This article will outline the best daily fantasy MLB plays of the day at every position. We’ll take a comprehensive look across the DFS industry to uncover these core recommendations, factoring respective salaries into the analysis.
Please note, these player picks were organized early in the day. For MLB contests, always check lineups and weather closer to game time. Rain, wind, or unexpected managerial decisions could open up additional sources of value. Be sure to keep an eye on the MLB Headlines and Injuries desk.
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We will be looking at the 10-game main slate starting at 1:05 ET.
PITCHER
Noah Syndergaard – NY Mets (at Miami)
Syndergaard is expensive, but he should be worth every penny this afternoon. He’s starting in Miami while facing a Marlins team that ranks dead last in wRC+ by a wide margin. That situation alone is good enough to pencil Syndergaard into your DFS lineups. The pitcher-friendly atmosphere of Marlins Park feeds into the rationale, and the Mets’ righty should see enough run support to get the win bonus as well. He’s the obvious choice for cash games, and I’m not overthinking it.
Also Consider: Shane Bieber, Reynaldo Lopez
CATCHER / FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt – St. Louis (at Texas)
The Cardinals check in with one of the highest run-scoring projections in this slate. The shift to hitter-friendly Globe Life Park accounts for some of that, and taking on Texas LHP Drew Smyly doesn’t hurt either. Smyly has allowed four earned runs in four of his past five starts, and the Rangers’ bullpen currently holds the third-highest xFIP (5.02) in baseball. Goldschmidt will have the platoon advantage over Smyly, and this is an excellent breakout opportunity.
Also Consider: Max Muncy, Carlos Santana
SECOND BASE
Jason Kipnis – Cleveland (vs. Baltimore)
Kipnis missed the first few weeks of the season with a calf strain, but it looks like he’s finally settling in. The Cleveland second baseman will continue to hold a premium lineup spot between Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana, and Jose Ramirez. Baltimore RHP Yefry Ramirez will serve as a rotational filler this afternoon, holding an uninspiring 5.85 ERA through 72.1 major league innings. He also carries a vulnerable .393 wOBA split to left-handed bats. That puts Kipnis, Lindor, Ramirez, Santana, and maybe even Carlos Gonzalez in firm consideration for DFS.
Also Consider: Jonathan Villar, Rougned Odor
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman – Oakland (at Detroit)
Detroit LHP Gregory Soto had never pitched higher than Double-A before making his MLB debut on May 11. It shows. Soto has surrendered nine earned runs and 12 hits through six innings over two major league appearances. Oakland is in an excellent position to inflict more damage on the rookie hurler, and Chapman is a top-notch acquisition while potentially stacking the A’s.
Also Consider: Jose Ramirez, Yoan Moncada
SHORTSTOP
Corey Seager – LA Dodgers (at Cincinnati)
Seager will continue to enjoy a park boost in Cincinnati while riding a hot streak of six hits, two homers, and seven RBIs over his past five games. Today’s matchup is a good one, facing Cincinnati RHP Tanner Roark – who holds a .350 wOBA split to left-handed bats. There several well-aligned offenses on this slate, but you’ll likely want a piece of the Dodgers today. Seager makes for a cost-effective option to execute that strategy.
Also Consider: Paul DeJong, Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Jose Martinez – St. Louis (at Texas)
Martinez carries a mid-range salary while piggybacking off the rationale used in Goldschmidt’s write-up. As mentioned there, St. Louis is in an excellent spot to make some noise, and Martinez has the power upside to jump on the platoon advantage vs Drew Smyly. Teammate Harrison Bader is another reasonably cheap Cardinals’ bat to consider.
Chad Pinder – Oakland (at Detroit)
Feel free to stack Oakland this afternoon, as they should push across plenty of runs against Detroit LHP Gregory Soto. Chapman, Semien, and Davis are the headline picks, but Pinder, Piscotty, and Canha make for confident “per dollar” acquisitions. Pinder has homered in two straight games, and I feel good about deploying him against a shaky lefty.
Also Consider: Marcell Ozuna, Charlie Blackmon, Joc Pederson, Stephen Piscotty, David Dahl, Harrison Bader
