Today is ideal for comparing DFS slates. Both DraftKings and FanDuel have identical slates we will be looking at. For today’s recommendations, we will be looking at the slate beginning at 5:05 p.m. ET, which includes eight games.
Saturday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Saturday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (5/17)
- Pablo Lopez had his worst start of the season in his last start. It was still not that bad with four earned runs over six innings with six strikeouts (12.7 fantasy points). He still has a top-12 strikeout-walk rate at 23.2%. Today, he gets to take on the Milwaukee Brewers. They have the worst team wRC+ in May.
- Unlike Lopez, coming off his worst, Ronel Blanco is coming off his best start. In his last start, he didn’t allow an earned run over eight innings with 11 strikeouts. He leaned into throwing his slider more in that outing. If he does that again, we’ll see if he can have similar strikeout numbers against a Giants team that is tied for seventh in strikeouts.
- Opposing Ronel Blanco in that game is Landen Roupp. His ERA is nearly 5.00, but the expected ERA is only 3.42. He has been quite unlucky with a .345 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) against and 14.3% of his fly balls have turned into home runs. If he can get a bit more luck, he could post a solid start for $6,800 against the Astros, who have been much worse on the road offensively than at home.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Los Angeles Dodgers Projected Lineup (5/17)
Today is ideal for comparing DFS slates. Both DraftKings and FanDuel have identical slates we will be looking at. For today’s recommendations, we will be looking at the slate beginning at 5:05 p.m. ET, which includes eight games.
Saturday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Saturday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (5/17)
- Pablo Lopez had his worst start of the season in his last start. It was still not that bad with four earned runs over six innings with six strikeouts (12.7 fantasy points). He still has a top-12 strikeout-walk rate at 23.2%. Today, he gets to take on the Milwaukee Brewers. They have the worst team wRC+ in May.
- Unlike Lopez, coming off his worst, Ronel Blanco is coming off his best start. In his last start, he didn’t allow an earned run over eight innings with 11 strikeouts. He leaned into throwing his slider more in that outing. If he does that again, we’ll see if he can have similar strikeout numbers against a Giants team that is tied for seventh in strikeouts.
- Opposing Ronel Blanco in that game is Landen Roupp. His ERA is nearly 5.00, but the expected ERA is only 3.42. He has been quite unlucky with a .345 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) against and 14.3% of his fly balls have turned into home runs. If he can get a bit more luck, he could post a solid start for $6,800 against the Astros, who have been much worse on the road offensively than at home.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Los Angeles Dodgers Projected Lineup (5/17)
| POS |
PLAYER |
DraftKings Salary |
FanDuel Salary |
| 1B/OF |
Shohei Ohtani |
$6,600 |
$4,800 |
| SS/2B + OF (FD) |
Mookie Betts |
$5,700 |
$4,000 |
| 1B |
Freddie Freeman |
$6,300 |
$4,400 |
| C |
Will Smith |
$4,600 |
$3,200 |
| 1B/2B/3B + OF (FD) |
Enrique Hernandez |
$3,200 |
$2,700 |
| OF |
Andy Pages |
$4,200 |
$3,400 |
| OF |
Michael Conforto |
$3,100 |
$2,800 |
| 2B/OF |
Chris Taylor |
$2,200 |
$2,100 |
| 2B/3B |
Miguel Rojas |
$2,500 |
$2,300 |
- Tyler Anderson‘s season-long stat line shows only a 2.58 ERA. He is doing that despite a minuscule 30.5% ground ball rate, which is the fourth-lowest mark in the league. Because of that, his true talent markers, such as FIP and SIERA, are both nearly two runs higher. A matchup with the Dodgers could see his actual ERA rise substantially.
- Only the Yankees have a higher OPS against left-handed pitchers than the Dodgers. While it’s going to cost you to get multiple Dodgers in your lineup, there are plenty of strong options.
- Finding a way to get Shohei Ohtani into your lineup is always advisable. Not only is he scorching hot in May with a 1.369 OPS, but he has four extra-base hits off Anderson in his career in only seven at-bats.
- Only Danny Jansen has a higher hard-hit rate against left-handed pitching than Will Smith among catchers this season. Smith has an absurd 252 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this season.
- Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are also in play, but to get all of the top options in your lineup is going to be costly. If you want some cheaper options, consider Michael Conforto or Miguel Rojas. Conforto has had a tough start to his Dodgers career, but has five doubles in the past week. He also has a reverse split going early in the season with a .751 OPS against left-handed pitching. Rojas has always been better against left-handed pitching with a career OPS of .718 against left-handed pitchers.
