Fansided

Daily Fantasy Baseball: FanDuel Hitter Picks For May 22

By Mike Marteny

facebooktwitterreddit

May 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) reacts after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning by New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (not pictured) at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

All 30 teams are included in the all day tournaments on FanDuel today. That leaves us 30 starting position players and 90 starting outfielders to choose from. Who are the best options? Let’s see what the stats say!

Here are my FanDuel hitter picks for May 22:

NOTE: These picks are based on the hitter’s career numbers against the opposing pitcher. Some younger players who don’t have much of a history in the league (and same for pitchers) won’t appear on here because of lack of evidence. That doensn’t mean that others will not be good plays tonight. These are just the ones that the statistics support.

First Base:

Best Bets:

Anthony Rizzo, Cubs ($4,400): Rizzo has only faced Josh Collmenter ten times, but he has four hits. Three of those (two doubles and a homer) have gone for extra bases, and he also has a walk and three RBI. Not bad for ten at bats!

Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers ($4,200): Gonzalez loves to face Andrew Cashner. AGon is 10 for 28 with a walk, a double, four homers, and six RBI off of the San Diego ace. Cashner has struck him out seven times, but that won’t hurt you in the FanDuel format.

If You’re Cheap:

Wilin Rosario, Rockies ($3,700): Rosario has hammered Ryan Vogelsong, though he is far from the only Rockie to do so. Rosario is 4 for 12 wtih three homers and six RBI off of Vogelsong. That is a nice track record!

Second Base:

Best Bets:

Jose Altuve, Astros ($4,200): Altuve has only faced Alfredo Simon four times, but he has been on base in three of those at bats (walk, single, double) and has driven in a run. It’s a small sample size, but betting against Altuve is usually not a good idea.

Brian Dozier, Twins ($3,800): We all know that Dozier punishes left handed pitching, but he also does well against some right handers. Jeff Samardzija is one of those. Dozier is 3 for 8 with two doubles, two RBI, and a walk off of him while striking out just once.

If You’re Cheap:

Danny Espinosa, Nationals ($2,900): Espinosa has only faced Sean O’Sullivan once, but that one at bat ended in a solo homer for Espinosa. Yes, he is the best bet if you go cheap at 2B tonight.

Shortstop:

Best Bet:

Danny Santana, Twins ($2,800): Believe it or not, Santana is statistically the best option at the top. Troy Tulowitzki is 0 for 10 off of Vogelsong. Starlin Castro is only one for four with a single off of Josh Collmenter. That brings us all the way down to Santana, who is 3 for 8 0ff of Samardzija with a double and an RBI. Considering that Santana is now batting leadoff and the Twins are hitting .328 off of Samardzija, I like his chances to score some runs as well.

If You’re Cheap:

Alexei Ramirez, White Sox ($2,300): Ramirez is 7 for 26 with two doubles, a walk, a homer, and four RBI off of Phil Hughes. He is not a lock for points, but the stats say that he is the next best option behind Santana.

Third Base:

Best Bet:

Nolan Arenado, Rockies ($3,900): Arenado has only faced Vogelsong seven times, but he has four hits off of him. Two of those hits are home runs, and he has driven in four. This is one of those nights that you want to sit out in the left field bleachers at Coors Field.

If You’re Cheap:

Mike Moustakas, Royals ($2,900): Moose has only faced Lance Lynn six times in interleague play, but he has three hits off of him. Two of those hits are home runs, and he has driven in three. Moose is a great plan B at third base.

Next: How do the Catchers and OF look?

May 20, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (34) looks on after being thrown out of the game in the third inning against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Catcher:

Best Bet:

Nick Hundley, Rockies ($3,000): Hundley is only two for five off of Vogelsong, but he has a walk and a two run homer to go with his single. If the Rockies elect to sit Hundley, it might be better news for us. Michael McKenry ($2,700) is 4 for 11 with three walks, a double, and two solo homers off of Vogelsong. Whichever one winds up in the lineup is worth playing!

If You’re Cheap:

Wellington Castillo, Mariners ($2,200): The Mariners should look at getting starter Mike Zunino a day off against Marco Estrada. Castillo is 6 for 21 with four homers and eight RBI off of the former Brewer. Check the lineup to make sure that Castillo is in there, but if he is, he becomes a very strong play.

Outfield:

Best Bets:

Bryce Harper, Nationals ($6,000): We all know how ridiculously hot Harper has been during the month of May. He has two hits in five at bats off of Sean O’Sullivan, but both of those hits have left the yard and he has driven in four. Harper remains a great play once again.

Mike Trout, Angels ($5,200): Trout is 5 for 15 lifetime off of Rick Porcello with two walks, a homer, and six RBI. If you can’t afford Harper, Trout will do just fine!

Jose Bautista, Blue Jays ($4,700): Bautista has actually fared pretty well against Felix Hernandez. Bautista is 7 for 21 with five walks, a double, and two solo homers off of the King. He is a strong bet for some crooked numbers.

Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins ($4,500): Stanton has only faced Ubaldo Jimenez seven times, but he has three hits, including a three run homer. If Ubaldo makes a mistake, which he has done a lot this year, Stanton will make him pay.

If You’re Cheap:

Adam Jones, Orioles ($3,400): Jones is 5 for 11 with a homer and two RBI off of Henderson Alvarez. Jones has had no issues hitting his stuff, and after the way Alvarez was rocked in his last outing, you have to think it will continue here.

Alex Gordon, Royals ($3,200): Gordon is 5 for 7 with a double off of Lance Lynn. He has yet to rack up many counting stats, but he is bound to get something when he is on base that much.

Jay Bruce, Reds ($2,600): Bruce has fared very well against Carlos Carrasco in interleague play. Bruce is two for five off of Carrasco. Both of those hits are solo home runs!

More from FanSided