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Daily Fantasy Baseball: Afternoon FanDuel Lineups For May 23

By Mike Marteny

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Apr 26, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

16 of the 30 teams are in action early in the afternoon today. Seven of those 16 teams are throwing out pitchers that cost $8,700 or more. That will leave the money a little harder to come by this afternoon, and makes picking the hitters a little more difficult.

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Which pitchers should you try to afford? Which hitters hit them well? Let’s check the statistics.

NOTE: these picks are based solely on statistics. Some pitchers going today have never faced their opponents, or have very little experience against them. I am not saying that none of those are good picks. This is based on statistical analysis only.

Here are my afternoon FanDuel lineups for May 23:

Pitchers:

Best Bet:

Matt Harvey, Mets ($10,800): Pittsburgh has only faced Harvey once, and they were dominated. They only picked up three hits in eight innings, and did not score a run. They only struck out six times, but can you really complain about that? If Harvey duplicates this feat, it will result in 18 FanDuel points.

Honorable Mention:

Cole Hamels, Phillies ($9,700): Sorry Stephen Strasburg, but your recent struggles have me giving Hamels the edge. The current Nationals players are only hitting .204 off of Hamels in 426 at bats, while striking out 110 times. The current Phillies are hitting .219 off of Strasburg in 146 at bats while striking out 42 times. Strasburg has only given up five runs to the Phillies in his career though, so he is not a bad play either. I just trust Hamels a little bit more right now. If you have to go cheaper, Strasburg is a good bet at $8,700, but that is as low as I would go this afternoon.

Stay Away:

Chris Heston, Giants ($6,600): Heston has only faced the current Rockies roster 42 times, but they have 16 hits off of him and have only struck out six times. On top of that, the game is at Coors Field. I wouldn’t trust either starter (Colorado is sending out Jordan Lyles) in this game.

Catcher:

Best Bet:

Carlos Ruiz, Phillies ($2,700): Ruiz has actually hit Strasburg pretty well. He is 6 for 18 off of the Nationals star pitcher with a double, a homer, and two RBI. Since strikeouts don’t count extra against you in FanDuel, Ruiz is a pretty safe bet.

If You’re Cheap:

Anthony Recker, Mets ($2,400): The Mets are really going to miss Travis d’Arnaud in this one. d’Arnaud is 5 for 9 with a double, two homers, and five RBI off of A.J. Burnett. Recker has only faced Burnett three times, but his one hit was a three run homer.

Next: How Does The Infield Look?

May 16, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez (16) bats against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

First Base:

Best Bet:

Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals ($3,300): I certainly couldn’t blame you for taking Miguel Cabrera against Astros rookie Lance McCullers today, but the statistics say that Zimmerman is the best option. His is 21 for 81 with seven walks, four doubles, three homers, and eight RBI in his career off of Cole Hamels. Hamels has fanned him 18 times, but Zimmerman has shown that he can get the best of the veteran from time to time.

If You’re Cheap:

Joe Mauer, Twins ($3,100): Surprisingly enough, Mauer has hit pretty well against Chicago ace Chris Sale, who is left handed. Mauer has never had problems hitting most lefties, but Sale has some nasty pitches. Still, Mauer is 8 for 27 with a walk, two doubles, and three RBI off of Sale. Don’t expect Mauer to take him deep, but getting on base is a good bet.

Second Base:

Best Bet:

Brian Dozier, Twins ($3,800): Jason Kipnis against Cincinnati rookie Anthony DeSclafani and Jose Altuve agianst Detroit rookie Kyle Lobstein both look appetizing, but when you see what Dozier does to left handers in general, it is almost foolish not to play him. He has fared a little worse against Chris Sale, only hitting .280 (7 for 25) off of him, but he has a double, three homers, and an impressive eight RBI. That kind of production is what wins you money in FanDuel.

If You’re Cheap:

Scooter Gennett, Brewers ($2,200): Gennett has done well against Shelby Miller. He is 7 for 18 off of Miller, but the only counting stat that he has is one RBI. Not one of those hits have gone for extra bases. but if you need the money, any positive points for this price puts you ahead of the game.

Shortstop:

Best Bet:

Ian Desmond, Nationals ($3,100): Desmond is a little bit of a risk since he is only hitting .196 (11 for 56) off of Cole Hamels. However, seven of those 11 hits are for extra bases. Desmond has five doubles, a triple, a homer, and two RBI off of Hamels. There is a chance that he loses you points, but chances are that if he gets a hit, it will be for bigger points.

If You’re Cheap:

Wilmer Flores, Mets ($2,300): It is a small sample size, but Flores is an impressive five for six off of A.J. Burnett. He has only driven in one, and none of those have gone for extra bases, but that kind of track record at least deserves a look.

Third Base:

Best Bet:

Aramis Ramirez, Brewers ($3,000): Ramirez has had most success off of Shelby Miller than any of his other teammates. He is 7 for 16 off of Miller, and has two homers and six RBI. To put that in perspective, Miller has given up only one other homer and four other RBI to the rest of the team in 106 at bats.

If You’re Cheap:

Trevor Plouffe, Twins ($2,800): The Twins have a lot of right handed power, so it is no surprise that they crush lefties. Plouffe is 8 for 27 with two walks, a double, and an RBI off of Sale. He has not hit him hard, but he has still managed to get on base.

Next: Let's Check Out the OF!

May 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) runs after hitting a single in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Outfield:

Best Bets:

Charlie Blackmon, Rockies ($3,800): Stats be damned, it is still tough not to recommend Bryce Harper with as hot as he has been. Still, he is only 8 for 28 with one RBI off of Hamels. Blackmon’s four for six with a solo homer off of Chris Heston for $2,200 less looks much safer.

Torii Hunter, Twins ($3,500): Hunter is 9 for 33 with a walk, two doubles, a triple, a homer, and an RBI off of Chris Sale. He is still dangerous when he is on base that much, especially as well as the Twins hit Sale.

Gregor Blanco, Giants ($3,300): Blanco has not been starting every game with Hunter Pence back, but I would bet he is in the lineup for at least one of the two games today. He is 4 for 7 with a walk, a homer, and two RBI in his career off of Jordan Lyles. The Giants should fit him in to the first game for sure.

If You’re Cheap:

Curtis Granderson, Mets ($3,000): Granderson only have five hits in 21 at bats off of Burnett, but four of them are for extra bases. He has four walks, three doubles, a homer, and two RBI. If he catches a hold of something Burnett throws, he can make something good happen.

Juan Lagares, Mets ($2,200): Lagares has handled Burnett well so far. He is 5 for 14 with two doubles and three RBI. That gives him a great chance for positive points.

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