FanDuel Lineup and Picks for Monday, May 14
A’s at Red Sox
A’s Probable Starter – Sean Manaea, LHP
2.11 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 7.32 K/9
Vs LHH – .180 average, .239 wOBA and 13.9 hard contact rate
Vs RHH – .164 average, .218 wOBA and 41.7 hard contact rate
As good as Manaea has been so far this season, I can’t bring myself to play him tonight. He’s started to see some of the regression that was coming for him the past two starts, giving up four earned runs in each. He did face two tough offenses in the Mariners and Astros but it’s not like the Red Sox are an easy matchup, especially at home. Boston is slowly working their way out of the basement against lefties because if you remember, they were dead last in many offensive categories against lefties earlier in the year. There’s not a ton of reasons to shy away from Red Sox hitters tonight.
Red Sox Hitters to Target
Elite Options – Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez
Secondary Options – Hanley Ramirez, Xander Bogaerts
Red Sox Probable Starter – Rick Porcello, RHP
2.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 8.34 K/9
Vs LHH – .200 average, .251 wOBA and 35.9 hard contact rate
Vs RHH – .221 average, .237 wOBA and 25.9 hard contact rate
If I’m being totally honest here, I’m not sure what to do with Porcello tonight.e’s only the fourth most expensive starter on an eight game slate, which is reasonable. The matchup isn’t the easiest though as Oakland has a ground ball percentage of right around 40 percent as a team. That’s one of the better rates in the league and they are a very good offense. Porcello could go out and have a quality start and be worthwhile for his price but there is risk here. If you want to roster A’s, stick with the lefty bats. The fly ball rate for lefties against Porcello is over 40 percent.
A’s Hitters to Target
Elite Options – Jed Lowrie
Secondary Options – Matt Olson, Matt Joyce
Home Run Pick – Mookie Betts
Indians at Tigers
Indians Probable Starter – Carlos Carrasco, RHP
3.61 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 9.11 K/9
Vs LHH – .236 average, .259 wOBA and 27.0 hard contact rate
Vs RHH – .211 average, .279 wOBA and 31.2 hard contact rate
My interest in Carrasco is dependent on two players – Nicholas Castellanos and Jeimer Candelario. If both of those players are out of the lineup, Carrasco is basically going to be lock and load for me in all formats. Some of the hitters Detroit rolled out there Sunday without both of their better hitters included Pete Kozma, Mike Mahtook and John Hicks. That’s not scaring me about using Carrasco in the least. If both of the Tigers are in the lineup, it’s a much tougher Chico between Carrasco and another borderline ace we’ll get to in a bit.
Tigers Hitters to Target
Elite Options – None
Secondary Options – None
Tigers Probable Starter – Mike Fiers, RHP
4.73 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 5.85 K/9
Vs LHH – .310 average, .410 wOBA and 37.5 hard contact rate
Vs RHH – .257 average, .295 wOBA and 34.9 hard contact rate
Another day, another chance to target Indians lefty bats. It’s a little odd that $4,200 actually seems a little cheap for Jose Ramirez but he could smack Fiers around today after a big game on Sunday. He hits for a higher average against lefties but his power has come against righties so far this year. It’s the same story for Francisco Lindor and he’s a little harder to shell out almost $5,000 when he’s not facing a lefty. I’d rather play Yonder Alonso for $800 less than Edwin Encarnacion and the final player that you can target is Michael Brantley. He’s hitting almost .400 against righties this year with a .460 wOBA.
Indians Hitters to Target
Elite Options – Michael Brantley, Jose Ramirez, Yonder Alonso, Jason Kipnis
Secondary Options – Francisco Lindor, Edwin Encarnacion
Home Run Pick – Yonder Alonso