DraftKings MLB Picks May 25: Can we do better than Scherzer?

MILWAUKEE, WI – OCTOBER 10: General view of Miller Park before Game Two of the National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals of the Milwaukee Brewers on October 10, 2011 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Cardinals defeated the Brewers 12-3. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB Picks May 25: Can we do better than Scherzer?

There is a matinee at Wrigley today between the Cubs and Giants, but the other 28 teams are in the main DraftKings tournament. There is a lot of top heavy pitching and a shallow middle tier. How do we approach this slate? We need some bargains, so let’s try to uncover those first!

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The only rain threat is in Milwaukee, but the roof will be closed. Wind is a bit different story. There is a 12 mph wind blowing out to right on Oakland. We has similar winds blowing out to straightaway center in Yankee Stadium and to right in Philly. A slightly stronger wind is blowing out to right in Fenway as well.

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 $10 showdown ticket for MLB or the NBA, 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

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 20: Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets pitches agsainst the Arizona Diamondbacks during their game at Citi Field on May 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Max Scherzer ($14,000): Scherzer is going to be highly owned tonight because of the enormous strikeout potential, however, his career stats against the Marlins aren’t as great as his price would indicate. The Marlins are hitting .244 against Scherzer with five homers and 12 runs in 123 at bats with only 34 strikeouts. Those are good numbers, but not what we want if we are spending this much on a pitcher.

Luis Severino ($11,200): We have so much to choose from tonight that it can be hard to distinguish the aces. The Angels are only hitting .190 against Severino with 58 at bats with one homer, five runs, and a huge 19 strikeouts. That’s nearly a 33% strikeout rate! There is plenty of upside with Severino tonight. His 1.67 ERA at Yankee Stadium in five starts this year is impressive as well.

Noah Syndergaard ($10,500): Again, I’m not sure why Thor is this cheap. The Brewers are hitting just .170 against him with only one extra base hit (a double) and two runs to go with a staggering 19 strikeouts in 47 at bats. This is the kind of dominance you want in a five figure hurler. I’m comfortable moving down here from Scherzer and saving $3,500.

Patrick Corbin ($9,700): Corbin has not been all that sharp lately, and his ERA is a run and a half worse on the road. That said, this is a cavernous park in Oakland, and the Oakland offense is missing their biggest masher in Khris Davis. There is risk playing a guy like Corbin against a righty heavy lineup, but I tend to think that the ownership is going to be low with all of the aces on this slate. Corbin pitched like an ace for the first month of the season, and only Milwaukee was able to put up more than three runs on him. I think Corbin gets back on track here.

Middle Tier:

Sean Manaea ($8,600): Manaea has dominated at home this year. Just ask Boston. Manaea has a stellar 1.78 ERA and 0.56 WHIP in four home starts. The Arizona offense has been almost as awful and almost as prolonged as Goldschmidt’s slump. The snakes are showing now signs of coming out of this, so I’m going to go with Manaea dominating at home once again.

Dallas Keuchel ($8,200): Cleveland is hitting a solid .244 against Keuchel in 131 at bats, but they only have two homers and nine runs. The 19 strikeouts is very low, but the price is right on Keuchel here. There have been times when he sets you back five figures. He should perform pretty well for this price.

Eduardo Rodriguez ($7,800): The Braves are just 1-10 so far against Eduardo, but that hit is a three run homer. It’s a small sample size, and Albies and Acuna pull the ball well enough to play pepper with the Green Monster. There is risk here, but Rodriguez should run up enough strikeouts to help mitigate any damage the Braves do. After a rough start, Rodriguez has turned in three straight good ones, so he is heading the right direction.

Fernando Romero ($7,700): Romero has been outstanding in his first four starts, posting a 1.66 ERA. He has been even better on the road. In Romero’s two road starts, he has a 0.82 ERA. Now he gets to head to one of the more favorable road venues for pitchers. This Seattle offense is decent, but not great. Romero is yet another very good mid range option.

Reynaldo Lopez ($7,500): Lopez got knocked around a little in his last start, but tonight he faces a Tigers team that has scored just 17 runs in the last seven games. He has also held them to a .233 average in 30 at bats with three runs and five strikeouts. Those numbers aren’t great, so you are essentially betting that the Tigers offense will remain stagnant here.

Bargain Pitchers:

Andrew Heaney ($7,000): Heaney pitched well against the Yankees earlier this year, holding them to one run in six innings while striking out nine. I’ll tell you right now that Heaney isn’t going to like that inviting porch in left field. Or in right, for that matter. Yankee Stadium plays a lot different than the Big A, so I don’t see Heaney doing what he did in L.A. That’s not to say that he can’t turn in a quality start again though.

