FanDuel Lineup and Picks for Friday, May 18

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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 09: Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox at bat during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Rangers at White Sox

Rangers Probable Starter – Matt Moore, LHP

7.82 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 14.8 strikeout rate

Vs LHH -.440 average, .530 wOBA, 52.4 fly ball rate and 61.9 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .329 average, .396 wOBA, 38.7 fly ball rate and 47.9 hard contact rate

A neck injury to Cole Hamels has shuffled the Rangers rotation but the White Sox likely don’t mind tonight as Matt Moore has been a dumpster fire so far. I’m not ever going to play Matt Moore so it’s more of a decision of what White Sox bats we want to target. My number one priority from this team by price has to be Tim Anderson. He could be chalky because shortstop is tougher to fill once you get outside the bug names. Anderson smokes lefties and Moore doesn’t strike anyone out, which is the Achilles for Anderson. At juts $2,800, he’s a slam dunk pick.

White Sox Hitters to Target

Elite Options – Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada

Secondary Options – Daniel Palka, Matt Davidson

White Sox Probable Starter – Carson Fulmer, RHP

6.23 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 18.4 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .276 average, .378 wOBA, 43.5 fly ball rate and 37.0 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .269 average, .407 wOBA, 51.9 fly ball rate and 30.8 hard contact rate

This is such a weird spot to me because Fulmer isn’t a quality big league pitcher but I’m having a hard time zeroing in on the exact Rangers hitters I want. Joey Gallo is always in consideration because of the upside he has but I wouldn’t chase him in cash tonight. Nomar Mazara has been having a great year but I don’t think I’ll pay $3,500 on this slate. I certainly wouldn’t blame you if you had Rangers exposure but I don’t think this side of the game is for me.

Rangers Hitters to Target

Elite Options – Nomar Mazara

Secondary Options – Shin-soo Choo

Home Run Pick – Yoan Moncada

CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 12: Starting pitcher Jakob Junis #65 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning at Progressive Field on May 12, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) /

Yankees at Royals

Yankees Probable Starter – C.C. Sabathia, LHP

2.23 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 18.8 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .182 average, .251 wOBA, 42.9 fly ball rate and 21.4 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .223 average, .277 wOBA, 37.0 fly ball rate and 30.0 hard contact rate

Maybe I’ll miss the boat but I just can’t get on board with the veteran lefty for the Yankees tonight. I don’t see any way a couple of Royals don’t get to him at least a bit. On any other slate, I’ll gravitate towards Whit Merrifield and Jorge Soler are so expensive tonight, it’s hard to justify spending that money on them. Both are at $3,900 and that’s fairly steep for both Merrifield doesn’t have a ton of power upside in this spot and Soler is a little volatile so far to trust at that price. You could possibly use Jon Jay as a salary saver but I’m not convinced that’s the greatest play either.

Royals Hitters to Target

Elite Options – Whit Merrifield, Jorge Soler

Secondary Options – Jon Jay

Royals Probable Starter – Jakob Junis, RHP

3.53 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 21.7 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .250 average, .320 wOBA, 46.7 fly ball rate and 32.0 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .188 average, .289 wOBA, 42.5 fly ball rate and 32.9 hard contact rate

Normally when Junis is under $9,000, he’s someone we want to look at to play. That’s certainly not the case tonight when the Yankees roll into town and Junis is giving up too many fly balls to trust. I don’t think I’ll be super heavy on Yankee hitters because Junis is a reasonably good pitcher. They’re also super expensive, as is usual. Hopefully this doesn’t come back to bite me but this whole game seems like one that I won’t have any exposure to.

Yankee Hitters to Target

Elite Options – Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton

Secondary Options – Didi Gregorius, Gray Sanchez

Home Run Pick – Jorge Soler