We have a 12-game MLB DFS main slate on Friday, May 19th, on DraftKings and FanDuel. When it comes to today's daily fantasy baseball slate, we have a lackluster group of pitching at the top of the position but it's topped by Joe Ryan, Sandy Alcantara, and Bryce Elder. We also have very solid offenses on tap with Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, and Chicago White Sox in great spots. Be sure to check out all of our tools including the MLB Lineups page, MLB DFS Projections – powered by FanJections –, MLB DFS Ownership, and all of the rest of our tools HERE! Let's dive into today's playbook, core plays, and top stacks of the day!

 

MLB DFS Weather Center

Los Angeles Dodgers @ St. Louis Cardinals

There is a chance of a delay, possibly lengthy, but not much worry about a postponement. The rain could impact the starting pitching.

Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers

Top Options for Strikeouts

Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins - 6.5 (-135)

Sandy Alcantara. Miami Marlins - 6.5 (-110)

Blake Snell, San Diego Padres - 5.5 (-145)

James Paxton, Boston Red Sox - 5.5 (-115)

Best Odds for a Win

Brandon Bielak, Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics (-250)

Martin Perez, Texas Rangers vs. Colorado Rockies (-230)

Carlos Carrasco, New York Mets vs. Cleveland Guardians (-150)

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Favorite Starters to Use for DFS Lineups

Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels

I understand the Angels have a formidable lineup to navigate through, but Ryan has been as good as any one pitcher in baseball this year. He is 6-1 and has beaten the Yankees twice, Boston Red Sox, and Houston Astros. He has the best strikeout odds today according to DK Sportsbook. Ryan’s the top-priced pitching option on the board for a reason.

Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves vs. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners offense has been very disappointing this year and Bryce Elder has emerged as a fantastic option for the Braves every fifth day. Seattle is bottom-10 in OPS and wOBA against right-handed pitching and they have a 25.1% K-rate, which is the second-highest mark in the league. The one thing we need to worry about with Elder is his pitch count and longevity. Sometimes those things impact his fantasy output, but he has flashed 30 DKP upside.

Anthony DeSclafani, San Francisco Giants vs. Miami Marlins

With arguably the Marlins’ best two lefty power bats out of the lineup and on IL, DeSclafani looks pretty good here. I know he’s struggled a bit the last two outings, but the last start was watered down do to a toe injury that’s not bothering him any longer. Miami is 25th in both OPS and wOBA against right-handed pitching this year and is striking out nearly 24% of the time. It’s not the best price, but it’s a great match-up.

James Paxton, Boston Red Sox vs. San Diego Padres

This is a very high-risk, high-reward play after seeing what Paxton did in his debut. He struck out nine batters and threw 77 pitches and now faces a very middling average. Sure there’s upside with the names they have, but they have not been great and they’re in a very good pitcher’s environment. Over the last two weeks, San Diego ranks 28th in OPS as a team. Paxton actually pitched better than the numbers suggest and he faced some unlucky situations to boot allowing a .333 BABIP and a 1.90 xFIP. 

Brandon Bielak, Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics

Look, It’s been a mixed bag of results for Bielak but he’s been a bit unlucky. He’s allowed 18 hits over his last two games but has a .386 BABIP, which is going to mean positive regression coming soon. He’s made three starts, two with double-digit FP and one in which he struck six out in. He’s the biggest favorite on the board and Oakland has definitely been better against left-handed pitching this year.

Recommended DFS Hitters

Highest Expected Run Totals 

Houston Astros - 5.28

Chicago White Sox - 5.18

Texas Rangers - 5.02

Toronto Blue Jays - 4.95

New York Mets - 4.95

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Favorite Hitters to Use for DFS Lineups

Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros

Sometimes, lefty-lefty match-ups don’t bother me and this is one of those cases. On the year, Alvarez has a .240 ISO and .364 wOBA and has a robust 44.1% FB rate. Ken Waldichuk has been crushed by everyone, including lefties, allowing a .273 ISO, .367 wOBA, 44.4% hard-hit rate, and a 38.9% FB rate.

Corey Seager, Texas Rangers

I really could just put ___, Texas Rangers player here considering how good of a match-up this is for them. Karl Kauffmann had a 7.78 ERA at Triple-A before his call-up and lefties are absolutely demolishing him. LHH are batting .372 with an OPS north of 1.000 at AAA and Corey Seager is the best lefty Texas can throw at him. In a limited sample this year, Seager has a .207 ISO and .414 wOBA against RHP this season.

Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles

This guy just lives for mashing left-handed pitching. He has a .295 ISO and a .409 wOBA against southpaws this year and it was most of the game last year. Santander had a .255 ISO and a .913 OPS last year. Yusei Kikuchi has a serious issue with righty power allowing a .262 ISO between 2022-’23. Love him in Toronto here.

Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox

The more I look into attacking Zack Greinke, it feels best to use the left-handed bats, but the White Sox don’t have that much thump from the left side. Yoan Moncada does have thump as he’s notched a .245 ISO and .383 wOBA against right-handed hurlers this year. Like I said, lefties against Greinke as he’s allowed a .235 ISO and .344 wOBA.

Chris Taylor, Los Angeles Dodgers

It’s been a down year for sure for Chris Taylor, but the one thing keeping him afloat is the power he’s flashed against left-handed pitching. He has a team-leading .447 ISO against LHP this year along with a .329 wOBA. Steven Matz has allowed righties to post a .392 wOBA and .200 ISO himself. The Dodgers righties here are really interesting.

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