Daily Fantasy Baseball: FanDuel Pitcher Picks For May 15

FanDuel Pitcher Picks For May 15

Welcome back to Friday Night Lights – Week 6. Week after week this season this has been the best place to get your Friday starting pitcher selections for FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Leagues.

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. Also, a majority of these selections would also be recommended for Draft Kings, but you should first understand the differences of the two site’s baseball scoring systems before plugging players in both.

Before we look at tonight’s slate, let’s take a look at how I did last week and so far this season:

5/8 Summary: 28 Starters, Avg. SP Fantasy Score: 10.0, Avg. Salary: $7600.

High #1 – Sonny Gray, $9,400 (3rd): 6 IP, 1 ER, 9 Ks for 14 points (7th)

High #2 – Gio Gonzalez, $8,900 (5th): 7 IP, 2 ER, 8 K, & W for 17 points (5th)

Mid #1 – Tim Lincecum, $7,000 (16th): 6 IP, 0 ER, 8 K, & W for 18 points (3rd)

Mid #2 – Nathan Karns, $6,500 (21st): 7 IP, 2 ER, 9 Ks & W for 18 points (3rd)

Low #1 – Mike Pelfrey, $6,400 (22nd): 7 IP, 2 ER, 0 Ks, & W for 9 points (17th)

Week 5 Record (Based on player outperforming salary rank): 3-1-1; YTD: 14-7-5

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5/15 Picks:

***Shining Star (Higher salaried pitcher that should put up big numbers to reward your investment):

Jake Odorizzi (TB) at MIN for $8700: The often overlooked Rays right-hander is off to a great start at 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 39 Ks in 47 1/3 IP. He has an impressive 12.5 FPPG and faces the Twins (Hughes 2-4, 5.11 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) who have lost 3 of their last four games scoring only 9 runs in the process. Tampa is a slight road favorite and won all three games vs. the Twins in Minnesota last year. At $8,700, you could easily get the same production than higher-priced, bigger name options.

Honorable Mention: Jordan Zimmerman (WAS) at SD for $8800. Career 1.90 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 47 K in 47 1/3 IP against SD, including 2-1 w/ a 0.60 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, and 24 Ks in 30 IP in 4 starts at Petco Park; SD scoring just 3.8 runs/game in last 10; Nationals are a -120 favorite.

Stay Away: Dallas Keuchel (HOU) home vs. TOR for $9200. Gave up 4 ER & 10 H/BB in last start; TOR leads league in hitting vs. LHP (.318) w/ a HR every 25 ABs; Minute Maid Park 2^nd in Park Factor HR (1.48).

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**Clearly Visible (Mid-salary pitcher that may put up a star-worthy performance):

J.A. Happ (SEA) home vs. BOS for $7,300: The Seattle lefty has pitched well in 2015, going 3-1 in 6 starts with a 3.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 32 Ks in 38 1/3 IP. He has earned 11.4 FPPG at an average price of around $7000. He faces a Red Sox team that is hitting an awful .195 vs. LHP which is next to last in the majors. Plus, Happ is at home for the favored Mariners at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.

Honorable Mention: Bartolo Colon (NYM) home vs. MIL for $8600. Colon is 6-1, w/ a 3.30 ERA, 0.99 WHIP 40 Ks in 46 1/3 IP; 13.3 FPPG is 10^th highest among pitchers with 7 or more starts; Mets are -150 favorite at CitiField vs. Brewers (29^th in batting, 22^nd in scoring).

Stay Away: Shane Greene (DET) at STL for $7100. Despite good start last time out, is still 4.71 ERA w/ only 24 Ks in 42 IP. Faces -140 favorite Cardinals who are 14-3 at home this year. STL has 10^th best offense in majors (4.5 rpg).

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*In the Shadows (Low salary bargain that could produce a decent outing thus giving you extra money to spend on bats):

David Phelps (MIA) home vs. ATL for $6900: The former Yankee has been a pleasant surprise for the Marlins in 2015 going 2-0 with a 2.90 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 5 starts. Phelps strikeouts are down this year (19 Ks in 31 for 5.5 K9 rate) but he has a 7.8 K9 figure in his 45 career starts so his SO rate should increase. Starting the year in the bullpen after just losing out for the 5^th starter job, he joined the rotation due to an injured Henderson Alvarez and has impressed on the field and in fantasy with over 11 FPPG in his last four starts. This is a very low price to get a decent pitcher at home for a -135 favorite in a ballpark that has been very pitcher friendly in 2015.

Honorable Mention: Carlos Rodon (CWS) at OAK for $5800: Talented rookie lefty coming off great first start: 6 IP, 8K, 2 ER, & W vs. CIN for 16 FP; OAK is 27^th in majors w/ a .206 BA vs. LHP; Vegas run line is a low 7; O.co Coliseum is 26^th in Park Factor HR (0.72) in 2015.

Good Luck!

Need help with your daily or Head-to Head fantasy baseball team? Contact me on Twitter @Rich_Pelesky and I will give you the guidance you need to make the best decisions on trades, start/bench decisions, and the waiver wire!