DraftKings MLB Picks May 7: Strasburg is worth the premium

OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 06: Flags representing the Oakland Athletics in the parking lot blow in the wind prior to the start of the game between the Texas Rangers and Athletics on Opening Day at O.co Coliseum on April 6, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB Picks May 7: Strasburg is worth the premium

We only have seven games today, but they are all packaged in one nice DraftKings tournament. Don’t worry, for those of you chasing the extra FPP’s like I am, there are still showdowns, pick em, and arcade modes out there too. Also, if any of you are chasing the “Sandlot” bonus FPP’s, feel free to send me an invite. I don’t have that one yet either.

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There is no rain in the forecast for tonight, and very little wind. There is a mild 10mph breeze blowing in from right in Arlington and another 12 mph wind blowing out to right in Oakland. Hello Houston hitters!

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 head to head contest ticket, 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

CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 26: Kyle Hendricks (L) of the Chicago Cubs is greeted by Victor Caratini #7 of the Chicago Cubs after getting the final out against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning on April 26, 2018 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Stephen Strasburg ($13,600): Strasburg has dominated the Padres in his career. No surprise here. The Padres are hitting .206 against Strasburg no homers, four runs and 19 strikeouts in 63 at bats. In his career, Strasburg is 6-2 with a 2.94 ERA in his career against the Padres. He has been even better at Petco Park, posting a 2.84 ERA there. There is a reason Strasburg is so expensive. He’s worth it.

Kyle Hendricks ($9,600): The Marlins are only hitting .219 against Hendricks over 64 at bats with only one homer and five runs. Most of that damage was done on a Justin Bour grand slam, his only hit in 11 at bats against Hendricks. The 14 strikeouts is a decent enough clip since Hendricks isn’t really known for his strikeouts anyway. Hendricks has a lot of potential here on a lighter night.

Dallas Keuchel ($9,400): The drop after Strasburg is rather big despite the prices not reflecting that. The A’s are hitting a solid .258 off of Keuchel with five homers and 17 runs in 163 at bats while striking out only 26 times. With the kind of offense supporting Keuchel, he is always a good bet to get a win. However, the numbers that he puts up in said win could still leave you disappointed in the final tally.

Middle Tier:

Michael Fulmer ($8,000): Fulmer has allowed a .318 average to the Rangers, but they only have three runs in 22 at bats. Those aren’t great numbers, but they are good enough against Matt Moore. Moore was hammered by Cleveland, giving up ten runs in just four innings. As long as Fulmer doesn’t give up 11, he should be good for a free win.

Fernando Romero ($7,700): Romero had a strong major league debut with 5.2 shutout innings against the Blue Jays. Now he heads to St. Louis to take on a Cardinals team that just lost Yadier Molina and will likely be without Tommy Pham for the first game or two of this series. The Cardinals are still a solid offense, but they are not what they used to be. Romero also has a really good chance at a win facing John Gant as well.

Bargain Pitchers:

Jarlin Garcia ($5,900): Garcia pitched well against the Cubs earlier this season, but it was at Marlins Park. Wrigley is a different story. There is a healthy amount of risk attached to Garcia tonight, but considering he only allowed three hits across 21 at bats without allowing a run and striking out six, there is good potential here as well.

P.J. Conlon ($4,000): Here is an interesting GPP dart throw, much like Stripling was yesterday. Conlon has struggled at AAA Las Vegas, but he is making his major league debut in Cincy tonight anyway. So why take a chance on him? The Reds are the third worst team in the majors against left handed pitching, and Homer Bailey only has two quality starts all year. We know Bailey is going to give up runs. Just look at his 5.81 home ERA. When you add the Reds’ trouble against lefties to this mix, this is a decent spot for Conley. Of course, the caveat is that this is a hitters park.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 24: Brandon Belt #9 of the San Francisco Giants hits a two-run home run against the Washington Nationals in the bottom of the third inning at AT&T Park on April 24, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

I’m not quite ready to use a full on stack against P.J. Conlon in his major league debut, but Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez are definitely worth a look. With the way the outfielder are struggling though, I may pass on the rest of the team.

Kris Bryant had one of those three hits off of Garcia in South Florida. He is worth a look against the lefty in the Friendly confines.

Middle Tier:

Brandon Belt is 3-6 with a double, a homer, and three RBI in his career against Zach Eflin. Nick Hundley is also in the middle of a hot streak, and he is 2-3 with two doubles and a RBI off of Eflin so far.

