Skip to main content

DraftKings MLB Value Plays: (Saturday 5/19)

DraftKings MLB Value Plays: (Saturday 5/19)

The DraftKings main slate this Saturday has eleven games on tap with some excellent high-end arms and a nice mix of values and matchups. I really like all four of the top pitchers on the slate, but they’re not cheap. I’ll go around the horn to uncover some value plays to help you roster one of those studs and have potential to smash in your contests. I’m throwing these at you in a slightly different format today, so if you’re ready, let’s go!

Create DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool partner-arrow

Pitcher

Fernando Romero (MIN): $8,700 vs. MIL

I’ll talk about both these pitchers as they share a lot of matchup similarities. I really like Romero (-119) and Heaney (-174) today. While Heaney is the heavier home favorite, both guys offer similar K upside and have solid matchups. As a whole, both the Brewers and Rays offenses have been below sub-par in 2018, but both teams are top-10 clubs against the respective splits for both pitchers and both teams whiff a modest amount as well. Romero is still somewhat of a young unknown and has the advantage of unfamiliarity against the Milwaukee bats. He’s also $400 less so that could come in handy. Another interesting tidbit is the Brewers have been shutout more than any other team in MLB this year, they’re very boom-or-bust.

Andrew Heaney (LAA): $9,100 vs. TAM

You can pair either of these guys with a high-priced stud and still have room for solid hitting options but Heaney is a bigger favorite because Tampa is making tonight’s game a “bullpen game”. He has more of a track record in comparison to Romero and his underlying metrics are all favorable in suggesting his season to date is the real deal. He’s always had massive potential and now that he’s finally healthy, that’s going a long way in itself. The Angles six-man rotation is paying early dividends with several members of the starting rotation, Heany is certainly in that group. I suggest starting lineup constructions with Heaney as your value arm and then moving down to Romero if you need that $400 of cap room. I usually do the opposite, starting cheaper and upgrading…but not tonight.

Catcher

I really like both C in the Baltimore @ Boston game, however, that game has some significant weather concerns so I’ll likely steer clear. Hopefully, checking weather is something you’ve incorporated into your research at this point in your DFS career. If you’re looking for a solid bat from the backstop position, Kurt Suzuki (ATL): $3,200 should be batting fifth and the Braves are implied to score 5+ runs. If you’re chasing pure power upside in tournaments, I like Mike Zuzino (SEA): $3,200 as he draws the gas can that is Mike Fiers and costs $100 less than Suzuki.

First Base

If you’ve read this article the last two years, you’ll know that I love plugging in Wilmer Flores (NYM): $2,800 when he gets a lefty. He’s been struggling somewhat in 2018, so he’s super cheap. There’s a certain level of comfort knowing he’s always got a chance to go deep versus a southpaw. He’s also 3B eligible.

If you’re able to get up to Albert Pujols (LAA): $3,400, that’s probably a better option in what is Tampa’s “bullpen game” this week. Former closer/set-up man Sergio Romo is currently scheduled to take the bump for the Rays. I also like Tyler Austin (NYY): $3,800 @ KC quite a bit today against Danny Duffy, who just doesn’t look like a good pitcher these days.

Second Base

At the keystone, there are a couple of guys I like in the Big Apple as both Chris Owings (ARI): $2,900 and Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM): $3,600 are in play. Both guys have excellent batted ball metrics the last two weeks with elevated hard hit rates, batted ball speeds and distance. Owings gets a bump on value as he offers OF eligibility and a $700 savings to go with a sharp uptick in flyball rate. He’s looking poised to bust out of his slump and I like him in tournaments, I’ll go safe with Cabrera in cash games though, mainly because he should hit second.

Another player I like a lot due to batting order is Zach Cozart (LAA): $3,500 vs. TAM – he should hit leadoff and has all the batted ball data in his favor right now. He’s a solid play at 3B, which is where I’ll likely be using him, especially in my Angels stack. He’s also cash game viable. I like the Halos a lot today!

Third Base

At the hot corner today, it’s looking pretty sparse as far as value is concerned once we get past Cozart. I’ll personally be using him or going really cheap with Wilmer Flores, as mentioned above. If you’re looking for alternative options, both Brian Anderson (MIA): $3,400 and Miguel Andujar (NYY): $3,400 will run the same price. Andujar is a better play because of the surrounding lineup and the Yankees implied run total is nearly two full runs higher than that of the Marlins going up against a young flamethrower in Sean Newcomb of Atlanta who is absolutely on fire right now. Neither player will likely make my lineups, although I’d really give Andujar a long look in cash games. Anderson is more of a GPP play tonight, he’s also OF eligible.

Shortstop

I hate doing this, using $4,000 guys in this article is something I try to avoid, but I simply can’t. I’m paying up for Didi Gregorius (NYY): $4,000 against Danny Duffy. Plain and Simple. Didi doesn’t care about lefty-on-lefty matchups and you shouldn’t either. He’s been crushing the ball this year and he’s the real deal. A former top prospect, he’s now blossomed into a stud at the plate. If you really are forced to get frugal, look at Nick Ahmed (ARI): $3,000, his platoon splits are favorable and he unlocks $1,000 for you, but I can’t endorse playing him when Didi is so much better.

Outfield

I like all the Yankees OF today, and the value comes in the form of Aaron Hicks (NYY): $3,500 and for a little higher price tag, Brett Gardner (NYY): $3,900. It’s not going out on a limb telling you to play the Bronx Bombers, but get some sort of exposure to them in cash games.

I also like Mariners Dee Gordon (SEA): $3,600 and Ben Gamel (SEA): $2,600 against the Tigers awful pitching today. Gordon is $1,000 more but offers major stolen base potential from the leadoff spot while Gamel offers a cheap punt with solid platoon splits near the bottom of the order.

Max Kepler (MIN): $3,300 is posting all the good data we like, elevated hard-hit rate, high flyball rate with increased batted ball distance and exit velocities s to boot. I like his odds of running into one today against rookie Freddy Peralta. He’s a good play in all formats for sneaky HR upside.

Some guys I like as one-off plays in tournaments tonight are Shin-Soo Choo (TEX): $3,500 @ CHW and Jose Pirela (SD): $3,100 @ PIT. These guys should both garner low ownership this evening and both have potential to have a big game in a solid matchup. Pirela has the better batted ball data of the two, with sharp upticks in exit velocity the last two weeks, but he is in a pitcher-friendly park tonight at PNC. Choo has a much more favorable environment this evening, but I still give the nod to Pirela as he also offers roster flexibility with 2B eligibility. I also mentioned Chris Owings and Brian Anderson above, both carry OF eligibility, but I like all the guys listed here ahead of them tonight.

Josh Dalley is a DFS correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, follow him on Twitter @JoshDalley72.

More Articles

10 Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Stash Now (2024)

10 Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Stash Now (2024)

fp-headshot by Chris Welsh | 4 min read
Fantasy Baseball Saves + Holds Rankings & Waiver Wire Targets (Week 5)

Fantasy Baseball Saves + Holds Rankings & Waiver Wire Targets (Week 5)

fp-headshot by Joel Bartilotta | 4 min read
Fantasy Baseball Injury Stash Rankings & Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 5)

Fantasy Baseball Injury Stash Rankings & Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 5)

fp-headshot by Joel Bartilotta | 4 min read
6 Fantasy Baseball Players Trending Up & Down (Week 5)

6 Fantasy Baseball Players Trending Up & Down (Week 5)

fp-headshot by Hunter Langille | 3 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

4 min read

10 Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Stash Now (2024)

Next Up - 10 Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Stash Now (2024)

Next Article