DraftKings Early MLB Picks For May 20

Eight of the 15 games are in the afternoon, and we have more than one ace taking the mound. Who is worth paying the extra money for? Or should we just stack hitters and take bargain pitchers? Let’s check out some past stats for help.

More from DFS

The money line was all the way up to 121.6 last night. Combined, my two lineups missed out on the money by 2.6 points. Combined! My Diamondback stack worked, but I didn’t have Jake Lamb, which was the one I really needed.

The winning lineup was way up at 228.7, which was 19.45 points above second place! His Braves/Diamondbacks hybrid stack and a huge bargain from Ariel Miranda made it all possible.

These picks are based mostly on statistical analysis . 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: Max Scherzer ($12,600): Normally, I wouldn’t really pay up for Scherzer on a day like this. He hasn’t exactly dominated the Braves, and there are a handful of good options. However, we aren’t going for good. We are trying to win. Yes, the Braves are hitting .267 against Scherzer in 176 at bats, but they have as many strikeouts as hits. Strikeouts count far more for you than hits do against you, and he has only give up 12 runs in that span. I’m chasing the strikeouts in a weakened Atlanta lineup without Freddie Freeman.

P: Ivan Nova ($8,700): Nova has been outstanding since his move to the National League. He is 8-5 with a 2.80 ERA in 19 starts with the Pirates. He likes PNC Park even more, posting a 2.28 ERA there in nine starts. The current Phillies are hitting just .217 against him with 11 strikeouts in 46 at bats with just two runs. He seems way underpriced, and I really like the fact that I can pair him with Scherzer here for a chance at a good payout.

C: Christian Vazquez ($2,600): Sean Manaea is still sporting a 5.52 ERA, though he has been better at home. Then again, this is Boston, a team that hits lefties in general, well. The team is a collective 9-15 in their careers against Manaea. This is my favorite stack of the day, and it start with a cheap catcher than can hit.

1B: Hanley Ramirez ($4,100): Hanley is perfect against Manaea with a single, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI in his two plate appearances. Like I said, Manaea will be marginally better at home, but I will still be surprised if he lasts more than five innings.

2B: Dustin Pedroia ($3,700): Pedroia is one of the few guys that Manaea actually got out, but Pedroia still managed a RBI double and scored. He will be near the top of a lineup that could score a few runs today. I’ll take it for this price.

3B: Eduardo Escobar ($3,100): It isn’t a sexy name, but aside from hitting the game winning sac fly last night, Escobar is 7-16(.438) with a walk, a homer, four runs scored, and three RBI against Ian Kennedy. Neither one of these teams score a lot of runs (usually), so I wouldn’t recommend a stack, but when you can find stats like this at this price, you take notice.

SS: Adam Rosales ($2,300): Rosales is the price break you need in a Scherzer lineup. He is perfect in his career against Drew Pomeranz with a single, a homer, and two RBI. With the lefty on the mound again today, expect to see Rosales in there, and it’s a fair assumption he will get something today.

OF: Mookie Betts ($5,200): Mookie is also perfect against Sean Manaea with a single, a solo homer, and two runs scored. If I’m stacking Red Sox, Mookie is a must!

OF: Corey Dickerson ($4,600): Dickerson is 6-16(.375) with two doubles, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI off of Masahiro Tanaka. Tanaka is still a good enough pitcher that I don’t quite trust the Rays stack I was toying with, but I do like Dickerson batting leadoff enough to take this shot at him.

OF: Chris Young ($3,000): Young was acquired for this reason: to punish left handed pitching. His career average is 39 points higher against southpaws, and though he has struggled this year, this may be the spot where he gets it going. Young is also perfect against Manaea with two singles, a run scored, and a RBI.

Next: DraftKings Early Lineup 2

P: Jake Arrieta ($9,400): There is always some risk involved with facing the Brewers, especially with righty killer Eric Thames there, I still like Arrieta today. His metrics are still in line with his career marks even though his ERA is not. The Brewers are also hitting just .180 off of him with Ryan Braun out. In 50 at bats, they have struck out 15 times and scored only three times. I will take my chances with those numbers.

P: Vince Velasquez ($9,200): Admittedly, there isn’t much to go on here besides the offensive woes of the Buccos this year and the fact that they are 0-9 lifetime against Velazquez, but this still feels like a game that Velasquez can dominate. He has had a rough season so far, but the fact that this game is in pitcher friendly PNC Park does him a favor. Enough for me to take a shot at this.

C: Jesus Sucre ($2,600): There is no basis for this except for the fact that Sucre has been starting day games after night games, and destorying the opposing pitcher in the process. He has 39 DraftKings points in his last two starts. If the Rays use him this afternoon, I am too!

1B: Edwin Encarnacion ($3,800): I always take notice when a guy with this kind of power is priced this low against a middle of the road pitcher like Mike Fiers. True, Fiers has pitched very well against Cleveland in his career so far, but Edwin still has a walk, a double, a homer, and two RBI in ten at bats against him. I’m taking a chance at another homer.

2B: Jonathan Villar ($3,900): Wait…..am I pitting hitter against pitcher again? Yes! With good reason. Villar is only 2-9 against Arrieta, but he has three walks, two runs scored, and a whopping five steals. Steals don’t count against my pitcher unless he steals home, so I’m all in!

3B: Anthony Rendon ($4,100): I didn’t even mention the best thing about using Max Scherzer today: he gets to face off with Bartolo Colon. Colon has had a rough year, and the Nats wont make it any easier. They are hitting .302 with five homers and 16 RBI in just 126 at bats. Rendon himself is 8-21(.375) with two homers, three runs scored, and five RBI. He looks like a bargain at this price!

SS: Adam Rosales ($2,300): It just so happens that I need the price break in both lineups. There isn’t anyone with a great career split at the position anyway, and this price is dirt cheap. I can’t say no to this kind of potential value.

OF: Aaron Judge ($5,000): Judge was the only one to get to Matt Andriese in their first meeting against him this year. That will cause several players to go with Andriese, but the Yankees offense has put up some good numbers lately. Judge is 3-7 with a solo homer and two runs scored against Andriese. There is a chance he does it again.

OF: Bryce Harper ($5,500): I’m paying up for Harper with a guy like Colon on the mound. I would even if Harper weren’t 5-19(,263) with three walks, two homers, three runs scored and three RBI off of him.

OF: Aaron Hicks ($4,200): Hicks has cooled off some lately, but he is still 3-5 with a walk, two homers, and four RBI in his career against Matt Andriese. I like those odds!

Next: FanDuel MLB Picks and Pivots

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