, the Marlins hitters have a combined for a .203 batting average while totaling 22 strikeouts which equates to a 24.4% strikeout rate. On the season, Miami is averaging .226 against right-handed pitchers and is sporting a 26.5% strikeout rate against this handedness and has only totaled 12 home runs which are ranked 29th in the league against righties. Scherzer has been known to give up the long ball but with the poor power numbers that Miami has against righties, it makes it easier to swallow the high price tag in cash games for Scherzer.

Alternate Play(s)

Tyler Mahle - CIN vs. CHC ($9,300)   

There are several other pitchers that look to be in good spots today but Mahle has just been extremely solid in every start so far this season and would be the preferred pivot option if you're needing to save some salary for your lineups. In all five starts this season, he has accrued at least five strikeouts and has allowed no more than five hits or two earned runs which is a very solid base to start with for your lineups. Mahle is generating a 26.2% strikeout rate this season and is getting ahead of the counts 57.2% of the time which is a major plus. The matchup against the Cubs looks to be a good one as they are averaging .210 against righties this season and are striking out 26.9% of the time against that handedness. The wind looks to be blowing in which is a big benefit for the pitchers in this game and with the current Cubs roster sporting a .172 batting average against Mahle throughout his career, this seems like an easy spot to consider Mahle in all formats.

Want more MLB DFS tools and content? Our MLB Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Optimizer, and access to our Premium Slack Chatrooms where members can chat with our MLB analysts. Check out this recent big win from RotoBaller's RealTalkRaph on DraftKings - join in on the winning!

? Our #MLB Optimizer & written content content is coming in hot to start off 2021!

? BIG thanks! The highly celebrated @RotoBaller Premium Tools have done it again!

? The Math: 20 optimized lineups + written content to tweak things = SHABBAT SHALOM!https://t.co/RGP9W0ebXb pic.twitter.com/LR8MDaOm8r

— Raphstradamus ? (@RealTalkRaph) April 3, 2021

FanDuel DFS Infielders

Yermin Mercedes - C/1B, CWS vs. CLE ($3,200)

Mercedes continues to rake early on in the season and has made a big impact on this White Sox lineup. He is batting .395 with five home runs and has recorded a hit in seven of the last eight games played. His home run success has come against right-handed pitchers this year as he has hit four home runs against this handedness and is sporting a .390 batting average when at home against righties. Plesac mainly throws his fastball and slider for a combined 80% of the time against right-handed batters and Mercedes has above a .470 XwOBA for both of those pitches.

Adam Frazier - 2B/OF, PIT vs. STL ($2,900)

Adam Frazier usually finds himself at the top of the Pirates lineup and he could be completely overlooked at second base today. He is batting .308 on the year against right-handed pitchers and is batting .325 when at home against that-handedness. He has accrued a hit in four of his last five games and has had multi-hit performances in two of those games.  Frazier is still looking for his first home run of the season so the upside can be limited but he does offer a solid floor which is great for cash game lineups.

Rafael Devers - 3B, BOS @ TEX ($3,700)

Boston could be a great team to stack in Texas today and Devers looks to be one that you might want to have in your lineups. On the season, he is batting .275 against righties but six of his seven home runs have come against that handedness. In addition, he is hitting .313 on the road against righties and against his three primary pitches that Foltynewicz throws to left-handed batters, Devers has an ISO of .280+ against all three pitches.

Eugenio Suarez, SS, CIN vs. CHC ($3,200)

Suarez has been slumping since the start of the season despite hitting four home runs and having 10 RBI's. He is averaging a measly .125 on the year but the matchup against Williams looks like a good bounce-back kind of spot for him. He does carry extreme risk due to his cold start but Williams throws three primary pitches to righties (fastball, slider, sinker) and Suarez has an XwOBA of at least .378 against all three pitches and an ISO of above .300 against his fastball and sinker.

FanDuel DFS Outfielders

Mookie Betts - OF, LAD @ MIL ($4,000)

Betts is coming off of a strong night where he went2-4 at the plate with one home run and with the Brewers calling up Alec Bettinger for his first big-league start, Betts and the Dodgers could be a tough challenge for his big-league debut. Betts is having a much better start against righties as he has hit all three home runs against right-handed pitchers and is averaging .277 against this handedness. Bettinger has spent several seasons in the minors and has a career 4.35 earned run average so facing Betts as his first big-league batter could lead to some nerves and hopefully a fastball right down the plate for Betts to take advantage of.

Alex Verdugo - OF, BOS @ TEX ($3,200)

Verdugo is really profiling well against Foltynewicz and he makes for a great play at his price point of just $3,200. On the season, Verdugo is batting .328 against right-handed pitchers and has two home runs and six doubles against this handedness. In addition, Verdugo is sporting a .202 ISO against right-handed pitchers, a .373XwOBA, and an 85.9% contact percentage. Folty throws three main pitches to lefties (fastball, slider, sinker) and Verdugo as an ISO of .390 against his sinker and a .311 ISO against his slider.

Joey Gallo - OF, TEX vs. BOS ($2,800)

While Gallo hasn't gotten off to the best of starts, neither has Garret Richards. Richards has a 4.94 earned runs average and is allowing left-handed batters to slug .434 against him this season. Gallo looks to profile well against him as he has a .200 ISO against his fastball and a 52.38 hard-hit percentage against this pitch. Richards also throws a slider roughly 20% of the time to left-handed batters and while Gallo struggles to hit this pitch (48.65% whiff percentage), he does carry a .494 XwOBA against it. Rostering Gallo in cash is always risky but he serves as a great tournament play as he does carry home run upside.