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Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The early part of the MLB season has been good to me, so I'm looking to build off that momentum and hit the ground running as we progress into the 2024 campaign. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's slate!
We have some really interesting matchups today. The pitching mix offers a strong selection of reliable aces and midrange starters, which will certainly lead to some interesting lineup decisions. I'll point out the standout plays, but there will be plenty of opportunity to get creative with your picks today.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 6/2/2024 and the slate locking at 1:05 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.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Freddy Peralta vs. Chicago White Sox ($11K DK, $10.7K FD)
Freddy Peralta is the most expensive pitcher on this slate, and, all things considered, that really should not come as a surprise. Peralta is enjoying another strong campaign, featuring a 3.66 xERA and a 3.12 xFIP across 11 starts. He has shut down opposing hitters, who have generated just a .225 xBA, a 33.8% hard-hit rate, and an 86.1 mph average exit velocity. Most remarkably, Peralta strikes out hitters at an elite 32.5% rate alongside a 33.2% whiff rate. He is coming off an 11-strikeout performance against the Chicago Cubs, and similar results would not be unexpected today.
Peralta will square off against baseball's weakest offense today, the Chicago White Sox. Chicago is plating a league-worst 2.9 runs per game on the season. That includes an abysmal 75 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, alongside a .274 wOBA and a 23% strikeout rate. The return of Luis Robert Jr. is imminent, but even if he is active today, he alone is not enough to make this offense competitive.
Ben Brown vs. Cincinnati Reds ($8.3K DK, $8.8K FD)
Though he is certainly riskier than Freddy Peralta, Ben Brown is an attractive pitcher to roster today at a much more approachable price tag. Brown is fresh off the best outing of his young career, striking out 10 batters over seven no-hit innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. Overall, he sports an outstanding 2.72 ERA across 46.1 innings pitched this season. Although regression is likely, Brown's 3.31 xFIP supports his current success. Further, Brown is striking out hitters at a fantastic 29.9% rate with a 31.7% whiff rate, which effectively outlines his fantasy upside.
Ben Brown's Knuckle Curve is the most valuable curveball in baseball
It has returned a Run Value of 9 while no other curveball has a Run Value greater than 5
The pitch has returned a ridiculous 50.4 Whiff% pic.twitter.com/bNfM2HI0F6
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) May 29, 2024
Despite featuring some big names like Elly De La Cruz, the Cincinnati Reds are a very favorable matchup for Brown. They are scoring fewer than 4.1 runs per game on the season. That mark includes an awful 82 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, alongside a .289 wOBA and a gratuitous 27.1% strikeout rate.
Also Consider: Cole Ragans, Nick Lodolo, Brandon Pfaadt, Hunter Brown
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Rafael Devers - 3B, BOS vs. Casey Mize ($5.9K DK, $3.9K FD)
Rafael Devers is having another fantastic season at the dish. He's slashing .278/.370/.522 with 10 home runs and a 146 wRC+. That success includes predictably great underlying numbers, such as a .518 xSLG, 14.7% barrel rate, 47.3% hard-hit rate, and a 92.4 mph average exit velocity.
Casey Mize is one of the more mediocre arms available on today's slate. Over 10 outings, he sports an uninspiring 4.38 xERA. The struggles include getting crushed by opposing hitters to the tune of a .444 xSLG, 43.9% hard-hit rate, .282 xBA, and a 90.6 mph average exit velocity. Right-handed hitters have had their way with Mize in 2024, but left-handed hitters are slugging .485 against him for his career.
Oneil Cruz - SS, PIT vs. Chris Bassitt ($4.4K DK, $2.9K FD)
2024 has not been the breakout campaign many had hoped for from Oneil Cruz, but he remains a constant power threat. Cruz features some truly elite batted-ball metrics, such as a 95.1 mph average exit velocity, 52.8% hard-hit rate, and a 17.6% barrel rate. While his .715 OPS isn't terribly exciting, Cruz has been a night-and-day better hitter against right-handed pitching. He is slugging .504 against righties, with a .206 ISO and a 141 wRC+.
