MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/16/2019

As is usually the case Thursday’s, we have a limited evening slate in DFS that consists of just five games. With few quality starting pitchers set to take the mound, it presents an opportunity to spend more on hitters than you might normally be accustomed to. Let’s breakdown some of the best matchups to target. 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

Luis Castillo vs. Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $10,300
DraftKings = $10,600

Castillo is the one big name available if you want to pay up at pitcher. While his 1.76 ERA is unsustainable, his 3.08 xFIP indicates he’s still pitching extremely well. His strikeout rate has jumped all the way up to 31.8 percent with the help of his nasty changeup. The Cubs do have a dangerous lineup, but they could be weakened with Anthony Rizzo (back) potentially set to miss his fourth-straight game. Even if he does play, Castillo’s strikeout upside makes him a great option.

Trevor Williams vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $8,300

In terms of strikeouts, Williams is the opposite of Castillo with just an 18.1 percent strikeout rate for his career. The good news is that he does an excellent job of keeping runners off base, following up his 1.18 WHIP last year with a 1.15 WHIP across his first eight starts. He’s also allowed only 0.8 HR/9 for his career, so he’s worth considering at this budget-friendly price.

CATCHER

Omar Narvaez vs. Michael Pineda, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – T-Mobile Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,500

The Mariners are going to be a popular stack against Pineda and his 1.45 WHIP. Narvaez stands out as one of the top catching options based this favorable matchup and his 148 wRC+. His. 308 batting average likely isn’t sustainable, but his .385 wOBA isn’t all that crazy since he recorded a .348 wOBA last year.

Others to consider: Yadier Molina

FIRST BASE

Daniel Vogelbach vs. Michael Pineda, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – T-Mobile Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,800

Another weakness for Pineda has been his ability to keep hitters inside the ballpark. He’s already allowed 10 home runs across 40 innings, which could spell trouble against a Mariners lineup that is tied with the Astros for the most home runs (83) in baseball. Vogelbach is definitely towards the top of the list in terms of Mariners to target based on his robust .354 ISO and .411 wOBA.

Others to consider: Josh Bell and Rowdy Tellez

SECOND BASE

Eric Sogard vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400

While the Mariners have a juicy matchup against Pineda, the Blue Jays are going to be hard to resist against Covey. With few viable options to turn to, the White Sox are forced to continue starting Covey despite his career 1.57 WHIP. He’s also allowed a .356 wOBA to left-handed hitters during his tenure in the majors, making Sogard a very appealing option. He’s helped stabilize second base for the Blue Jays with his .408 wOBA.

Others to consider: Kolten Wong and Jonathan Schoop

THIRD BASE

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,100

A great cheaper option to target on both sites is Guerrero. It’s taken him some time to get adjusted, but it was very encouraging to see him hit two home runs Tuesday. He only has a 19.4 percent strikeout rate to go along with a 42.9 percent hard-hit rate, so don’t get too down on his .222 average. Covey has allowed 1.6 HR/9 for his career, leaving Guerrero with an excellent opportunity to go yard again.

Others to consider: Matt Carpenter and Marwin Gonzalez

SHORTSTOP

Jorge Polanco vs. Erik Swanson, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – T-Mobile Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,000

One of the big reasons for the Twins offensive improvement this year has been Polanco, who missed the first half of 2018 due to a suspension. He’s left little doubt that he is still a productive player, recording a 168 wRC+. After finishing with a .368 wOBA against right-handed pitchers last year, he’s a player worth paying up for.

Others to consider: Paul DeJong and Freddy Galvis

OUTFIELD

Eddie Rosario vs. Erik Swanson, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – T-Mobile Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Rosario was recently in a tough slump, but he’s showing signs of coming out of it by hitting 10-for-29 (.345) across his last eight games. His .217 BABIP indicates his batting average is bound to improve and he’s off to the best power start of his career with a .285 ISO, so he could be a thorn in the side of Swanson in this matchup.

Byron Buxton vs. Erik Swanson, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – T-Mobile Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,000

One of the most highly-regarded prospects in baseball during his time in the minor leagues, Buxton had failed to live up to expectations heading into this season. While injuries have been a contributing factor, he was also striking out way too much. The good news is that he’s showing signs of breaking out, partially because he’s reduced his strikeout rate to 22.6 percent. He’s been a doubles machine who has also stolen eight bases, making him a great mid-tier option to consider.

Jay Bruce vs. Michael Pineda, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – T-Mobile Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200

With Pineda’s struggles to prevent home runs, Bruce is another Mariner to target. His batting average is atrocious at .185, but some of that can be attributed to his staggeringly low .169 BABIP. However, he’s still launched 12 home runs, making him a dangerous hitter whenever he steps up to the plate.

Others to consider: Mitch Haniger and Max Kepler

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.