MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/2019

Wednesday’s evening slate in DFS will be dominated by elite starting pitching options. While there are some expensive studs who could shine, there are also some lesser-names that could provide value. Let’s dive in and highlight some pitchers and hitters to target while creating your entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our MLB Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

Caleb Smith vs. Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $9,200
DraftKings =$8,600

The Marlins have to be ecstatic with the contributions that they have received from Smith, who hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start this season. For a pitcher who has a whopping 37 strikeouts across 29 innings, it’s almost as impressive that he’s issued just seven walks. Despite the return of Francisco Lindor from injury, the Indians are still in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored, setting up Smith with a favorable matchup.

Max Fried vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $7,800

The Braves have a plethora of young arms and they are going to need them with how badly their bullpen is pitching. The left-handed Fried has been excellent through his first seven appearances, five of which were starts. He has a 3.59 xFIP to go along with a 1.09 WHIP and has allowed just three home runs over 31.1 innings. The Padres don’t have a great lineup, to begin with, and are now without the services of Fernando Tatis Jr. (hamstring). If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative in tournament play, look no further than Fried.

CATCHER

J.T. Realmuto vs. Daniel Norris, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,500

The Padres are likely going to be one of the most popular stacks of the day. Norris has a 1.46 WHIP for his career and has been even worse this season with a 1.58 WHIP. He wouldn’t even be starting this game had the Tigers not placed Tyson Ross on the paternity list. Catcher is not always the easiest position to fill, but Realmuto stands out as the top option.

Others to consider: Robinson Chirinos

FIRST BASE

Yuli Gurriel vs. Martin Perez, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,600

Gurriel has hit a rough patch that has seen him hit 5-for-39 (.128) over his last 10 games. However, he did face the Indians tough rotation for four of those contests. He’ll have a much easier foe in Perez, who has a 1.48 WHIP for his career. Gurriel also recorded a .382 wOBA versus left-handed pitchers last year, so this might be just the matchup that he needs to get back on track.

Others to consider: Rhys Hoskins and Eric Thames

SECOND BASE

Mike Moustakas vs. Antonio Senzatela, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,700

Moustakas brings plenty of power to second base with his .289 ISO. He had a seven-game hitting streak snapped Tuesday, but he’s still 19-for-58 (.328) with five home runs and three doubles across his last 16 contests. Senzatela does not have an overpowering arsenal by any stretch of the imagination with his career 17.7 percent strikeout rate. He’s also allowed a 40.7 percent hard-hit rate across his first three starts.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Cesar Hernandez

THIRD BASE

Maikel Franco vs. Daniel Norris, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,500

Continuing to stack against Norris, Franco checks in as an extremely appealing option at third base. Never one to strike out much, he has just a 10.2 percent strikeout rate so far this season. He’s hitting for plenty of power, as well, with a .252 ISO. While he might not be the sexiest name in the Phillies’ lineup, there is plenty of upside for him here.

Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Justin Turner

SHORTSTOP

Carlos Correa vs. Martin Perez, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,800

This is the night to pay up for Correa. He’s currently in the midst of a 12-game hitting streak that has seen him go 16-for-49 (.327) with four home runs and four doubles. Add in his career .372 wOBA against lefties and he has an excellent chance of extending his streak against the underwhelming Perez.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Ahmed Rosario

OUTFIELD

Juan Soto vs. Miles Mikolas, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,900

As crazy as this sounds looking at his numbers from last season, Mikolas might actually be a pitcher to attack for this slate. He’s off to a bad start with a 5.27 xFIP and his lack of strikeout upside might finally be catching up with him. He’s really not missing many bats this year with a 6.6 percent swinging strike rate. Lefties recorded a wOBA that was 86 points higher than righties did last year, making Soto a prime target.

Jeff McNeil vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings =$4,200

The Mets are going to have a hard time pulling McNeil from their lineup when everyone is healthy. Frankly, they can’t. He’s off to an impressive start with a .412 wOBA, recording 10 walks compared to just 11 strikeouts. With his career 145 wRC+ against righties, he’s an excellent mid-tier option.

Jake Marisnick vs. Martin Perez, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $4,100

Talk about two contrasting prices. While he’s not that cheap on DraftKings, Marisnick is a steal on FanDuel at near the minimum price. Expect him to be in the lineup with a lefty on the mound. While he hasn’t provided eye-popping numbers, he has a career 93 wRC+ against lefties compared to a 71 wRC+ against righties. He could be a key part of any Astros stack given his price tag on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Michael Conforto and Adam Eaton

Author Bio:

Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.