Underdog Fantasy MLB Picks May 5: Byron Buxton and Freddie Freeman Among Top Plays on Friday
Welcome to another full slate of Major League Baseball games on Friday as we dive into MLB Underdog picks. We have plenty of MLB player props and MLB picks to choose from today with a packed evening of daily fantasy baseball. Our top MLB daily picks on Underdog Fantasy for Friday night include Minnesota Twins OF Byron Buxton and Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman as they look to stay hot at the plate. Plus, we're fading Washington Nationals SP Josiah Gray against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Check out these free MLB player props and MLB daily picks on Underdog Fantasy for “Pick'Em” contests tonight. Don't forget to check out the latest MLB weather report and the confirmed MLB lineups when placing those MLB betting picks. Plus, the MLB daily projections and MLB Batter vs Pitcher page will help you find the best matchups for MLB player props and MLB DFS lineups. Now, let's dive into the top MLB player picks on Underdog Fantasy for Friday, May 5th.
MLB Underdog Fantasy Top Picks May 5
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins – OVER 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI
If you’ve played fantasy baseball or MLB DFS over the years, you know Byron Buxton is one of those guys who’s worth riding on his hot streaks until he inevitably gets hurt or cools down. Well, right now, Buxton is clicking at the plate with a .320 batting average (8-for-25) and .469 OBP over the past seven games and a 1.088 OPS over the past 15 games. The Minnesota Twins outfielder is clearly feeling comfortable and confident with two stolen bases and a game-tying, extra-inning homer in the last series vs. the White Sox. Tonight, Buxton will face Cleveland Guardians righty Peyton Battenfield, who is sporting a 4.67 ERA, 5.90 FIP, and 7.43 xERA so far this year. Meanwhile, Buxton is hitting .291 with a 1.014 OPS against right-handers this season. He has gone over 1.5 combined hits+runs+RBI in seven of the last eight games coming into tonight.
Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers – OVER 0.5 Singles
Freddie Freeman is swinging a scorching hot bat lately with a .379 BA over the past seven games and hits in eight of the last 10. The Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman is specifically crushing right-handed pitching this season with a .341 BA and .423 OBP, continuing a favorable split that’s reigned true throughout his career. Tonight, he’ll face San Diego Padres righty Yu Darvish. Over their careers, Freeman is hitting .320 (8-for-25) off of Darvish as the sample size is just big enough to consider for player props. Plus, Freeman has solid career numbers in the pitcher-friendly Petco Park, hitting .284 in 36 games in San Diego. Banking on a singles prop is always risky, but 25 of Freeman’s 39 hits this season have been single-baggers (64%).
Josiah Gray, Washington Nationals – UNDER 4.5 Strikeouts
Although this is already a low strikeout number, we’re banking on Josiah Gray having a tough time in the K department tonight. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Gray’s opponent, boast the MLB’s second-lowest strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season at 19.3%. Over the past week, the D-backs have been even better against righties with an 18.5% K rate to go along with a .364 wOBA (5th-best in MLB), .303 BA (2nd), and 9.9% walk rate (7th). This offense is crushing right-handers lately and returns home after a recent road trip. As for Gray, he’s been under 4.5 strikeouts in half of his starts this season (3 of 6). The Washington Nationals righty has a solid 2.67 ERA right now, but some negative regression could be coming as his higher 4.40 FIP and unsustainable 88.8% left-on-base rate indicate.
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