MLB DFS Picks & Playbook For Today’s Games: Thursday, May 16th
Published: May 16, 2024
Happy Thursday FANation! Today, we have a five-game main slate over on DraftKings and FanDuel featuring some elite arm talent at the top of the player pool and some interesting value options on today's slate to help us pay for the top arms.
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MLB DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook
MLB Weather: Today, 5/16
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
- Some rain in the area that could cause a late start. Will need to get a better update as we come closer to roster lock.
MLB DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
The top priced pitcher on the last two slates have really let us down with Dylan Cease and Pablo Lopez both struggling but I just don't see that happening here today with Tyler Glasnow as he runs up against a Reds team that has the second highest strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season. Plug in Glasnow and build the rest of your lineup around him the best you can.
Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers
Top Options for Strikeouts
- Tyler Glasnow vs. Cincinnati Reds
- Justin Steele vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Jared Jones vs. Chicago Cubs
Best Odds for a Win
- Tyler Glasnow vs. Cincinnati Reds
- Justin Steele vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Cristian Javier vs. Oakland Athletics
Core MLB DFS Pitchers
Tyler Glasnow, Los Angeles Dodgers
The current front runner for the NL Cy Young award takes the mound today against a Reds team that just allowed Brandon Pfaadt to toss seven innings of one run baseball with nine strikeouts against them the other day. Glasnow has consistently hit double-digit strikeouts this season and now faces the team with the second highest strikeout rate against right-handed pitching on the year.
Lock him in!
Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs
I know the early returns on Steele haven't been great and he just faced this Pirates team and did not find success but I'm a believer in talent and Steele is an all-star and one of the best pitchers on this Cubs staff. This price tag is just too low for what the upside is and the Cubs being home favorites today should put him in line for the win.
Taijuan Walker, Philadelphia Phillies
Walker has looked great in each of his last two starts, going at least six innings while finishing with 22 and 17 fantasy points. His ERA is blown up due to his first start of the season but has quality starts in each of his last two. The Mets offense has been a bit shaky of late and the Phillies are favorites in this matchup.
Recommended MLB DFS Hitters
Highest Expected Run Totals
- Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Nick Martinez
- Philadelphia Phillies vs. Jose Quintana
- Houston Astros vs. Joey Estes
Core MLB DFS Hitters
Note: Will Be Updated As Official Starting Lineups Are Released
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Top priced hitter on the slate may be difficult to fit with the top priced pitcher but Ohtani has tremendous upside here in this matchup against Nick Martinez. Hitting .462 with five homers over the last 10 games, Ohtani is annihilating right handed pitching this season, owning a .404 average with a .394 ISO.
Tyler Soderstrom, Oakland Athletics
Soderstrom got the day off on Wednesday which leads me to think he will be in the lineup on Thursday. Why is Soderstrom making the core plays section of the playbook? His price tag, especially on DraftKings where he is just $2,500 and has catcher eligibility. Again, if you are spending up for Glasnow and Ohtani then you need to find value and Soderstrom has been solid in the games since his callup, hitting .316 with an OPS of .960.
Edmundo Sosa, Philadelphia Phillies
Yes, another value play, but Sosa is worth your time here on this slate given the matchup against a lefty in Jose Quintana. This season against lefties Sosa is hitting .346 with a .385 ISO and a .494 wOBA. Over his last 10 games he is hitting .357 with a homer, two stolen bases and an OPS of 1.057.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | SP | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Tyler Glasnow  $11,300 | Freddie Freeman $3,500 |  Jose Altuve $3,700 | Max Muncy $3,700 | Mookie Betts $4,400 | Shohei Ohtani $4,800 |
 Jared Jones $10,400 |  Alec Bohm $3,600 |  Kyle Tucker $4,300 | ||||
 Rafael Devers $3,400 | Yordan Alvarez $3,700 | |||||
| Medium | Taijuan Walker $9,000 |  Yandy Díaz $3,000 | Nico Hoerner $3,200 | Jeremy Peña $3,300 |  Brent Rooker $3,500 | |
| Justin Steele $8,200 |  Connor Joe $3,000 | José Caballero $3,000 | Seiya Suzuki $3,300 | |||
 Tyler O'Neill $3,200 | ||||||
| Wilyer Abreu $3,000 | ||||||
| Josh Lowe $2,900 | ||||||
| Low | Cristian Javier $7,800 | Jon Singleton $2,600 | Zack Gelof $2,800 | Alex Bregman $2,800 | Edmundo Sosa $2,700 | JJ Bleday $2,700 |
 Mark Vientos $2,200 |  Amed Rosario $2,800 | Pete Crow-Armstrong $2,300 | ||||
 Whit Merrifield $2,600 |  Joey Loperfido $2,300 |