We have a pretty consistent MLB DFS slate across the board for Thursday, May 26th. Both DraftKings and Yahoo Fantasy will be using a 9-game daily fantasy baseball slate starting at 7:05 pm ET. However, FanDuel made it a 10-gamer starting at 6:40 pm ET as they included the game between the Yankees and Rays. As you build your MLB daily fantasy lineups, check out today's Value Vault! We are going a little differently with our value pitchers today instead of just simply picking cheap guys because I see a pair of pitchers that are underpriced on specific sites. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Nola could both be MLB DFS top plays depending on the site you're making daily fantasy baseball lineups today. Our biggest MLB weather report concern appears to be in Atlanta in the game between the Braves and Phillies, but there are also two other games with possible concerns – so make sure to keep up with the DFS Alarm MLB weather center today. Plus, don’t forget to check out the team implied runs totals on our MLB Vegas Odds link and our MLB DFS lineup generator. Let’s dive into our MLB DFS top picks today as you build daily fantasy baseball lineups!

 

 

MLB DFS Value Pitchers

 

 

Shohei Ohtani, Angels (DraftKings - $8700) 

Usually, when you think of value plays, you don’t think of someone this expensive. Ohtani, though, is pretty underpriced today on DK as the 7th highest pitcher and $1400 cheaper than the most – making him a nice value. For comparison sake, he is the top-priced guy on Yahoo and is 4th on FanDuel. He comes into this game with a 2.82 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts across 38.1 innings of work. The Blue Jays seem like a bad matchup, but their offense is actually worse than you'd think and is 25th in runs per game this year. 

 

 

Aaron Nola, Phillies (FanDuel - $8900) 

Nola is our FanDuel version of Ohtani on DraftKings today, as far as being underpriced and a value play. FD has Nola as the 9th-priced pitcher and well below the top guys, but he simply shouldn’t be. For comparison sake, he is the 2nd-most expensive guy on Yahoo and is 4th on DK. He comes into this game with a 3.96 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts across 52.1 innings of work. The Braves are actually not a bad matchup at all as they have the highest strikeout rate in all of baseball and are only 17th in scoring this season. (KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER). 

 

 

Konnor Pilkington, Guardians (DraftKings - $4000 / FanDuel - $5500) 

Now, this is more of our speed as a value play cost. Pilkington has struck out 11 over 8.2 innings of work in the bigs this season with a 2.08 ERA. Last year at Double-A, he posted a 3.04 ERA with 120 punch-outs in 100.2 innings of work – so there are some things to like here with him. The other big key is that he is facing the Tigers, who are dead last in scoring with an average of just 2.74 runs per game this season. Detroit also has the 10th-highest strikeout rate in the majors. I wouldn’t take this chance on FD, but as an SP2 on DK, he is a great play at this price. 

 

MLB DFS Value Hitters

 

 

Kevin Smith, A’s (DraftKings - $2000 / FanDuel - $2100 / Yahoo - $10)

Not sure if I am the Smith whisperer or what, but every time I feel good about this guy, it seems he has come through with a nice game. He is only hitting .220 on the year, but he has a pair of bombs and three steals. More importantly, he is slashing .343/.368/.600 against lefties this season – compared to .162/.182/.257 against righties. That is a MASSIVE split difference and that production against lefties is very impressive. He faces a lefty today in Martín Pérez, who has been great this season but I’m not buying the 31-year-old's breakout. 

 

 

Elvis Andrus, A’s (DraftKings - $2000 / FanDuel - $2300 / Yahoo - $8)

Yes, another A’s bat… what is the world coming to? Well, Andrus has homered in back-to-back games now and in the game prior to that, he was 1-3 with a walk and a run – so he’s in a bit of a groove right now. Much like Smith, Andrus has been far better against lefties, slashing .275/.326/.400 against them, compared to .217/.301/.337 against righties. With Andrus and Smith, you essentially get two minimum-priced bats that are in good spots today – which can really help get those elite arms in your lineup. 

 

 

Alek Thomas, Diamondbacks (DraftKings - $3000 / FanDuel - $2800) 

Thomas has cooled off a bit, but he has still been good through the first 16 games of his MLB career as he is hitting .283 with three home runs. I like today's matchup against Mitch White, who comes into this game with a 6.17 ERA on the season. Thomas has done pretty much all of his damage against righties with a .333/.371/.636 slash line, compared to .200/.238/.350 against lefties. 

 

 

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