It is Thursday, May 26th and for a change, we have a medium-sized instead of a small-sized slate tonight! This article will be focused on picks for the 10-game 6:40 pm slate on FanDuel. We are going to lead things off with Freddie Freeman (C/1B, $3,800). The Dodgers are implied for 5.5 runs tonight and Freeman has as much upside as anyone on the slate and comes in under $4,000 providing a great potential value. He is projected to bat second and is facing a pitcher in Humberto Castellanos that is allowing 1.26 HR/9 and a hard-hit rate of 36.9%. Freeman is off to a slow start with just three home runs thus far but has an on-base percentage of .389 and should be a source of run-scoring and runs batted in.
New to DFS? You can start playing right now on FanDuel and put our picks to the test. If you’re scared of feeling like a small fish in a big pond, be sure to read our content and subscribe to the DFSBot for your daily baseball plays. Just remember to sign up through us before jumping into the fray, it helps support your Razzball team!
Shohei Ohtani, SP: $9,900 – Ohtani is priced up with Eric Lauer and Nestor Cortes, but is less expensive than either of the three, likely because he is facing Toronto. Ohtani has a 34% strikeout rate (highest on the slate), a 2.45 SIERA (lowest on the slate), and has allowed just 0.70 HR/9 this season. Additionally, the Angels are the highest-scoring team in the American League and the Angels are a (-162) favorite. While Toronto doesn’t strike out a ton (21.8% strikeout rate, 19th highest in baseball), this offense has been disappointing. They are 21st in on-base percentage, tied for 13th in ISO, and have scored fewer runs than…… Baltimore.
Frankie Montas, SP: $8,800 – Montas is another play I really like on this slate. Oakland is favored and at home making for a favorable pitching environment. This season Montas has a strikeout rate of 27.4% and a SIERA of 3.08. While Texas has just the 14th-highest strikeout rate, their offense has not been great either. They have scored the ninth-fewest runs, have the third-lowest on-base percentage, and have the 10th lowest ISO. Montas has a great chance at a quality start, a win, with some strikeout ability.
C.J. Cron, C/1B: $3,900 – The Rockies are in Washington D.C. facing Patrick Corbin. Corbin is always a pitcher to target in DFS, as his SIERA is 4.44, he is allowing 1.24 HR/9 and a hard-hit rate of 39.3%. Cron has a .420 wOBA and .280 ISO against left-handed pitching this season. Because Freeman is less expensive than him in a better spot, and because people do not often roster the Rockies away from Coors Field, Cron makes for a nice tournament pivot.
Chad Pinder, 2B: $2,400 – Pinder has a .210 ISO against lefties this season facing Martin Perez. He should bat third. Second base is a position that I often punt, and would likely have to if creating a lineup with Ohtani, Freeman/Cron in it. When I punt, I try to find someone with some pop that is batting as high up in the order I can find.
Anthony Rendon, 3B: $3,100 – Rendon and the Angels will be facing Hyun-Jin Ryu. Rendon has a .290 ISO and .370 wOBA against left-handed pitching. The wind should be blowing out to left field. Ryu is allowing 1.5 HR/9 and 35.5% hard contact.
Gleyber Torres, SS: $2,700 – Torres is MASHING left-handed pitching so far this season. It is a small sample size but a .390 wOBA and .410 ISO just jump off the page. With Stanton out of the lineup, he should be batting clean-up. Ryan Yarbrough does not give up much hard contact, but he has a 4.85 SIERA this season.
Byron Buxton, OF: $3,900 – Buxton against a lefty for under $4K? Almost automatic for me, given how well he has played against left-handed pitching this season (.486 wOBA, .500 ISO). Daniel Lynch has a 4.47 SIERA this season.
Enrique Hernandez, OF: $2,900 – If looking more for a good value play, Hernandez is the way to go. Likely leading off, his splits against left-handed pitching are tremendous: .350 wOBA and .180 ISO vs. .230 wOBA and .110 ISO against right-handed pitching. Weather is a concern here, but if they are able to play the game, the Red Sox should put up runs against Dallas Keuchel tonight.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
There are several spots with weather concerns
Cleveland @ Detroit – potential rainout
Philadelphia @ Atlanta – potential rainout
Milwaukee @ Saint Louis – there is likely to be some rain, they could play tonight
Boston @ Chicago – a similar situation to Saint Louis.
Check weather updates and make sure to have pivots if these are games you are targeting. All the weather games are in the early part of the slate. Toronto – L.A. Angels, Dodgers – Diamondbacks, and Texas-Oakland are where your pivot spots need to come from to avoid zeros on the slate.
It turns out that this medium-sized slate could potentially turn into a small slate after all!
Doing Lines In Vegas
I like the Nationals over the Rockies tonight (-117). For as bad as Corbin has been, this has been German Marquez’sworst season so far. Washington has a little more firepower at the plate and a better bullpen. Colorado might be the better choice for the first five innings, but over the course of the game, the Nationals likely win out.
