DFB Friday Night Lights – FanDuel Pitcher Picks for May 8
By Rich Pelesky
Welcome back to Friday Night Lights – Week 5. This is best place to get comprehensive starting pitcher selections for FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Leagues on Fridays throughout the season.
These selections are tailored toward FanDuel’s pitcher scoring system but these picks can also be helpful in H2H formats with daily rosters where my recommended mid-to-low priced starting pitchers may be available to pick up off the Waiver Wire for a spot start.
Before we look at tonight’s slate, let’s take a look at how I did last week and so far this season:
5/1 Summary: 28 Starters, Avg. SP Fantasy Score: 9.67, Avg. Salary: $7100.
High #1 – Matt Harvey, $12,000 (2nd): 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 Ks, & W for 14 points (5th)
High #2 – Anthony DeSclafani, $7,700 (7th): 5 IP, 4 ER, & 5 K for 6 points (21st)
Mid #1 – Adam Kennedy, $7,300 (11th): 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 K, & W for 14 points (6th)
Mid #2 – Chris Tillman, $7,200 (12th): 7 IP, 2 ER, 7 Ks & W for 10 points (10th)
Low #1 – C. Heston, $5,900 (24th): 6 1/3 IP, 1 ER, & 5 Ks for 10.33 points (14th)
Low #2 – Jerome Williams, $6,300 (20th): 5 IP, 3 ER, & 2 Ks for 4 points (27th)
Week 4 Record (Based on player outperforming salary rank): 3-2-1; YTD: 11-6-4
5/8 Picks:
***Shining Star (Higher salaried pitcher that should put up big numbers to reward your investment):
Sonny Gray (OAK) at SEA for $9400: The As young right-hander is off to a great start, going 4-1 with a 1.67 ERA and 14.3 FPPG. Gray has been very strong in his career vs. the Mariners (4-1), especially at Safeco Field where he’s 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 29 Ks in 27 2/3 IP. He’s also coming off a stellar outing vs. TEX where he was almost unhittable, putting up 20.67 FP in 6 2/3 IP with 10 Ks and only 2 HA.
More from FanSided
- Caesars + BetMGM Promos: Four Chances to Win Betting on the Women’s World Cup
- MLB trade grades: Angels-White Sox deal takes Shohei Ohtani off the table
- Justin Jefferson taking on new role with Vikings offense
- Astros, Rangers benches clear after Adolis Garcia grand slam
- Jonathan Taylor’s agent shades Jim Irsay after Colts owner comments on RBs
Honorable Mention: Gio Gonzalez (WAS) home vs. ATL for $8,900. Gonzalez has been up and down this year, but has decent numbers: 2 wins, 3.86 ERA, 31K in 30 1/3 IP. He was dominant against the Mets last time out on 5/2 going 7 innings with 0 ER and 9 K. Tonight he takes the mound for the Nationals, who have won 7 of 9 and are about a 2 to 1 favorite. Lastly, Atlanta is just 21st in the league in hitting (.240 BA) vs. LHP.
Stay Away: David Price (DET) at KC for $10,900. Yes, Price is a great pitcher and is coming off a complete game win vs. KC on 5/2. But the Royals are 3rd in the majors in runs scored and are 2nd in the league with an impressive .294 BA vs. LHP. Look for KC to make some adjustments vs. Price and put up better offense in Comerica Park. At this price (pun intended), it’s better to look elsewhere.
**Clearly Visible (Mid-salary pitcher that may put up a star-worthy performance.)
Tim Lincecum (SF) home vs. MIA for $7,000: Lincecum is off to a resurgent start in 2015, with a 2-2 record with a fine 2.40 ERA. While he’s not the pitcher he once (only 20 Ks in 30 IP), he has proven he is still effective and leads the Giants (a -130 favorite) vs. the Marlins at home where they have won 8 of their last 10. Plus, Lincecum has 12 FPPG in his last three home starts.
Live Feed
Around the Foghorn
Honorable Mention: Nathan Karns (TB) home vs. TEX for $6,500. Not the sexiest pick around, but there is value here with Karns home against the Rangers, who are 29th in the MLB with a .213 BA vs. RHP. Karns has only allowed one run in his last 2 starts (vs NYY and BAL) and has 29 Ks in 33.1 IP for the season. He hasn’t been lasting long into games lately but with the good K/IP ratio and pitching for the -125 favorite Rays at home, he has as good a chance as he can to give you 6 or 7 IP and double-digit points.
Stay Away: Wade Miley (BOS) at TOR for $6,500. Miley has been horrid so far at 1-3 with a 7.15 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. However, he is coming off a quality start (7 IP 3 ER 0 BB, 3 K) vs. NYY on 5/2. Miley is talented, but don’t be tempted at this low price, as the run line is 9.5 and he is facing the slugging Blue Jays who are 6th in ML with 34 HRs and lead the league with a.304 BA vs. LHP.
*In the Shadows (Low salary bargain that could produce a decent outing thus giving you extra money to spend on bats):
Mike Pelfrey (MIN) at CLE for $6,400: Both Pelfrey (2-0, 2.63 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) and the Twins (16-13) are off to surprising starts this season. While Pelfrey is not a strikeout pitcher (16 Ks in 27.1 IP) you could do much, much worse at this price. The Twins face the 10-17 Indians and Trevor Bauer, who has given up 9 ER in 10 1/3 IP during his last two starts, both at home.
Good Luck!