MLB DFS Picks & Playbook For Today’s Games: Sunday, May 19
![Corbin Burnes MLB DFS May 19](https://d29m18w01sxjzp.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/source/fatest/gettyimages-2151959298-594x594-1000x600.jpg)
Published: May 19, 2024
Today's early slate features 11 games!
Additionally, there are no weather concerns for any of the early matchups, allowing for a wide range of different lineups being played across both fantasy platforms.
Check out today's MLB playbook below before you get your lineups in on DraftKings and FanDuel as we present our MLB DFS picks for today, May 19th!
MLB DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, May 19
MLB Weather Today, 5/19
- No Weather Concerns!!!
MLB DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
You'll want to take your chances with Corbin Burnes as your pitcher. If you need two pitchers for DraftKings, consider going with Burnes and a mid-tier option like Carlos Rodon, who is trending in the right direction and facing a lousy Chicago White Sox team today.
There are also so many hitters to choose from. The best stacks I'd recommend are the Yankees' lefties and Brewers' righties.
Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers
Top Options For Strikeouts
- Corbin Burnes (6.5, -135) vs. Seattle Mariners
- Aaron Nola (6.5, -115) vs. Washington Nationals
- Carlos Rodon (6.5, -105) vs. Chicago White Sox
- Tanner Bibee (6.5, +135) vs. Minnesota Twins
Best Odds For A Win
- Aaron Nola (-110) vs. Washington Nationals
- Carlos Rodon (+125) vs. Chicago White Sox
- Michael Lorenzen (+130) vs. Los Angeles Angels
- Sean Manaea (+150) vs. Miami Marlins
- Brady Singer (+150) vs. Oakland Athletics
- Nick Pivetta (+160) vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Core MLB DFS Pitchers
Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles
Although Corbin Burnes's strikeout rate has dropped slightly this season, he's still held opponents to a .117 ISO and a wOBA of .259. Meanwhile, Burnes has limited walks to 6.6% and has added 51.7% of ground balls, with only 19% of fly balls and 19.7% of line drives allowed this year.
He'll be in line to face a Mariners projected lineup that has struck out 28.1% of the time against righties. Only Josh Rojas has struck out below 23% in Seattle's lineup. With eight strikeout targets, Burnes is clearly the best pitcher on today's early slate.
Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies
If you had to decide between Burnes or Nola, I'd run with Burnes. That said, Nola should still have a terrific outing. Aaron Nola is facing a Nationals' projected lineup that has added a .139 ISO and wOBA of .291 against righties this season. Additionally, the Nationals have struck out 24.5% of the time against righties using the projected lineup.
Meanwhile, Nola has held teams to a .143 ISO and wOBA of .285 but has only struck out 19.1% of lefties and allowed a .196 ISO to lefties. That would worry me, knowing Nola has to face six lefties in the Washington order. But overall, all signs point to Nola putting together another quality start.
Brady Singer, Kansas City Royals
The Oakland Athletics have been kind of good against righties this season. The projected lineup has hit a .194 ISO and wOBA of .348. However, the projected lineup has also struck out 26.1% of the time against righties. It'll be more challenging to dominate Brady Singer in today's game.
Singer has struck out 24.6% of batters this season. He's also induced more than 50% of grounders and has allowed only 20.3% of fly balls. Beyond that, he's given up just 7.7% of walks. Singer isn't the best option, but picking a contrarian isn't an awful idea if you want to be a contrarian.
Carlos Rodon, New York Yankees
Carlos Rodon has been inconsistent this season. However, he has still struck out 23.3% of batters and limited walks to 6.7%. If he can continue to do those two things well, he'll survive against the Chicago White Sox offense.
The White Sox's projected lineup has hit a .156 ISO and wOBA of .262 with 26.7% of strikeouts against lefties. So, while Rodon doesn't have the best stats to back up playing him, the White Sox make playing Rodon much easier. Chicago's lineup has walked just 6.1% of the time against lefties.
