MLB DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Sunday (5/7)

This is going to be an exciting slate. We don’t have many big-name pitchers, but we have some arms that we love in particular spots. The hitting really excites me because there are more than a handful of offenses we want to use. We have every team in action, so let’s go ahead and get into it!

Starting Pitcher Rankings

Starting Pitcher Strategy

This isn’t the prettiest slate from a pitching perspective. We only have two true aces toeing the rubber, and the guy we picked has been struggling this season. The top pitcher on the slate is tough to trust, too, because he has the toughest matchup in MLB right now. We still have him as our top recommendation, though, because he’ll inevitably get right. With that in mind, let’s start with the 2021-22 NL Cy Young winner!

Cash Game Recommendations:

Sandy Alcantara (MIA) at CHC

There’s no doubt that Sandy has been struggling this season, but this guy is too good to pitch like this. Over the last two years, Alcantara accrued a 2.71 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Those are some of the best totals in baseball, with Sandy scoring at least 32 FanDuel points in 24 of 32 starts last year. That floor should be easy to reach against the Cubs, who scored just 10 combined runs in four matchups with Washington earlier in the week.

Joe Ryan (MIN) at CLE

We mentioned that there’s only one ace on this slate, but Ryan is getting mighty close to that category. The Minnesota righty is 5-0 this year, thanks to his 2.37 ERA and 0.76 WHIP. He’s also scored at least 42 FanDuel points in five of six starts and truly looks like a breakout in the making. Cleveland can be a scary lineup at times, but the Guardians rank 24th in OBP, 27th in runs scored, and 28th in wOBA.

GPP Recommendations:

Hayden Wesneski (CHC) vs. MIA

This youngster looked terrific at the end of last season and carried that form into a sparkling spring training. The first two starts had people wondering if that was a fluke, but a 2.42 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across his last four starts has us believing. He should carry that form over in a matchup with Miami, who ranked bottom-four in runs scored, OBP, OPS, and wOBA last season. That’s close to where they’re sitting this year, which is why they’re projected for just 3,5 runs in this game.

Mason Miller (OAK) at KC

Miller has some of the nastiest stuff in baseball, providing a 2.83 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, and 16.7 K.9 rate at the minors. Those are historic averages, and it showed when Miller threw seven no-hit innings in his most recent outing. There are not many pitchers as talented as this guy, and there’s no chance that Kansas City will get to him. The Royals rank dead-last in OBP and wOBA while sitting 26th in runs scored.

Top Lineup Stacks

Texas Rangers (vs. Jose Suarez)

• Road (Angels Stadium)
• Value: Medium
• Risk: Low
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/TEX -150

We were shocked to see Suarez starting last weekend after his start to the year, but he surprised us with an outlier performance. The lefty threw five scoreless innings against Milwaukee, but that was a fluke. He had a 10.26 ERA and 2.28 WHIP before that surprise start, and that’s the production we expect to see here. The Rangers rank second in runs scored and near the top of every offensive metric.

New York Mets (vs. Ryan Feltner)

• Home (Citi Field)
• Value: Low
• Risk: Low
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/NYM -180

The Rockies are a team we could stack against every day. This is simply the worst pitching staff in baseball, with Ryan Feltner being one of their worst arms. The righty has a 5.78 ERA and 1.46 WHIP throughout his career. That’s terrifying against a terrific lineup like the Mets, with New York ranked 10th in OBP and 12th in runs scored. We expect them to be better than that from here on out, and this Colorado series could kickstart this talented offense.

Boston Red Sox (vs. Taijuan Walker)

• Road (Citizens Bank Ballpark)
• Value: Medium
• Risk: Medium
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/BOS -110

Walker has one of the worst K rates in baseball, and it’s hard to imagine him cruising here. The righty allowed eight runs in his most recent outing, amassing a 6.91 ERA and 1.60 WHIP for the year. Those poor performances will likely continue in Citizens Bank Ballpark, particularly against an offense like this. Boston ranks fourth in OBP and third in runs scored, despite Rafael Devers struggling. He’s starting to get hot and will definitely be featured in the next section!

Core Studs

• Trout could be in this section every day, and we’d be right about half the time. The superstar is sporting a typical .388 OBP and .971 OPS. Those incredible averages are below his career norms, but he’s always throttled Texas throughout his career and should thrive against a southpaw with a 1.40 WHIP.
• Bux is starting to get hot for the Twinkies. The right-handed masher has homered in six of his last 11 games, generating a .408 OBP and 1.237 OPS in that span. We’ve seen this former MVP candidate go on runs like that for a month, and we love that he faces a pitcher with a 4.73 ERA and 1.48 WHIP.
• If we love the Rangers, we have to ride Garcia as their best hitter. The Cuban has been rolling over the last three weeks, providing a .886 OPS across his last 20 games. That’s amazing since he gets the platoon advantage against one of the worst lefties in the sport here, making him an easy play for what should be one of the highest-scoring lineups on this slate.
• Vlad has been crushing recently. The big first baseman has a .613 SLG and .941 OPS across his last 15 outings. We’ve been waiting for that power stroke to come around, and the average should be right around the corner. Roansy Contreras is far from a concerning matchup, amassing a 1.42 WHIP.
• Devers got off to a rough start, but the lefty masher is starting to feel it. The BoSox third baseman has a .893 OPS over his last six outings. He’s also rocked right-handers throughout his career, registering a .948 OPS against them since 2020. That’s bad news for Walker, and we already discussed his atrocious averages earlier on.

Value Plays/Punts

• Don’t look now, but Walker is starting to get hot for the D’Backs. The slugger shocked the baseball world with 36 dingers last year and comes into this matchup with a .345 AVG, .690 SLG, and 1.080 OPS across his last 15 outings. This is a matchup where that should continue, facing Trevor Williams and his 4.23 ERA and 1.34 career WHIP.
• Senzel has always been talented, but it’s just a matter of health. The streaky outfielder is fully healthy right now, accruing a .467 AVG and 1.315 OPS over his last eight games. We don’t expect that to continue all season, but it means he’s about $1000 too cheap on both sites. Michael Kopwech has been a disaster recently, too, compiling a 5.97 ERA and 1.58 WHIP.
• Nobody uses any of the Oakland hitters, but Rooker is quietly having a great year. Their cleanup hitter has a .455 OBP, .757 SLG, and 1.212 OPS over his last 21 outings. That’s a lengthy sample size of raking, and we love that he gets the platoon advantage against a lefty with a 7.40 ERA.
• Vogelbach usually finds his way into the lineup against righties, and we want to use him against this rubbish Rockies pitching staff. Since joining the Mets, Vogelbach is flirting with a .350 OBP and .850 OPS against right-handers. He’s also just shy of a .400 OBP for the year and is one of the sneakiest punt plays on this slate.
• It took Jung some time to get going in Texas, but this guy is crushing it. JJ is hitting .286 over his last eight games, amassing a 1.226 OPS in that span. That’s incredible because he hits from the right side, making him even more enticing against a subpar southpaw like Suarez.

Hitter Strategy

This should be an easy slate from a lineup constriction standpoint. We have way too much value at hitting and pitching, with the GPP options looking like the best way to build lineups. There are also numerous lineups that we love, including teams like the Mets, Red Sox, Rangers, Athletics, Blue Jays, Phillies, Twins, Tigers, Cardinals, Brewers, Reds, Diamondbacks, and White Sox. That’s a ton of teams to pick from, and more value will open up since it’s a Sunday. Don’t be afraid to ride some minimum-priced guys in prominent spots because there should be plenty of those on this slate.

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.