DraftKings Early MLB Picks May 5: Stack Cubs and go cheap on pitching

Happy Cinco de Mayo! The MLB heads south of the border to celebrate with the Dodgers and Padres once again in Monterrey, but that is later tonight. There are only four afternoon games, and it shows. Pitching is rough on this slate. We figured that out as soon as we saw Bauer’s price at $10,700! Let’s see what we can make of this fine mess.

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There wind is tame today, but the Phillies and Nationals are under severe threats of rain for the entire afternoon and evening. Unless they start this game at noon, it could be tough to get it in.

We will provide you with several options to build your lineup here. Want to spend all your money on pitchers and play bargain bats? We will highlight who is worth the money. Want to punt arms and pay up for the big boppers? We can help you with that as well, and everything in between!

These tips are based mostly on past performance. This is a nice tool for building a lineup, but should not be the only pieces of information you use. Stacking against a bad pitcher is always a good idea!

For you first time players, if you would like a free $20 in DraftKings dollars, use this link for the referral bonus with your first deposit of $5 or more! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn those DraftKings dollars into more!

Next: DraftKings Pitcher Plays

Top Tier:

Trevor Bauer ($10,700): For perspective, Verlander’s price wasn’t even in the five digit range when he faced the Yankees last week! The Yankees are hitting a solid .262 against Bauer in 65 at bats, but they only have one homer and six runs. The bad news is that Bauer has a staggering 11 walks and only 12 strikeouts. We have to be able to do better than this, right? RIGHT?

Middle Tier:

Tyler Chatwood ($8,800): The Cardinals are only hitting .242 off of Chatwood, but they have five runs in only 33 at bats. Surprisingly, the Cardinals have no homered off of Chatwood, but the good news ends there. Chatwood has just eight strikeouts to go with ten walks. Yuck! The only bright spot for Chatwood here is Luke Weaver. Yes, the opposing pitcher. Why? The Cubs are hitting .476 with three homers and 16 runs against Weaver in just 42 at bats!

Tanner Roark ($8,500): As with Chatwood, Roark’s greatest asset is the opposing pitcher, who has been bludgeoned by his teammates. It’s not like the Phillies haven’t hit Roark. They are hitting a robust .288 against him in 104 at bats, but have just one homer. Still, Roark has surrendered 13 runs while striking out only 23 in that span. It’s not like he’s a sure thing either.

Bargain Pitchers:

Jason Hammel ($5,500): The Tigers are hitting a decent .252 against Hammel in 119 at bats, but they only have one homer and 11 runs. Hammel doesn’t strike out many, and he has struggled in the early going, but the Tigers aren’t exactly playing well right now. This was a low scoring game last night and I expect it to be today as well.

Jordan Zimmerman ($5,000): Even as I type this, I am somewhat nauseated that Zimmerman is even on the radar. However, he looked very good against the Rays his last time out, and gets a similarly inept offense in Kansas City today. The Royals are hitting a solid .268 against Zimmerman, but they have only one homer and seven runs in 138 at bats. The 21 strikeouts leave a lot to be desired, but no pitcher has good strikeout totals on this slate. There is no way Zimmerman should be the cheapest pitcher on this slate. That alone makes him worth using.

Top Tier:

I’m stacking Cubs today. They have destroyed Luke Weaver. The only Cub hitting under .300 against Weaver is Willson Contreras, who is just 1-5 with a single and a walk. Rizzo and Bryant combined are 5-10 with three walks, a double, a homer, four runs, and six RBI. That sounds like a nice lineup core to me.

Middle Tier:

Sonny Gray has been terrible no matter which mound he has stood on this year. The Indians are only hitting .231 off of him in 130 at bats, but they have four homers and 19 runs. Still, Gray has a 6.67 ERA this year, and it balloons to 7.07 at home. There are going to be a lot of runs scored in this one. Edwin Encarnacion is a good place to start. He is only 6-24 against Gray, but he has a homer, three runs, and two RBI.

The Nationals have hit Vince Velasquez hard in his career so far. Ryan Zimmerman is right in the middle of that. Zimmerman is 4-9 with two walks, a double, a homer, two runs, and four RBI in his career against Velasquez. For good measure, the red hot Matt Adams is 1-2 with a walk.

Bargain Shoppers:

If Jorge Alfaro is in the lineup, he is worth a look. Alfaro is 3-5 with a homer and three RBI off of Tanner Roark so far.

Lucas Duda is only 9-40(.225) in his career against Jordan Zimmerman, but he has the Royals’ only homer off of him.

Top Tier:

Didi Gregorius has the Yankees’ only current homer against Trevor Bauer. Gregorius is 5-16 with a walk, a double, a homer, three runs, and two RBI against Bauer in his career.

Javier Baez and Addison Russell are a combined 6-12 with a walk, a double, a triple, two homers, five runs, and eight RBI off of Luke Weaver. The only hard part of this lineup build is deciding which Cubs to leave out.

Middle Tier:

Jason Kipnis is only 2-12 in his career against Sonny Gray, but he has a homer and three RBI. Thinking about Francisco Lindor? I would pass. Lindor is just 2-15 in his career against Gray.

Cesar Hernandez is a solid 7-26(.269) against Tanner Roark with a double, five walks, and five runs. What sets Hernandez apart is his four steals. That’s a lot of points that others may not pick up on.

Howie Kendrick is 4-5 with a double, two homers, and five RBI in his career against Vince Velasquez. So how is it that Trea Turner is 0-9?

Bargain Shoppers:

Matt Carpenter is always in play because he is such a good hitter. He is 3-6 so far against Tyler Chatwood with two walks, a double, and two RBI.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

Top Tier:

Bryce Harper is 5-6 with two walks, a double, a homer, and five RBI already off of Vince Velasquez. It’s going to be tough to afford all of the Cubs and Harper, but if you can swing it, it may be worth how horrid your pitching will have to be.

Michael Brantley is 6-18 with three walks, two doubles, two runs, two steals, and a RBI against Sonny Gray. It has been Brandon Guyer that has done most of the damage. Guyer is 3-8 with a walk, two homers, three runs, and five RBI against Gray.

Kyle Schwarber is perfect against Luke Weaver so far. He has two singles and two RBI in his two at bats against him so far.

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Middle Tier:

Odubel Herrera is 13-29(.448) with two walks, five doubles, five runs, and four RBI in his career against Tanner Roark. Hey, you have to go cheaper somewhere!

Bargain Shoppers:

Brett Gardner is really cheap, and he is 6-20 with five walks, two doubles, a steal, two runs, and three RBI in his career against Trevor Bauer.

Marcell Ozuna looks too cheap this afternoon. He is 2-5 with a walk, a run, and two RBI against Tyler Chatwood so far.

Next: DraftKings Main Slate MLB Picks

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our PGA picks. Still in NBA mode? No worries, we have the NBA DFS covered for the playoffs as well!