Welcome to the MLB DFS Playbook for May 2!  We’ve got another stacked slate of games from which to choose with some real strong pitching at the top and a Coors Field game, everyone will want to get a piece of in their lineups. By now, you should have done some fantasy baseball research of your own, but if not, we’ve got you plenty covered here and throughout the site. Let’s get to it, and, as always, let me remind you, as you move through today’s DFS Playbook, be sure to check in with our MLB DFS Tools, take in the daily MLB projections, follow the MLB DFS Ownership projections and maybe even take our MLB DFS Lineup Generator for a spin. With so much knowledge at your fingertips, it’s going to be tough to not see green no matter if you’re playing cash games or GPP tournaments. 

MLB DFS Playbook: May 2

MLB Weather Updates

CHC/WAS – some light rain early and we might get an early delay, but this game should be played without issue.

TOR/BOS – spotty showers early which could cause a slight delay, but they expect to play this one.

MIL/COL – pre-game rain is expected with a slight chance of a delayed start but the weather is expected to clear out fairly quickly which means this game is expected to play.

SEA/OAK – same as all the rest above. Light rain early but they expect to get this game in without much issue.

DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts

We’ve got a ton of high-quality pitching on tonight’s slate, but we also have the Brewers and Rockies doing battle at Coors Field, so just the notion of elite bats outside of Coors is going to be difficult, especially when we are likely o be paying up for pitching. On DK, we can go with one high-priced hurler and pay down for the second, but that doesn’t even things out as much as you would like, especially with the tax on Coors players. The Vegas odds are telling us that Milwaukee is expected to score the most, but the Rockies are a very close second, so we’re going to have to see if there is some value to be had on either side. From there, we’ll see what else we can do to get some of the top stacks and better bats into our lineups.

 

 

Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers

Top Options for Strikeouts

Best Odds for a Win

Bullpens Most Likely to Blow Your Starters’ Win & Boost Your Stacks

Favorite Starters to Use for DFS Lineups

Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins

I don’t feel the need to pay up for Gerritt Cole knowing I can use Ryan against a White Sox team that was on an 11-game skid and only won on Sunday because of a Tampa bullpen meltdown. The South Siders still have the fifth-worst wOBA against righties (.294) and are striking out 23-percent of the time against them. Ryan has four quality starts in five outing this year and is working with a 36:4 K:BB over 29 innings (five starts).

Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks

After a rocky first two starts, Gallen has been ridiculous with 27 consecutive scoreless frames (four starts), 41 strikeouts, just one walk and only 11 hits allowed. Texas has hit righties well this season, so we’re not expecting the scoreless streak to stay intact, but you never know. He’s pitching out of his mind right now, so lock him in.

Hayden Wesneski, Chicago Cubs

Here’s my favorite pay-down for my second starter on DraftKings. There is also a chance I lock him into a GPP tournament on FanDuel and stack some big bats in Coors Field. Wesneski has looked good in two of his last three starts with the speed bump coming at the hand of the Dodgers. But he handled the Athletics easily and was solid against the Padres. The Nationals don’t strike out a ton, so keep your expectations in check, but they have the third-worst wOBA against righthanded pitching and have averaged just three runs per game over their last four. The game is in Washington too, so no worries about the wind blowing out at Wrigley.

I'll throw an honorable mention to Patrick Sandoval, but only if you like risk. He's a solid hurler but the St. Louis Cardinals have hit lefties well this season.

 

 

Recommended DFS Hitters

Highest Expected Run Totals 

Favorite Hitters to Use for DFS Lineups

Adley Rutschman, C Baltimore Orioles

The Royals continue to try and utilize lefty Ryan Yarbrough as a starter, though he’s only gone four innings in each of his last two starts. Baltimore has hit southpaws well and Rutschman will help lead the charge with his .821 OPS and .373 wOBA against lefties. With five hits over his last three starts, we’re pretty confident about paying up for a catcher today. Maybe even an O’s stack?

Rowdy Tellez, 1B Milwaukee Brewers

Rockies starter Ryan Feltner has looked good in his last two starts, but those have been away from Coors. He’s not going to fare nearly as well with the Brew Crew in Coors and Tellez with his .381 wOBA against righties should be a great play. He can be a part of a stack for you if going with cheap pitching or just use him on FanDuel where he is criminally underpriced.

Brandon Drury, 2B Los Angeles Angels

While I haven’t listened to the DFS morning stream yet, I can still hear James Grande pounding the drum for Drury against a lefty where he is sporting a .354 wOBA with a .259 ISO against them. I’ve never thought Steven Matz was a good pitcher and to stand by that belief, I’ll lock in Drury who has never been one of my favorite players.

Willy Adames, SS Milwaukee Brewers 

Love me some Adames in Coors and against a guy like Feltner. He’s a little pricey, but should be in a real sweet spot tonight with his .366 wOBA against righties and the Coors advantage. He was struggling for a but, but snapped out of his slump with hits in two straight games, including a home run and two RBI.

Cody Bellinger, OF Chicago Cubs

Let’s do some picking on Nationals starter Trevor Williams and we’ll do it with Wisdom who has a .883 OPS with a .350 wOBA against righties. He’s hit safely in five-straight game with one double and two home runs, and while I’m not a big BvP guy unless there’s a substantial sample size, I’m still digging the fact that  he is 3-for-8 with two homers in his career against Williams. If we can get a stack with maybe Ian Happ and/or Patrick Wisdom, I am all for it.

Cedric Mullins, OF Baltimore Orioles

If you can afford Mullins, especially as part of an Orioles stack, I am a big fan of using him tonight. Lefty on lefty isn’t an issue for Mullins as he hits southpaws better, posting an .881 OPS and .382 wOBA against them. We should be able to get him into a mini-stack with Rutschman, but also, if we have the money, either using Anthony Santander or a wrap-around stack with Jorge Mateo.

Jarred Kelenic, OF Seattle Mariners

Where are all those Kelenic doubters these days? He’s been fantastic this season with his .308 average, seven home runs and five stolen bases. He’ll take on Oakland rookie righthander Mason Miller in a game we firmly believe Seattle has the advantage and will pile on some runs tonight.

 

Player Pool

$ Tier {{pos.alias}}

Stacks

{{stack.team.name}} {{player.name}}
DraftKings {{player.fantasy.price.value[8]}}-
Fanduel {{player.fantasy.price.value[6]}}-