San Diego Padres Projected Lineup (5/17)
| POS |
PLAYER |
DraftKings Salary |
FanDuel Salary |
| OF |
Fernando Tatis Jr. |
$5,800 |
$4,200 |
| 1B/2B (FD) |
Luis Arraez |
$4,300 |
$2,900 |
| 3B |
Manny Machado |
$5,500 |
$3,600 |
| OF |
Jackson Merrill |
$6,000 |
$4,100 |
| SS/2B (FD) |
Xander Bogaerts |
$4,000 |
$3,100 |
| 1B/OF (FD) |
Gavin Sheets |
$4,000 |
$3,000 |
| 2B/1B (FD) |
Jake Cronenworth |
$4,100 |
$3,400 |
| C |
Elias Diaz |
$3,600 |
$2,700 |
| OF |
Brandon Lockridge |
$2,700 |
$2,400 |
- We’re going to stick to the National League West for the second lineup to stack. The Padres have a top-10 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season. Today’s matchup is against Emerson Hancock, who has struggled to this point.
- In Hancock’s last start, he surrendered seven earned runs over five innings. A big reason for his issues was the three home runs allowed in that start. He’s giving up barrels over 10% of the time.
- Fernando Tatis Jr. is a high-priced option in the Padres’ lineup. He can do damage against anyone, but has been especially remarkable against right-handed pitchers this season with a 1.052 OPS. He also has a 40.8% hard-hit rate, showing that if he can elevate the ball against Hancock, home runs could be in the forecast.
- Gavin Sheets is a bit of a cheaper option, but he has also put up some impressive numbers against right-handed pitchers this season. He has an .869 OPS against right-handed pitchers as opposed to a .488 against left-handed pitchers. He isn’t making hard contact quite as much as Tatis, but 37% is a respectable mark in its own right.
- Finally, if you’re looking for a cheap option at catcher, consider Elias Diaz. He is another player in the Padres’ lineup who is better against right-handed pitchers and is hitting fly balls 44.8% of the time.
Core Studs
- Ketel Marte has dialed in his home run swing recently, with five home runs in the past week. With his history against German Marquez, he may very well add to his total today. He is 12-for-42 against Marquez in his career with six extra-base hits, including two home runs.
- Randy Arozarena has yet to hit a home run in May, but a matchup with Nick Pivetta could change that. Arozarena is 10-for-25 against Pivetta in his career with three home runs.
- One more batter who has had success against his opposing starting pitcher is Nolan Arenado. He will be opposed by Seth Lugo today. Arenado is 6-for-13 against Lugo in his career with three home runs.
Value Plays/Punts
- Rhys Hoskins’ value hasn’t caught up to his production. Hoskins has been one of the rare bright spots in the Brewers’ offense. For the season, his OPS is now .858. In the past two weeks, it’s even more impressive at .964.
- It’s a similar story with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. He had a miserable start to the season, but has turned it around over the past two weeks with three home runs and a 1.018 OPS. He is opposed by German Marquez, who has given up 50 hits in only 37 innings.
- One of the opposing players in that game is Ryan McMahon. He has been brutal on the road this season, but he has an extensive history against Zac Gallen. McMahon is 10-for-36 against Gallen in his career with three doubles.
Saturday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
The Brewers’ struggles on offense were referenced earlier. Since the start of May, they have struck out 25.5% of the time, which is the third-worst mark in baseball. Yesterday, they struck out 16 times as a team. Pablo Lopez has cleared this number in his last six starts.
Jose Ramirez has been on a tear in May with a 1.135 OPS. He has eclipsed this mark in six of his last nine games, including the last three. The Reds are expected to have a bullpen game today, which will be started by left-handed pitcher Brent Suter. Ramirez is a switch-hitter who can produce from either side, but he has a 1.125 OPS against left-handed pitching.
Clayton Kershaw is making his Major League season debut today for the Dodgers. He has made five rehab starts to prepare for his debut. He threw roughly 60 pitches in four of those starts and peaked at 66.
That’s why you’re getting this low of a number, but against the Angels, it may not matter. They are tops in the league in strikeout rate in May (29.4%). It’s even higher against left-handed pitchers (30%). In 65 pitches, Kershaw should still be able to get four strikeouts.
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