MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/27/2019

Baseball brings plenty of day games to the table Monday, leaving only four games for the main evening slate in DFS. Despite the limited schedule, there are actually a lot of good options available. Let’s discuss some of the players with the best matchups to consider. 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

Clayton Kershaw vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $10,200

There was plenty of concern around Kershaw’s shoulder heading into this season. While he did start off on the IL, he’s showed no signs of being injured with his 3.21 xFIP and 0.98 WHIP. His 12.6 percent swinging strike rate is actually slightly higher than his career mark. He’ll be facing a Mets lineup that has been depleted by injuries, making him one of the top targets for this slate.

Sonny Gray vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,100

The Reds and Pirates are playing a doubleheader with Gray set to start the nightcap. Moving from the Yankees to the Reds has rejuvenated his fantasy value with him posting a 3.38 xFIP and a 1.22 WHIP. The biggest jump in production has been in the strikeout department with his 27.4 percent strikeout rate. As far as cheaper options go, Gray stands out as the best option.

CATCHER

Yasmani Grandal vs. Michael Pineda, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300

One of the most consistent power sources at the catcher position, Grandal has again excelled in that area this season with a .225 ISO. He’s also cut his strikeout rate to 21.8 percent while posting a 15 percent walk rate. While expensive, he has the highest upside of anyone at the catcher’s spot.

Others to consider: Omar Narvaez

FIRST BASE

C.J. Cron vs. Gio Gonzalez, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,800

Cron had a breakout power season for the Rays last year with 30 home runs. Now a member of the Twins, he’s continued to shine in that category with 13 long balls already. He’s also decreased his strikeout rate by over five percentage points, which has gone a long way towards helping him post a .367 wOBA. He has a whopping 234 wRC+ against left-handed pitching, so Gonzalez could be in trouble here.

Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion and Joey Votto

SECOND BASE

Derek Dietrich vs. Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Despite his .183 BABIP, Dietrich still has a .404 wOBA. His walk rate has shot up to 10.1 percent while his strikeout rate has decreased to 19.4 percent, which is one of the main reasons why he’s been able to remain successful despite his lack of luck in the BABIP department. He mashes right-handed pitching, so he could be in for a big day against Keller, who will be making his big league debut.

Others to consider: Jonathan Schopp and Keston Hiura

THIRD BASE

Mike Moustakas vs. Michael Pineda, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Even though Pineda has thrown three straight quality starts, he allowed seven home runs during that stretch, bringing his season total up to 14 in 53 innings. That trend could be a problem for him against Moustakas, who has slugged at least 28 homers in back-to-back seasons and already has 13 out of the gate.

Others to consider: Miguel Sano and Eugenio Suarez

SHORTSTOP

Elvis Andrus vs. Tommy Milone, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – T-Mobile Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,000

After missing significant time due to injury, Andrus was never able to get on track last season. Although he did just have a brief stint on the IL, he has rebounded this season to record a .182 ISO and a .377 wOBA. The Rangers are a left-handed heavy lineup, so having Andrus healthy and hitting well is key. He has a .381 wOBA against lefties so far, making him a great option to deploy against Milone.

Others to consider: Jorge Polanco and Danny Santana

OUTFIELD

Christian Yelich vs. Michael Pineda, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,800

While it seemed unlikely that Yelich would be able to replicate his lofty production from last year, he’s actually been even better. His .414 ISO is just insane, especially when combined with his 17.2 percent strikeout rate. With how many home runs Pineda has allowed, Yelich could be in line for another monster performance.

Hunter Pence vs. Tommy Milone, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – T-Mobile Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,400

Pence has emerged as another important righty within the Rangers lineup. Although injuries have limited his production in recent years, he’s been healthy, so far, and is thriving with his new team. His .411 wOBA would actually be the highest mark of his career. If you want to stack Rangers against Milone, Pence should be included.

Jesse Winker vs. Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Winker’s first full season in the majors hasn’t exactly been a smashing success, but it should be noted that he’s been a bit unlucky with his .225 BABIP. His hard-hit rate sits at 44.6 percent, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see his batting average improve as the season continues to wear on. With a righty on the mound, Winker is a cost-effective option to consider if you need to save money in the outfield.

Others to consider: Byron Buxton and Yasiel Puig

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.