At 35 years old, Chris Bassitt is certainly beyond his prime. Through 11 starts, he sports a middling 4.23 xERA and a 4.06 xFIP. Bassitt's struggles can largely be attributed to his inability to suppress left-handed power. Lefties are slugging .491 against Bassitt this season, down from a .504 mark in 2023. He has additionally been unable to generate swing-and-misses with his 20.2% whiff rate. That is great news for Oneil Cruz, whose alarming strikeout rate is the main thing holding him back.
Colt Keith - 2B, DET vs. Brayan Bello ($2.8K DK, $2.5K FD)
Colt Keith had a rough start to his major league career, but he is fresh off a fantastic performance in May. Over 24 games played, the rookie produced a .342/.388/.493 slash line with two home runs and a 152 wRC+. The breakout is not surprising, considering Keith was the No. 22 ranked prospect in baseball entering the 2024 campaign. He generated a .890 OPS in the minor leagues last season and a .977 OPS the season prior, and Keith's 60-grade power stroke underscores his ceiling.
Brayan Bello's 54% groundball rate limits the damage he takes, but that does not excuse him from the fact that he gets hit hard. Opposing hitters have produced a 41.6% hard-hit rate against Bello this season, down from a 44.3% hard-hit rate in 2023. He has been particularly brutalized by left-handed hitters, surrendering a .454 slugging percentage this season, part of a .485 career mark.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Christian Yelich - OF, MIL vs. Nick Nastrini ($5.5K DK, $4.3K FD)
Christian Yelich is worth his steep price if you can find the salary. He boasts a .971 OPS for the season with six home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 174 wRC+ over 31 games. Yelich's advanced numbers are further outstanding, featuring a .502 xSLG, 55.1% hard-hit rate, .315 xBA, and a 92.2 mph average exit velocity.
WOW!
This view of Christian Yelich's 441-foot homer 😍 pic.twitter.com/miOqOTvQfM
— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2024
Nick Nastrini will be a preferred pitcher to target against today. His major league career is only four starts, but the results have not been pretty. Nastrini has surrendered a 7.89 xERA and a 7.15 xFIP, and his minor league numbers were not terribly impressive either. Opposing hitters have generated a .571 xSLG and a 16.4% barrel rate against Nastrini this season.
Davis Schneider - 2B/OF, TOR vs. Quinn Priester ($4.6K DK, $3.6K FD)
Davis Schneider has been one of the Toronto Blue Jays' most consistent hitters this season, sporting a .792 OPS with seven home runs and a 137 wRC+. The underlying numbers suggest that better days are ahead for Schneider, too, including a .341 xwOBA, 15.1% barrel rate, 20% chase rate, and a 90.7 mph average exit velocity.
Quinn Priester has not looked good in the major leagues so far. He carries a 5.00 xERA this season, down from a horrible 6.28 xERA in 2023. Priester's struggles are headlined by surrendering a generous 50% hard-hit rate and a .482 xSLG while striking out just 13.8% of hitters.
Adam Duvall - OF, ATL vs. Luis Medina ($3.8K DK, $2.9K FD)
It's been a brutal season for Adam Duvall, with a .650 OPS and only five home runs. That said, the advanced numbers suggest he's ready to turn things around. Duvall has generated a strong .469 xSLG, a 12.1% barrel rate, and a .339 xwOBA. He slugged .531 with 21 home runs across 92 games played last season, so it's likely the 35-year-old still has something worthwhile left in the tank.
Following a preseason injury, Luis Medina will make his 2024 debut today. The 25-year-old had a tough go of it during his first MLB exposure last season, producing a 4.80 xERA and a 4.77 xFIP across 109.2 innings pitched. Those struggles include allowing a .465 slugging percentage to right-handed hitters. Based on the 14.62 ERA Medina posted over his three minor-league rehab appearances, we should not expect to see a remarkably better pitcher today.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Atlanta Braves vs. Luis Medina
- Favorite Plays: Marcell Ozuna, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Adam Duvall
2. Milwaukee Brewers vs. Nick Nastrini
- Favorite Plays: Christian Yelich, William Contreras, Willy Adames, Rhys Hoskins, Brice Turang
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