Junior Guerra ($6,600): Guerra has to be one of the most underrated pitchers in DFS. Yeah, he’s playing Thor. Yeah, his ERA is almost two runs higher at home. It’s still 3.92, which is decent. The Mets aren’t a very good hitting team. There is a ton of potential here. The Mets are hitting only .154 against Guerra with one run in 26 at bats. They also have four strikeouts and no extra base hits. Guerra should turn in an outing worthy of this price and then some.

Mike Fiers ($6,100): The current White Sox are a pathetic 2-20 in their career against Fiers with no runs and five strikeouts. Fiers has had his ups and downs this year, but the only team to really hit him hard was the Yankees. Fiers has had issues with the long ball, so there could be potential in using some Sox power tonight.

Jose Urena ($4,900): It takes a bit of bravery to use Urena here, but the Nats are only hitting .237 against Urena in 38 at bats with three runs and nine strikeouts. Those are solid numbers. Urena’s numbers on the season don’t look very good, but he has a respectable 3.95 ERA at home. Just don’t expect a win against Scherzer here.

PHOENIX, AZ – MAY 13: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals is congratulated by Matt Adams #15 after hitting a solo home run in the third inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 13, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Zach Eflin:

It’s a small sample size, but these numbers are scary. The Jays are 10-13 with four homers and ten RBI off of Eflin already! Josh Donaldson and Kevin Pillar both homered, and Donaldson drove in five. the big damage is the two homers and three RBI by Curtis Granderson. You can add Teoscar Hernandez and Yangervis Solarte to this as well.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Joe Musgrove:

So, let me get this straight: the Pirates option out rookie Nick Kingham, who has been solid so far this year, for a guy that put up a 5.06 ERA at AAA this year? That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. So let’s stack against the guy that struggled in rehab, shall we? Matt Carpenter, Tyler O’Neill, Jose Martinez, and Tommy Pham all look pretty good right now, and aren’t overpriced.

Boston Red Sox vs. Julio Teheran:

It’s Christmas in May for the Red Sox. They are hitting .378 in 37 at bats against Teheran with two homers and five runs so far. Every regular except Hanley has a hit against Teheran. Jackie Bradley and Brock Holt have the home runs. Xander has the steal. And Mookie Betts is one of the hottest hitters of the month. This should get ugly for Teheran tonight.

Washington Nationals vs. Jose Urena:

The reasons to use Urena are solid in theory, but stacking against him is at least as practical. Even if I don’t carry an all out stack, Bryce Harper and Matt Adams are going to be staples for me. Juan Soto is also priced right here. Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon are also worth a look here.

Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays:

Yes, stack this entire game. Baltimore’s rotation has been such a wreck that they haven’t even named a starter yet. The Rays are throwing Sergio Romo out there in what amounts to yet another bullpen game for the Rays. Lefty Ryan Yarbrough will probably see most of the innings though. On the Tampa side, I’m big on Willy Adames and Denard Span. Wilson Ramos, Johnny Field, and C.J. Cron are worth a look as well. For Baltimore, Adam Jones, Manny Machado, and Danny Valencia look really good against Yarbrough. So does Jonathan Schoop.

Kansas City Royals vs. Mike Minor:

The Royals have 13 hits in 30 at bats (.433) against Minor already with five runs. The Royals looked good last night with Bibens-Dirkx on the mound. They should here as well. I’m a big fan of Salvador Perez, Jorge Soler, and Whit Merrifield here. Alcides Escobar is worth a look as well. Even Mike Moustakas is 2-5 against Minor. Alex Gordon has the only homer against Minor for the Royals so far though.

Colorado Rockies vs. Sal Romano:

The Rockies are back at Coors, and they get to face a pitcher that has not been very good on the road. It shouldn’t take long for the Rockies offense to get back on track here. I especially like Charlie Blackmon and David Dahl here. Carlos Gonzalez is struggling this year, but he is worth a look as well. Even Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story are worth a look here. It’s going to be an early shower for Romano.

Cincinnati Reds vs. Jon Gray:

Gray pitched well at Coors last year, but that has not been the case this year. The Reds offense is decent, but are they decent enough? Joey Votto and Adam Duvall have the power potential that you like. The massive outfield could help gap hitters like Gennett and Billy Hamilton. Jose Peraza and Jesse Winker are worth a look as well. There’s a stack for you!

