Fansided

FanDuel Lineup and Picks for Wednesday, May 16

By Adam Strangis

WASHINGTON, D.C. - OCTOBER 12: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches during Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on Thursday, October 12, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - OCTOBER 12: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches during Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on Thursday, October 12, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 29: Walker Buehler #64 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of a game at Coors Field on September 29, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 29: Walker Buehler #64 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of a game at Coors Field on September 29, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Dodgers at Marlins

Dodgers Probable Starter – Walker Buehler, RHP

1.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 31.4 strikeout

Vs LHH – .210 average, .232 wOBA, 24.0 fly ball rate and 30.8 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .171 average, .199 wOBA, 23.1 fly ball rate and 46.2 hard contact rate

If you’re worried about spending up for one of the more expensive pitchers on the slate in a bad matchup, Buehler is going to be your man tonight. He’s learning how to harness his stuff at the major league level and the results are starting to show up a little bit more. Buehler has only walked four batters in his past 17 innings and struck out 16. That’s going to work every time. As is the case with many of the Dodgers pitchers, you’re going to sweat it out to see if he can make it to the quality start bonus. Even if he doesn’t Miami is in the top 10 in strikeout percentage against righties. Buehler is a strong play this evening, especially given price point.

Marlins Hitters to Target

Elite Options – None

Secondary Options – J.T. Realmuto, Justin Bour

Marlins Probable Starter – Caleb Smith, LHP 

3.63 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 31.4 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .292 average, .327 wOBA, 30.3 fly ball rate and 42.4 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .162 average, .254 wOBA, 52.4 fly ball rate and 36.1 hard contact rate

We could very well have a pitching duel on our hands this evening in Miami. Smith has been excellent so far, with only two disaster starts so far. One of those starts came against the Yankees so that hardly counts. Smith also held his own against the Braves in his last start, which has been one of the worst matchups for lefties this year. The Dodgers are scuffling badly on offense right now. They just got shut down by Wei-Yen Chen last night for goodness sake. Cody Bellinger would actually be a little interesting by the splits for Smith but the price of just $7,600 is intriguing tonight.

Dodgers Hitters to Target

Elite Options – None

Secondary Options – Cody Bellinger, Matt Kemp, Kike Hernandez, Justin Turner

Home Run Pick – Cody Bellinger

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 15: Chris Sale #42 of the Boston Red Sox delivers during the fourth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 15, 2018 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 15: Chris Sale #42 of the Boston Red Sox delivers during the fourth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 15, 2018 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

A’s at Red Sox

A’s Probable Starter – Trevor Cahill, RHP

2.25 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 33.7 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .132 average, .176 wOBA, 28.6 fly ball rate and 40.9 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .250 average, .328 wOBA, 25.8 fly ball rate and 50.0 hard contact rate

In quite a few matchups, Cahill would be on my radar. Any pitcher carrying that high of a ground ball rate to go along with a high strikeout rate can be very useful. You have to be pretty brave to use him coming off the disabled list to pitch in Fenway Park. I don’t feel like this is a prime stacking spot for the Red Sox because of Cahill’s ground ball rate. This is definitely a spot where you either stack the Sox or you just let this side of the game be. Home runs might be a little harder to come by with Cahill’s fly ball rate.

Red Sox Hitters to Target

Elite Options – Mookie Betts

Secondary Options – J.D. Martinez, Mitch Moreland

Red Sox Probable Starter – Chris Sale, LHP 

2.17 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 34.2 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .250 average, .273 wOBA, 22.2 fly ball rate and 22.2 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .183 average, .255 wOBA, 40.9 fly ball rate and 27.6 hard contact rate

Oakland does represent a little bit of a difficult matchup but I’d still bet on Sale being closest to the chalk of this five game slate. Of the top three most expensive pitchers, he’s far and away my favorite. He faced the A’s out in Oakland a few weeks ago and put up a 46 on FanDuel because he gave up three runs. He also struck out 10 batters over seven innings and the Red Sox have let the reigns come off lately. He’s pitched at least six innings in every star for over a month now. Oakland might get him for a run or two, but he could hit double digit strikeouts once again.

A’s Hitters to Target 

Elite Options – None

Secondary Options – Matt Olson, Chad Pinder, Jed Lowrie, Khris Davis

Home Run Pick – Mitch Moreland