MLB DFS Value Plays May 23: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks

Happy Tuesday! A new day and another chance to make some cash with your DFS lineups. Today we get a 10-game main slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel that is kicking off at 7:05 PM EST. Spencer Strider highlights today’s games as he is quickly establishing himself as the best strikeout pitcher in all of baseball. Today he gets to face off against the other big excitement happening today, which is the major league debut of Bobby Miller for the Los Angeles Dodgers. There are some great value plays today to help build your lineups around on both the pitching and hitting sides. We get Coors on the slate again today, with Austin Gomber and Eury Perez facing off as the Colorado Rockies are taking on the Miami Marlins in Colorado. Some other offenses with quality matchups today to target are the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, and the Houston Astros. Plenty of great value options outside of those offenses as well, and many different paths to building a winning DFS lineup today, so let’s dive into some of my favorite value options of the day!
MLB DFS Value Pitchers
Eduardo Rodriguez, Detroit Tigers (DraftKings: $8,800 / FanDuel: $10,600)
Eduardo Rodriguez is a little higher priced than the usual value plays, but I still think he is being undervalued here as one of the best pitchers on the slate. He came back to earth a bit in his last start giving up 4 earned runs against the pirates and only striking out 5 in 5 innings. That ended a streak of 5 straight starts in which he gave up only 1 total earned run. That was 35.2 innings where he struck out 38 and only walked 5 while only giving up 15 hits and 1 run off a solo home run. Today he gets to face the Kansas City Royals, which shouldn’t be an issue for him. He is proving himself to be an ace for the Detroit Tigers, and I think he will continue to have a big year for them.
Bobby Miller, Los Angeles Dodgers (DraftKings: $5,200 / FanDuel: ?? Come on FanDuel…)
Bobby Miller is making his major league debut today for the Los Angeles Dodgers. While it will be no easy task to take on the Atlanta Braves, I am willing to take a shot on the Dodger's top pitching prospect when we get him as the cheapest pitcher on the slate (sorry if you’re playing FanDuel). Miller has a fastball that can reach 100, along with a really good slider and changeup that should make him an effective starter. His issue has been consistency, but when he is on, he is incredible. With some adrenaline flowing in his debut, I am hoping that he can put up a good outing against the Atlanta Braves today, but you won’t need too much to return value at this price.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Alex Kirilloff, 1B Minnesota Twins (DraftKings: $3,500 / FanDuel: $3,200)
I had Alex Kirilloff as one of my favorite hitters yesterday, and it didn’t quite work out. I thought that he would fair fine against Sean Manaea as the lefty follower in the game; unfortunately, the Minnesota Twins didn’t agree, and they pinch-hit for him after his first at-bat. Today that won’t be an issue with them facing Alex Cobb, and he should be batting leadoff again and actually remain in the game, so I am jumping right back in.
Brian Anderson, 3B/OF Milwaukee Brewers (DraftKings: $3,500 / FanDuel: $2,700)
Brian Anderson is a reverse splits guy who cannot hit left-handed pitching but continues to do well against right-handed pitchers. While he isn’t doing anything incredible, he is still slashing a respectable .254/.338/.432 against right-handers, and today should have a chance to provide some value getting to face J.P. France. France survived his first two outings, but in his last go, got beat up by the Cubs, giving up 3 homeruns and not making it through 4 innings. The Brewers are a much better team against right-handed pitching, and Brian Anderson should be a solid contributor today.
Francisco Lindor, SS New York Mets (DraftKings: $4,500 / FanDuel: $3,400)
This price is way too low for Francisco Lindor facing a lefty. He has always been slightly better hitting from the right side with a career .830 OPS, but his splits have been even more extreme so far this year, with him struggling a bit against right-handed pitching but holding an .894 OPS against lefties. Lindor is a superstar, and you should feel no hesitation to use him in your lineups when his price drops this low, especially in a good matchup.
Mickey Moniak, OF Los Angeles Angels (DraftKings: $2,900 / FanDuel: $2,000)
Mickey Moniak is leading off every day for the Angels, getting to bat in front of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, and he is delivering. They have a good matchup today getting to face Brayan Bello, who has had some home run problems. Until he either cools down at the plate or his price climbs up (neither of which has happened yet), you should be considering putting him in your lineup every day right now. He hit a game-winning home run in the 8th inning last night and is giving the Angels every reason to keep letting him bat leadoff every single day.
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MLB DFS Podcast May 23
Take listen to today's MLB DFS Podcast as the guys break down the 10-game MLB DFS main slate on DraftKings and build an example lineup at the end!
MLB DFS Livestream May 23
Come check out Jonathan Impemba and James Grande @ 5 pm ET as they break down the MLB DFS main slate on the Bettor Sports Network!
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.