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As per usual, it's a light Thursday. Just like last week, we have six games going on. Unlike last week, we don't have an even split. I'm really happy about that! Three-game slates don't leave a lot of room for separation in lineups. A five-game main slate, while a little small, gives us plenty of spots to get different. Five is the beginning of the sweet spot for a slate, extending up to eight or nine games. Let's enjoy this!
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on Thursday, May 16, 2024, with the slate starting at 7:05 p.m. EDT. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.
Good luck, RotoBallers!
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Tyler Glasnow vs. CIN ($10.4K DraftKings; $11.3K FanDuel)
Tyler Glasnow mowed through the heart of the Padres order. This guy is the definition of an Ace.pic.twitter.com/0H94gF3Xgb
— Klein25 (@Klein25) May 11, 2024
Don't overthink this one. Glasnow is the highest-priced pitcher on the slate because he's worth it. The Reds have just two wins in May (it's the 16th, by the way) and can't touch anything Glasnow throws. The pitcher has topped 30 DraftKings points in four straight starts. Let's make it five.
Taijuan Walker vs. NYM ($6.3K DraftKings; $9K FanDuel)
I'm not touching him on FanDuel for the third-highest price, but Walker is a great bargain on DK with only Jose Quintana priced lower. Walker missed the first month of the season and struggled against the Padres in his return, but he has only allowed four runs in 12 1/3 innings since that game against San Diego. Those aren't great numbers, but he's notching strikeouts (15 in 18 2/3 innings) and is playing the Mets.
Also consider: Jared Jones at CHC, Zack Littell at BOS
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Connor Joe – 1B/OF, PIT vs. Justin Steele ($4.4K DK; $3K FD)
Joe is certain to get a start -- likely batting cleanup -- with a lefty on the mound. Joe has three homers in his last four games. One of those came against Justin Steele in Pittsburgh last week. It's not great hitting weather at Wrigley, but it's good enough with Joe hitting like this.
Alex Bregman – 3B, HOU vs. Joey Estes ($4.2K DK; $2.8K FD)
Bregman's price on FanDuel is just absurd. He's still a good value on DK, but that FD price is embarrassing. Bregman had his seven-game hit streak snapped last night, but he still drove in at least one run for a third straight game. He has five hits in 10 tries over those three games. Three of those five hits have left the park. Oh, and he gets one of the best matchups on the slate today. Lock him in on both sites!
Abraham Toro – 2B, OAK vs. Cristian Javier ($3.8K DK; $2.8K FD)
There are hot streaks, then there's Abraham Toro. Most host streaks last a week, maybe two if you're lucky. Toro's has lasted 19 games so far. In that span, he's hitting .393 with two homers, nine RBI, 14 runs scored, and a stolen base just because he can.
Javier's best pitch last year was his four-seam fastball. It makes sense that he would trust it again, but it's not the same pitch in 2024. Opponents are mashing Javier's fastball with a ridiculous .710 slugging percentage off of it. Can you guess which pitch Toro hits best? That's right...the four-seamer with a .313 average and three of his four homers on the season coming against that pitch.
Also consider: Freddie Freeman, Alec Bohm, Jeremy Pena
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Shohei Ohtani - OF, LAD vs. Nick Martinez ($6.5K DK; $4.8K FD)
Ohtani is hitting .462 with five homers, 10 RBI, eight runs scored, and two steals over his last 10 games. All while starting a throwing program to rehab his surgically repaired elbow. If aliens are living among us, Ohtani is one of them. He can't possibly be human, can he?
Shohei Ohtani is the MVP front runner in my eyes. Just look at these numbers:
.361/.427/.680 with 12 HRs, 30 RBIs, 9 stolen bases. 211 wRC+ & 2.8 WAR is second in baseball when he’s not playing defense. Once in a lifetime player. 🦄
pic.twitter.com/3WAornvhWg— Klein25 (@Klein25) May 15, 2024
Nick Castellanos – OF, PHI vs. Jose Quintana ($4.3K DK; $2.8K FD)
Castellanos has two career homers against Jose Quintana and is striking out just 16.3% of the time against him. Couple that with Quintana's absurd home/road splits this year (3.18 ERA at home, 8.20 on the road) and I want every Philly right-hander that I can afford. It starts with Castellanos.
J.D. Martinez – OF, NYM vs. Taijuan Walker ($3.6K DK; $2.8K FD)
It took Martinez a bit to get going, but he still has some life in that bat. Both of his 2024 home runs have come in the last five games. Martinez is hitting .350 in that time with four RBI and three runs scored to go with those homers. It's hard to have much production with an anemic lineup around him, but it is worth noting that Martinez is 7-for-14 with a homer in his career against Walker.
Also consider: Yordan Alvarez, Seiya Suzuki, Randy Arozarena
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Phillies vs. Jose Quintana
- Favorite Plays: Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm, J.T. Realmuto, Edmundo Sosa
2. Astros vs. Joey Estes
- Favorite Plays: Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Jeremy Pena, Jose Altuve
3. Dodgers vs. Nick Martinez
- Favorite Plays: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy
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