Matt Chapman is 4-7 with a walk, two doubles, two homers, three runs, and three RBI in his career against Dallas Keuchel already. I know that the wind is blowing out the other way, but that could just help Chapman go the opposite way. He is obviously seeing the ball really well against Keuchel. Mark Canha could be worth a look as well. Canha is 5-17 with a walk, a homer, and three RBI against Keuchel.

Tyson Ross has pitched well lately, but the Nationals have really hit him hard. Matt Adams is on fire lately, and he is 4-7 with a double, a run, and two RBI in his career against Ross. Anthony Rendon is 3-8 with a homer and three RBI against Ross as well.

It would be easy to just throw Jeff Samardzija out there because he is facing Zach Eflin, but Eflin turned in a better start in his one turn than Samardzija has at any point this season. I would much rather stack Phillies. Most of them are pretty cheap, including Carlos Santana and Maikel Franco. They are both under $4,000.

This is going to be a full on Tiger stack day. Jeimer Candelario is a good place to start this with Miggy out. John Hicks and James McCann are good cheap options as well.

Joey Gallo is 1-2 in his career against Michael Fulmer. That hit is a solo homer.

Bargain Shoppers:

After an awful start to the season, Logan Morrison has now turned in a dozen straight games with points, including four double digit efforts in the last six contests. He is worth a look against John Gant. Gant was good at AAA this year, but he still has a 4.61 career ERA.

Jose Martinez doesn’t have a ton of power, but he is hitting .298 and is averaging 7.5 DraftKings points per game. There is good potential against a rookie making his second career start.

Homer Bailey has nightmares about Adrian Gonzalez. Just ask him. Gonzalez is 11-25(.440) with a walk, two doubles, six homers, eight runs, and ten RBI in his career against Bailey.

Chase Headley is super cheap, and he is 4-8 with two walks, two doubles, two runs, and a RBI in his career against Stephen Strasburg. He is about the only Padre that I would consider though.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Carlos Correa #1 and Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrate defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in game seven to win the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Brett Anderson‘s return went very well in Seattle last week, as he allowed two runs in 6.1 innings pitched. Now he has to face a loaded Houston lineup. Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve are two of the components that make this lineup loaded. They are better against lefties anyway, and I’m not quite a believer than Anderson is back. If he pitches well against the Astros, then we’ll talk.

Brian Dozier is definitely worth a look against John Gant. So is the white hot Eduardo Escobar.

Middle Tier:

You have to have Cesar Hernandez leading off for the Phillies against Shark if you are stacking them. Even if you aren’t Hernandez is a solid standalone play atop this lineup.

Asdrubal Cabrera is 5-15 with two walks, a double, three runs, and two RBI in his career against Homer Bailey.

I like Matt Carpenter in just about every situation anyway, so I definitely like him here against rookie Fernando Romero.

Bargain Shoppers:

Brandon Crawford is still very cheap. He has also hit Eflin hard in his career. Crawford is 4-8 with a walk, two homers, three runs, and five RBI in his career off of Eflin. Will Crawford’s hot streak continue? For $3,200, it’s worth finding out!

Starlin Castro is still very cheap, and he is 3-6 with a RBI off of Hendricks. Castro drove in three runs yesterday. He could have another productive night in his old stomping grounds tonight.

Jose Iglesias and Dixon Machado are very cheap, and are worth a look against Matt Moore. By going this cheap here, you can afford pretty much anyone else you want at the other positions.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 05: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals looks on during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on May 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Wow, Bryce Harper is expensive. That’s because he is 3-5 with three walks, a solo homer, two steals, and four runs in his career against Tyson Ross.

Rhys Hoskins is a must in any Phillies stack. Nick Williams is the only current Phillie to hit a home run against Jeff Samardzija, so he is worth a look if he starts.

George Springer is definitely worth a look against Brett Anderson here. Jake Marisnick could be an interesting punt with him holding the platoon advantage against Anderson.

If Nick Castellanos is in the lineup, he should be front and center in your Tigers stack. Leonys Martin and JaCoby Jones are worth using as well, especially with Jones batting leadoff.

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Middle Tier:

Eddie Rosario had a big night last night, and could be in for another tonight against John Gant. Max Kepler is also worth a shot here.

Harrison Bader is going to lead off for as long as Tommy Pham is out. Bader already has four steals in just 39 at bats, so his speed could be a sneaky source of points. I also like Marcell Ozuna at this price point.

This is more of a cautionary tale. Both Khris Davis and Chad Pinder have hit home runs against Dallas Keuchel, but they are a combined 2-30 against him.

Bargain Shoppers:

Cameron Maybin is really cheap, and he is 2-4 with three walks, a run, and a steal so far against Kyle Hendricks.

Next: DraftKings MLB Early Slate 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!