DraftKings Early MLB Picks For May 7

There are eight early games for the DraftKings tournament today. We have about an even split in teams, but not necessarily in talent. There is a clear cut ace for the afternoon slate, and a few more that could pitch like aces. Coors is in the late tournament, so who should be the daytime stack? Let’s check out some stats!

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The money line yesterday afternoon was at 119.9, which is a solid total for a short slate. My pitching picks of Jake Odorizzi and Jason Vargas came up great, as did my Red Sox stack. I didn’t get much with it though. I still finished in the money, and a win is a win, so I’m happy.

The winning lineup was at 201.85. He used the same pitchers I did, but Logan Morrison and Chris Young put his lineup over the top.

NOTE: these picks are based solely on statistics. Some players have never faced their opponents, or have very little experience against them. I am not saying that none of those are good picks. The highest scorer of the day could be someone with no experience against his opponent. This is based on statistical analysis only. If you have a gut feeling, then by all means, follow that. This is not an exact science. The best lineups usually have a mix of proven stats and hot players. Check out this post from Matt McGarvey for great tips about whether to use a hot player in DFS or not.

For you first time players, if you would like $10 worth of free entry tickets, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn that $10 into more!

Next: DraftKings Early Lineup 1

P: Chris Sale ($12,600): I ran Sale out there in his last star despite career numbers that were less than stellar against Baltimore. He racked up 37 DraftKings points and pushed his ridiculous season numbers to a 1.38 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts in just 45.2 innings pitched. His numbers against the Twins are bad, and he is at a hitter’s park, so what gives? Especially facing the league leader in ERA? Well, Sale-killer Brian Dozier is out of the lineup, so there goes three of the homers and 11 of the RBI he has surrendered to the Twins. If Byron Buxton sits again, that removes another long ball. We are then left with a team that is 32-105(.305), but only has two homers and 16 RBI in 153 at bats with 32 strikeouts. Sale may be a bit overpriced, but after seeing what the struggling Rick Porcello did to this team yesterday, I want a lineup with him in it.

P: Alex Cobb ($7,700): The Blue Jay offense is showing signs of life, mostly thanks to Kendrys Morales, but Cobb dominated them even before they were the offensive mess that they were in April. The current Jays are only hitting .188 with a .225 wOBA against Cobb in 69 at bats. They have not homered, and have scored just three runs. Three! The 22 strikeouts are just icing on the cake. Cobb also carries a great chance at a win. He looks criminally underpriced today.

C: Yadier Molina ($3,200): Molina only has two singles and two RBI in seven at bats against R.A. Dickey, but I want some exposure to his knuckler that may or may not be moving today. And, lets face it, knowing someone will start is a huge advantage on Sunday (Molina rested yesterday) just in case we can’t get to our lineups in time for some reason.

1B: Mitch Moreland ($3,800): I will be the first to admit that Ervin Santana is having a brilliant season, and I never would have guessed that he could build on his career year last year at the age of 33. Now 0.66 ERA and 0.71 WHIP, not to mention the 5-0 record, wont last. I have a feeling a slip up is coming today, and Moreland is a big reason why. He is 8-27(.296) with four walks, a double, two homers, three runs scored, seven RBI, and even a steal against Santana. I’m in on Moreland, but I’m not foolish enough to stack against Santana. I will explain why in a bit.

2B: Brandon Phillips ($3,400): I was on the hunt for low priced players who had solid production against today’s opponent when I found Phillips. He is 8-31(.258) with two walks, a double, two runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Michael Wacha (Wacha Wacha!). That’s good enough for me! I may pull the switch to Kolten Wong if Dexter Fowler is out again. He would be leading off, and he has good speed against a knuckleballer. Stay tuned to our Twitter feed for any lineup changes.

3B: Travis Shaw ($3,600): This may seem like an odd time for Shaw considering the Brewers offense has cooled off and Tyler Glasnow turned in his first quality start in nine career starts in his last outing. That said, Shaw has a ton of power, and Glasnow still has spotty control for the most part. I want a little piece of the action at least.

SS: Freddy Galvis ($3,300): Galvis is 4-15(.267) with a homer, a steal, and two RBI in his career against Tanner Roark. If I trusted the Royals, I would move to Alcides Escobar, but you know my stance on that….

