The final full week of May greets us with a nine-game slate, but it could be impacted by weather, so be sure to check forecasts as the day unfolds. Let’s take a look at a lineup for DraftKings.
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Pitcher
Michael Pineda (NYY): $10,500 vs. KC
Keep an eye on the weather in New York, as Pineda sticks out as a great GPP play tonight. This is a plus matchup, as the Royals rank 27th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching, while they strike out 21.5% of the time. Pineda carries a high 10.46 K/9 to go with a solid 1.52 BB/9, but he continues to be stung by the long ball. Still, his HR/FB rate of 25% is bound to come back down soon, which should only improve his prospects going forward. He’s got a solid floor, and his strikeout ability gives him enough upside to emerge as a great tournament play tonight.
Mike Foltynewicz (ATL): $7,500 vs. PIT
While the weather could ultimately intervene in this game and Foltynewicz’s outing, I don’t mind utilizing him as an SP2 if the rain holds off. The Pirates don’t strike out a ton against right-handed pitching (18.2%), but they do rank 28th in wRC+. There’s plenty of risk involved with Foltynewicz in a vacuum, and when you toss in a park that’s been conducive to hitters that will certainly be the case tonight. This is why he should be limited to GPPs.
Other Notables
- Zack Greinke (ARI): $12,000 vs. CWS
- John Lackey (CHC): $9,000 vs. SF (GPP; weather risk)
- J.C. Ramirez (LAA): $7,300 @ TB (GPP)
Catcher
Tony Wolters (COL): $2,800 @ PHI
Wolters had the day off yesterday, so I expect him to be back in the lineup tonight against the Phillies. Opposing pitcher Jerad Eickhoff has some extremely wide splits, as he’s allowed a .350 wOBA to lefties, against a .257 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Wolters doesn’t have phenomenal numbers against right-handed pitching (.332 wOBA/.137 ISO), but he’s cheap exposure to a pitcher that has struggled with left-handed batters.
Other Notables
- Gary Sanchez (NYY): $4,700 vs. KC
- Willson Contreras (CHC): $3,600 vs. SF
First Base
Tommy Joseph (PHI): $3,800 vs. COL
Joseph has shown decent power against left-handed pitching in the past (.210 ISO), and he will face one that has allowed six home runs in just 18 IP to right-handed hitters. While this is certainly too small of a sample to make a concrete projection, I don’t mind taking a flier on Joseph’s power upside at home at this price, especially with the likelihood that he comes in as a lower-owned option.
Other Notables
- Paul Goldschmidt (ARI): $5,500 vs. CWS
- Joey Votto (CIN): $4,900 vs. CLE (GPP)
- Chris Davis (BAL): $4,700 vs. MIN (GPP)
- Josh Bell (PIT): $4,200 @ ATL (GPP)
- Matt Holliday (NYY): $4,000 vs. KC
Second Base
Ben Zobrist (CHC): $3,900 vs. SF
Zobrist isn’t an exciting pick, but he provides cheap exposure to the Cubs’ offense. If he continues to stick in the leadoff spot, it’s hard not to like him this evening. Zobrist has produced a .373 wOBA against lefties over the past couple of seasons, and with the Cubs having an implied run total pushing six, there should be plenty of chances to produce.
Other Notables
- Jose Altuve (HOU): $4,800 vs. DET (GPP)
- Starlin Castro (NYY): $4,300 vs. KC
- Jason Kipnis (CLE): $4,300 @ CIN
- Ian Happ (CHC): $3,900 vs. SF (GPP)
Third Base
Kris Bryant (CHC): $5,100 vs. SF
Bryant has crushed left-handed pitching to the tune of a .418 wOBA/.299 ISO line in his career, and with the wind likely blowing straight out to center field, it’s hard not to love Bryant’s massive upside. He will be highly sought after tonight, but sometimes you need to eat the chalk. Keep an eye on the weather, but if it looks like the game will be played, be sure to lock Bryant into your lineups.
Other Notables
- Jake Lamb (ARI): $5,600 vs. CWS (GPP)
- Miguel Sano (MIN): $4,700 @ BAL (GPP)
- Evan Longoria (TB): $4,100 vs. LAA (GPP)
Shortstop
Addison Russell (CHC): $3,700 vs. SF
Russell rounds out my trio of Chicago hitters tonight. Like Ben Zobrist, he provides reasonable exposure to an offense with the highest implied run total of the night. Russell isn’t an exciting hitter, but you don’t need to be when your surrounding cast is as strong as his. Ty Blach has an xFIP over five, and he hasn’t shown the ability to strikeout hitters, which is going to get him into trouble against this offense.
Other Notables
- Francisco Lindor (CLE): $4,600 @ CIN
- Carlos Correa (HOU): $4,600 vs. DET (GPP)
- Tim Beckham (TB): $3,300 vs. LAA
Outfielders
Adam Duvall (CIN): $4,500 vs. CLE
Josh Tomlin has allowed a .363 wOBA and 2.14 HR/9 to right-handed hitters in his last 147 innings pitched, and this matchup sets up well for Duvall. Duvall has posted a .255 ISO against right-handed pitchers over the last couple of seasons, and he will get the benefit of hitting at home tonight. While there are certainly some other higher priced options in play, I think the Reds could fly under the radar a bit tonight, which draws me to them in tournament play.
David Peralta (ARI): $4,500 vs. CWS
Peralta sports a solid .379 wOBA/.208 ISO against right-handed pitching, and he will face a pitcher in Miguel Gonzalez who has struggled against lefties in the past. Since 2015, Gonzalez has allowed a .330 wOBA and 1.28 HR/9 to left-handed hitters, and his fly ball tendencies could get him into trouble tonight. The Diamondbacks rank fifth in terms of wRC+ against right-handed pitching, which has led to them having an implied team total of five runs this evening. Peralta is a great way to obtain access to this offense without breaking the bank.
Carlos Gonzalez (COL): $3,700 @ PHI
Gonzalez can be a particularly streaky hitter, and with him hitting his first home run in nearly a month yesterday, (I did call it yesterday morning…humble brag!) this could be the start of something positive. He collected four hits in 11 at-bats over the weekend, including yesterday’s home run, and he could not draw a better matchup tonight. I noted Eickhoff’s awful splits earlier, and with him in a good park environment, Gonzalez is in a great position to keep things rolling in a good direction tonight.
Other Notables
- Mike Trout (LAA): $5,500 @ TB (GPP)
- Charlie Blackmon (COL): $5,400 @ PHI (GPP)
- J.D. Martinez (DET): $5,200 @ HOU (GPP)
- Billy Hamilton (CIN): $4,700 vs. CLE (GPP)
- Scott Schebler (CIN): $3,900 vs. CLE
- Lonnie Chisenhall (CLE): $3,700 @ CIN
- Seth Smith (BAL): $3,600 vs. MIN
My Lineup
- SP – Michael Pineda (NYY): $10,500 vs. KC
- SP – Mike Foltynewicz (ATL): $7,500 vs. PIT
- C – Tony Wolters (COL): $2,800 @ PHI
- 1B – Tommy Joseph (PHI): $3,800 vs. COL
- 2B – Ben Zobrist (CHC): $3,900 vs. SF
- 3B – Kris Bryant (CHC): $5,100 vs. SF
- SS – Addison Russell (CHC): $3,700 vs. SF
- OF – Adam Duvall (CIN): $4,500 vs. CLE
- OF – David Peralta (ARI): $4,500 vs. CWS
- OF – Carlos Gonzalez (COL): $3,700 @ PHI
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Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.