Daily Fantasy Baseball: FanDuel Pitcher Picks For May 29
By Rich Pelesky
Welcome back to Friday Night Lights – Week 8. If you don’t already know, this has been the best place in 2015 to get your Friday starting pitcher selections for FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Contests.
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 Friday and so far this season:
High #1 – Michael Pineda, $9,500: 6 IP, 4 ER, & 5 K for 6 points
High #2 – Zack Greinke, $9,900: 7 2/3 IP, 1 ER, & 5 K for 11.67 points
Mid #1 – Jeff Samardzija, $8,900: 8 IP 2 ER, 9 K & W for 19 points
Mid #2 – Hector Carrasco, $8,700: 6 IP, 2 ER, 7 K, & W for 15 points
Low #1 – Chris Young, $6,500: 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, & W for 12 points
Low #2 – Alex Wood, $7,700: 3 2/3 IP, 7 ER, & 5 Ks for 1.67 points
Week 7 Record (Based on player outperforming salary rank): 3-2-1; YTD: 20-11-2
5/29 Picks:
***Shining Star (Higher salaried pitcher that should put up big numbers to reward your investment):
Matt Harvey (NYM) home vs. MIA for $10,700: Harvey is having a fantastic season for the Mets with a 5-2 mark and a 2.92 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 58 Ks in 58 2/3 IP. Although he did get roughed up in Pittsburgh last time out, he still has an impressive 21.9 FPPG. The Dark Knight faces the woeful Marlins (26th in runs scored) at home in pitcher paradise CitiField tonight, where the Mets are an overwhelming -180 favorite. Look for Harvey to rebound in a big way.
Honorable Mention: Sonny Gray (OAK) home vs. NYY for $10,100. Gray has Cy Young-worthy numbers so far: 5-2 with a 1.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 61 Ks in 66 IP. He faces the Yankees at home as a -150 favorite against Chris Capuano (0-2, 7.36 ERA, 1.91 WHIP in 2 starts). Expect Gray to continue his fine season against the Yankees tonight.
Stay Away: Cole Hamels PHI home vs. COL for $9800. Rockies hit LHP well (2nd in ML in ’14, .262 BA in ’15); Citizens Bank Park is 9th in Park Factor Runs at 1.16; Hamels is due for a bad game and the Rockies have won 4 of their last 5.
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Clearly Visible (Mid-salary pitcher that may put up a star-worthy performance):
Trevor Bauer at SEA for $8600. The young Indian righty (4-1, 3.02 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 55 K in 56 2/3 IP) has been a force this season and has been especially dominant of late. In his last 3 starts Bauer has given up just 3 runs and has stuck out 21 in 22 1/3 IP going 2-0 and averaging over 16 FPPG. If that’s not enough, he faces the Mariners (last in ML vs. RHP w/ a .229 BA), in Safeco Field (last in Park Factor runs) as a road favorite for the Indians who are heating up winners of 8 of their last 10.
Honorable Mention: Stephen Strasburg (WAS) at CIN for $8400: Strasburg has been struggling lately but his velocity remains at a top level with his fastball around 95-97 mph and getting 45 Ks in 44 1/3 IP. The Nationals are around a -135 road favorite today against the reeling Reds who have lost 10 of 11 scoring only 27 runs in that span. If the talented Strasburg is ever going to get back on track in 2015, this would be the matchup for him to do it.
Stay Away: Mark Beuhrle (TOR) at MIN for $7,400: Minnesota crushes LHP with a .282 BA (3rd in ML) in 2015; Target Field is 8th in Park Factor Runs at 1.14 and the game run line is 9; Minnesota is favored at home and has won 5 straight.
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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):
Steven Wright (BOS) at TEX for $5,500: The Boston knuckleballer has been decent this year with a 2-1 record with a .3.68 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. In each of his two starts he has not allowed more than two runs. He may not give you a whole lot of strikeouts and innings but at $5,500 you could get a good game and have plenty of money left over for quality hitters.
Honorable Mention: Tim Hudson (SF) home vs. ATL for $6,200. Hudson (2-4, 5.04 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) has been mediocre this year but has a favorable matchup at home vs. Atlanta, who is struggling on offense. AT&T is dead last in Park Factor runs at 0.62 and the Giants are a big -160 favorite. At this price Hudson is a bargain as you can count on 10+ FPs from the grisly veteran.
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!