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Clayton Richard:

The Dodgers have punished Richard with a .400 average in 140 at bats with six homers and 28 runs. This is not some fluke. The Dodgers are going to batter Richard again. Justin Turner is a must play. Turner is 9-19(.474) with a homer, six runs, and two RBI. Yasiel Puig is 7-19(.368) with two doubles, two homers, and six RBI against Richard. Austin Barnes has smoked Richard. Barnes is 9-15(.600) with a homer and eight RBI off of Richard. Matt Kemp is 13-35(.371) with five doubles, two homers, and seven RBI. The only Dodger that would be a wrong pick is Grandal. Grandal is only 1-6 against him.

Next: Other Notes for 5-22

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 09: Brett Gardner #11 of the New York Yankees celebrates with teammate Aaron Judge #99 after they both scored on a double from teammate Giancarlo Stanton in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on May 9, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

I’m not going to stack against Heaney, but any time that a lefty is on the mound, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez are worth a look. I tend to think that we can do better with a full slate to choose from though. In case you are wondering, Aaron Hicks drove in the run earlier this year against Heaney.

Both of the Cleveland home runs against Keuchel were hit by the same person. It wasn’t Edwin. It wasn’t Jose Ramirez either, though Ramirez is 4-9 off of Keuchel. They were both hit by fellow lefty Michael Brantley. Yan Gomes is worth a look as a cheap catcher as well. Gomes is 5-14 with two doubles and a run against Keuchel.

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Middle Tier:

I plan on taking advantage of the Astros’ depressed price with Kluber on the mound. The Astros are hitting .250 with four homers and 15 runs 120 at bats. There is potential in the Astro bats. Marwin Gonzalez is 8-17(.471) with two walks, a double, two homers, and six RBI against Kluber already. George Springer is 4-11 with two runs, a double, and a RBI. The other homers were hit by Brian McCann and Carlos Correa, thought neither are hitting above .250 against Kluber.

I don’t trust Sam Gaviglio enough to use him, but I’m not going to stack against him either. He pitched well in his first start last week. I like Odubel Herrera and Rhys Hoskins here. Cesar Hernandez is worth a look as well.

I could sit here and wow you with James Paxton stats, but they aren’t great against the Twins. What the Twins do to left handed pitching is well documented. Miguel Sano is back, and he is 4-8 with a homer and two RBI against Paxton. Eduardo Escobar and Brian Dozier have homered off of Paxton as well.

Mike Fiers dominated the White Sox earlier this year, but Jose Abreu and Matt Davidson are decent power plays. Yoan Moncada is as well.

I am crazy, but not crazy enough to stack against Patrick Corbin. However, Marcus Semien and Matt Chapman have the power to get one out of there.

I’m not a big fan of John Gant here, but I can’t find enough Pirates that I really want to use either. Gregory Polanco, Josh Bell, Corey Dickerson, and Austin Meadows are worth a look though.

Bargain Shoppers:

Eric Skoglund was pitching fairly well until getting blasted by the Yankees in his last start. That can be forgiven. What speaks loudest to me about this is what Duffy did to the Rangers last night. Then again, they knocked around CC the night before. I’m off of most of the Rangers lineup, but DeShields, Kiner-Falefa, and Jurickson Profar are on my radar.

Ian Kinsler is the only Angel to hit a homer against Luis Severino so far. And just in case you want to take advantage of the little lower tag on Upton and Trout, you may want to reconsider. They are a combined 4-16 against Severino with seven strikeouts. All the hits are singles, and they have no counting stats.

The only Tiger that has been able to hit Reynaldo Lopez is James McCann. McCann is 2-3 with a double, a triple, two runs, and a RBI against Lopez. Leonys Martin is 2-2 with a walk, so he is worth a look as well.

Kurt Suzuki has done all of the damage against Eduardo Rodriguez. His three run homer is the only hit for the current Braves against Rodriguez.

Jose Pirela and Manuel Margot have both homered off of Ross Stripling so far, but they are the only ones to get anything off of him. The rest of the team hasn’t scored or driven in a run against Stripling.

The Marlins have slugged five homers off of Max Scherzer, but Martin Prado is the only one I would even consider playing. Prado is the only one with consistent success against Scherzer. Prado is 13-31(.419) with two walks, two doubles, a homer, and three RBI off of Scherzer. J.B. Shuck, Miguel Rojas, Derek Dietrich, and Justin Bour have the other homers, but they aren’t hitting Scherzer well overall.

Next: MLB DFS Picks and Pivots

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our PGA picks. We will also have some EPL from across the pond as well!