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The MLB flipped the script on the getaway day this week. The main slate is the 11-game matinee, which is also covered here at RotoBaller. My contribution will focus on the four games in primetime tonight. Watch for some storms in the Kansas City area again. Other than that, this is a pretty good slate for as small as it is.
This article contains my picks for the four-game late slate on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, for both DraftKings and FanDuel, which locks at 7:20 PM ET. Well...it's a six-game slate on FanDuel. Once again, FanDuel upstages DraftKings (I know...I'm still getting used to it, too). FanDuel gets the ball rolling at 6:35 PM Eastern, and there is really no reason for DraftKings not doing it aside from them just being difficult. That makes the FanDuel late offering much more appealing tonight.
The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups.
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Justin Steele, CHC vs. STL ($9,800 DK, $11,000 FD)
Is this the real Justin Steele? Is the guy really this good? He is 5-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his first seven starts of 2023 with 36 strikeouts in 43.1 innings. Believe it or not, he has been even better in the friendly confines, going 3-0 with a 0.74 ERA in four starts with 20 strikeouts in 24.1 innings. The Cardinals hit Steele pretty well last year, but I'm going with Steele's hot start to continue against the last-place Cardinals.
Yonny Chirinos, TB at BAL ($6,000 DK turbo, $6,800 FD)
Yonny is going to be the long reliever behind the opener for the Rays tonight, so he should get a bulk of the innings. He threw 5.1 innings in his last appearance, so he is plenty stretched out to have a nice outing for the Rays. We know the story with Yonny. He doesn't record a ton of strikeouts. He is here to eat innings. SP2 is a bit of a minefield tonight. A rusty Justin Verlander in Cincinnati doesn't sound great, so I'll save money if I decide to punt at pitcher. It's a tough sell to run him as your only pitcher due to a lack of strikeouts on FD, though.
Others to consider: Jordan Montgomery ($8,400 DK, $9,900 FD) at CHC
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Trey Mancini - 1B/OF, CHC vs. STL ($2,600 DK, $2,700 FD)
Sometimes DFS is about zigging when everyone else zags. Paul Goldschmidt is going to be the popular play at Wrigley tonight, but his counterpart could end up being nearly as productive at a fraction of the price.
Mancini hasn't produced as much power as the Cubs had hoped, but it's still only May. Wrigley doesn't pick up offensively until the end of May or early June. The presence of rookie Matt Mervis has relegated Mancini to bench duty lately, but Jordan Montgomery is tough on lefties, so expect Mervis and his struggles to pull up a slice of bench today. I'll take the savings on Boom Boom since he is 11-for-32 (.344) with a homer in his career against Montgomery.
Jonathan India - 2B, CIN vs. NYM ($4,700 DK turbo, $3,200 FD)
Justin Verlander struggled against his former team in his 2023 debut, giving up two homers to the lowly Tigers in five innings. India is on a massive heater right now. He has a modest six-game hitting streak going but has been cooking over the last four games. Two of his three homers on the season have come in that span and he has driven in five, scored four, and added a couple of steals as well. Give me a white-hot India against the rusty old Verlander before he gets going again.
Bobby Witt Jr. - SS, KC vs. CWS ($5,000 DK, $3,700 FD)
Witt has opened May with a seven-game hitting streak. He has two homers, five RBIs, seven runs scored, and even three steals this month. Your window to buy low on him is gone in season-long leagues and in DFS. His price is likely in the $5K range to stay on DK. Witt has 28 DraftKings points in the first two games of the series with the White Sox. Given his 3-for-9 mark with a pair of homers against Lance Lynn, I'm expecting another night in double figures for Witt.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Juan Soto - OF, SD at MIN ($5,100 DK, $3,500 FD)
Soto is warming up after a bit of a slow start. He is hitting .405 in his last 10 games and has five doubles this week alone. Pretty soon those are going to start going over the wall instead of hitting them. Soto is very familiar with Pablo Lopez from their time in the NL East. He has gotten the better of that matchup thus far, going 9-for-25 (.360) with a pair of homers and three doubles against Lopez. If the Padres get to Lopez tonight, my money is on Soto doing the bulk of the damage.
Luis Robert Jr. - OF, CWS at KC ($4,400 DK, $3,000 FD)
Robert has an eight-game hitting streak to start May with three homers, six RBIs, and a staggering 10 runs scored already. Brad Keller has been awful at home this year (0-3, 7.62 ERA in three starts). Robert on a hot streak definitely won't do Keller's bloated ERA any favors tonight.
Anthony Santander - OF, BAL vs. TB ($3,900 DK turbo, $3,000 FD)
Santander hasn't had an empty stat line since May began. He is hitting .318 in May with three homers, nine RBIs, and three runs scored. Jalen Beeks is only scheduled to open, but Santander usually bats cleanup and he is 3-for-5 with a homer in his career against Beeks. Expect his May hitting streak to continue tonight at a very affordable price on both sites.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Atlanta Braves vs. Brayan Bello
Bello hasn't really been roughed up this year, but he hasn't been very good either. He has allowed a homer in every start and the 5.71 ERA is earned, according to his xERA of 5.74. Per Statcast, 51.8% of contacted balls out of the hand of Bello have been hard hit. I'm a little surprised that his ERA isn't worse.
We must start this stack with Ronald Acuna Jr. Come on, guys. I gave you enough cheap options to pay up for Acuna. Matt Olson and Orlando Arcia are my next favorites. To finish the stack, you can't go wrong with a red-hot Sean Murphy or Austin Riley, but I might plug in Michael Harris Jr. as well for a bit of salary relief.
Kansas City Royals vs. Lance Lynn
You can call this a contrarian stack and I won't disagree. It's not for everyone. We are talking about the Royals here. Oh...about those Royals. They have come alive this month, scoring 54 runs in eight May games. I promise that pitting them against Lynn is not something I just pulled out of thin air. Check these numbers out:
Three separate Royals have two career homers against Lynn. These aren't small sample sizes for most of these players, either. The high exit velocities should spell trouble for Lynn as well. The best part about this stack has to be Jackie Bradley Jr. You won't see numbers like that out of him against anyone else and he is just $2,100 on DK.
Also consider: Boston Red Sox vs. Jared Shuster
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