OF: Melky Cabrera ($4,500): Melky is 11-27(.407) with three doubles, a homer, four runs scored, and an impressive seven RBI in his career against Chris Tillman. The Sox offense has scuffled in the early going, but they are hitting .313 in 67 at bats against Tillman, who will be making his 2017 debut. Advantage: White Sox.

OF: Adam Jones ($4,200): Jose Quintana has been lights out lately, but Adam Jones has been an absolute nightmare for Quintana. Jones is 7-12(.583) with two walks, two doubles, two homers, three runs scored, and four RBI against the White Sox ace in his career. I like those odds!

OF: Odubel Herrera ($3,600): Herrera is an impressive 8-18(.444) already against Tanner Roark with a walk, three doubles, and three RBI. Expect some crooked numbers here, and maybe even a steal or two with Jose Lobaton behind the plate.

Next: DraftKings Early Lineup 2

P: Jose Quintana ($9,800): Quintana could pitch a shutout today if he intentionally walks Adam Jones every time. The rest of the team is just 9-60(.150) with one homer and six RBI with 18 strikeouts. He could be in for a brilliant game if he can solve the Adam Jones problem.

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P: Ervin Santana ($9,700): Okay, I owe an explanation here. Santana’s numbers look inflated due to the fact that four of his six starts came against horrible offensive teams (Kansas City twice, the White Sox, and Oakland), but three of those games were at home. The fifth was against a solid Cleveland team at home. The sixth was a game in Arlington in which he allowed just one run to a good hitting Rangers lineup in a better hitting park than his home digs. I can give a dozen reasons why this looks like a fluke, but it isn’t that much of a fluke. As far as today, Boston is only hitting .208 against him in 77 at bats, and besides Moreland, the team has no homers and only three RBI. He has virtually no chance at a win and he likely wont get more than a half dozen strikeouts, but I will be surprised if he doesn’t turn in a quality start. And there is the dirty little history of the Twins against Sale. They blasted him when he was with Chicago.

C: Chris Gimenez ($2,500): Speaking of which, Gimenez is 2-4 with a walk and a solo homer against Chris Sale. I would put Jason Castro‘s chances of starting this game at roughly 0% considering he has been in the league for eight years and never faced Sale. I will fire a shot with Jimenez for this price.

1B: Jay Bruce ($4,300): Bruce is only 2-7 in his career against Marlins righty Jose Urena. However, both of those hits are home runs and he has driven in three. I’ll gome homer hunting with a hot Jay Bruce right now. He has 11 RBI the last four games if you count the postponed three inning affair in Atlanta on Thursday.

2B: Neil Walker ($3,600): Walker only has one hit in five tries against Urena, but you guessed it, it was a home run. The Mets are my favorite stack of the afternoon because they are affordable. I would stack Royals as well if I trusted that offense at all, but I don’t.

3B: Miguel Sano ($4,400): The right handed power bats of the Twins destroy lefties, even this one. I previously mentioned Dozier’s three homers and 11 RBI agianst Sale. Sano is almost as impressive. He is 6-10 with a walk, a homer, five runs scored, and four RBI against Sale in his career.

SS: Francisco Lindor ($4,700): Lindor doesn’t show much respect to the fact that lefties aren’t supposed to hit other lefties, especially good ones like Danny Duffy, well. He is 2-4 with a homer and three RBI against Duffy so far in his career. In fact, Cleveland may be an underused stack today. They are hitting .298 with five homers off of Duffy in 114 career at bats.

OF: Michael Conforto ($4,000): Yes, I am stacking the wounded Mets against Jose Urena. The current team is hitting .293 off of him with four homers in just 58 at bats. Conforto does not have one of those nice, flashy, home run thingies, but he is 3-5 with a double and a run scored. Batting atop this lineup today could have him in a very good place to score us some points.

OF: Curtis Granderson ($3,500): After a dreadful April, Granderson is showing some signs of life at the plate lately. He has three straight games with double digit DraftKings points. He is only 3-11 against Urena with a walk and a run scored, but CitiField is still a hitter’s park, and Urena is mostly a hitter’s pitcher.

OF: Kevin Kiermaier ($3,500): Kiermaier only has one hit in six at bats against Joe Biagini, but it is all in relief. Will it be different if he has to face Kiermaier two or three times? That one hit was a two run homer, so I will take my chances. A Rays stack may not be a bad idea either, especially if you trust them against the Blue Jays bullpen.

Next: FanDuel MLB Picks and Pivots

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our NBA, PGA, and EPL picks!