Aaron Civale, Tampa Bay Rays
Aaron Civale is another inconsistent pitcher, who has a terrific matchup today. I won't guarantee high strikeouts, but a quality start is in the cards.
Civale is facing a Blue Jays lineup that has combined to hit a .124 ISO and wOBA of .294. They've got four starters with a strikeout rate of 25.3% and only two players who have hit for power consistently against righties this season.
Civale has allowed a high line drive rate and has induced fewer grounders. But he's ultimately been worse against lefties and would only face three lefties in Toronto's lineup.
Recommended MLB DFS Hitters
Highest Expected Run Totals
- New York Yankees (4.5, -140) vs. Chicago White Sox
- Kansas City Royals (4.5, -130) vs. Oakland Athletics
- New York Mets (4.5, -110) vs. Miami Marlins
- Texas Rangers (4.5, -110) vs. Los Angeles Angels
- Philadelphia Phillies (4.5, -105) vs. Washington Nationals
- Houston Astros (4.5, -105) vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Core MLB DFS Hitters
Tyler O'Neill, OF, Boston Red Sox
Tyler O'Neill has slugged a .294 ISO and wOBA of .449 against lefties this season. While his strikeouts are also high against lefties, O'Neill has walked 22.7% of the time against lefties. He's hit 36.8% of fly balls against lefties this season and has slugged a 57.9% hard contact rate. He also leads the Red Sox with a 21.1% barrel percentage against left-handed pitching.
He'll face off against Matthew Liberatore of the Cardinals, who has allowed a .216 ISO and wOBA of .390 to his first 60 righties. Liberatore has only struck out 20% of righties and has dished out 11.7% of walks. He's also allowed 29.3% of line drives to righties. Therefore, O'Neill should probably be in your lineup today.
Juan Soto, OF, Alex Verdugo, OF, Anthony Rizzo, 1B, New York Yankees
You'll want to add some Yankees to your player pool today. The Yankees face Chris Flexen of the White Sox, a right-handed pitcher who has allowed lefties a .308 ISO and a wOBA of .369 this year. Flexen has been much better against righties this year but gave up a .280 ISO and wOBA of .439 to 256 righties last season.
That said, I'd get the lefties from the Yankees in the lineup before the righties. Those lefties include Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, and Anthony Rizzo. Soto has hit a .224 ISO and wOBA of .408 with only 14.5% of strikeouts and 16.4% of walks against righties. Meanwhile, Alex Verdugo has hit a .183 ISO and wOBA of .343 with only 6.5% of strikeouts.
Finally, Anthony Rizzo has smacked a .213 ISO and wOBA of .374 against righties this season. He's only struck out 17.8% of the time against righties. You'll also want to consider Anthony Volpe, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton. But I'd recommend adding the lefties before the righties. After all, Flexen has held righties to a .080 ISO and wOBA of .280 this season.
Josh Lowe, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Since returning from injury, Josh Lowe has hit a .273 ISO and wOBA of .379 against righties this season. The left-handed bat has struck out under 22% of the time and has hit 32% of line drives with 60% of hard contact against righties this season.
Lowe is in line to face Alek Manoah of the Blue Jays. Manoah has been better against righties but has still struggled against lefties. He's given up a .321 ISO and wOBA of .443 to his first 31 lefties. Lowe and Manoah have small sample sizes. But the numbers certainly check out heading into today's matchup.
Joey Ortiz, 2B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers
This season, Joey Ortiz has smoked right-handed pitching. However, it feels like nobody is talking about it. Ortiz has hit a .301 ISO and wOBA of .455 with only 14% of strikeouts and 12.8% of walks. He's also hit 25.5% of line drives and has hit 48.4% of hard contact with an above-average barrel percentage against righties.
On the other hand, he'll take on Spencer Arrighetti of the Astros, who is a right-handed pitcher, allowing a .277 ISO and wOBA of .481 to righties this year. Arrighetti typically doesn't induce many ground balls against righties but has allowed 37.1% of line drives.
Player Pool
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Stacks
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