Fansided

FanDuel MLB lineup and picks for Friday, May 25

By Adam Strangis

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12: Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches in relief during game five of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs on October 12, 2017, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 9-8.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12: Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches in relief during game five of the NLDS between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs on October 12, 2017, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 9-8.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – May 6:Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws from the mound during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on Sunday, May 6, 2018. The Washington Nationals deleted the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – May 6:Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws from the mound during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on Sunday, May 6, 2018. The Washington Nationals deleted the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4. (Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

Nationals at Marlins

Nationals Probable Starter – Max Scherzer, RHP

1.78 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 40.9 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .188 average, .274 wOBA, 57.8 fly ball rate and 28.0 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .140 average, .183 wOBA, 34.2 fly ball rate and 47.4 hard contact rate

If there’s going to be chalk on this big slate, we’re looking at it right now. The Marlins should get totally destroyed by Scherzer and even though it’s hard to build a lineup with him, he’s likely going to be worth it. Justin Bour is the only Marlins hitter you can consider because he’s a lefty and Scherzer gives up a lot of fly balls to lefties. Having said that, fully expect a zero from him if you play him.

Marlins Hitters to Target 

Elite Options – None

Secondary Options – Justin Bour in very large GPP’s

Marlins Probable Starter – Jose Urena, RHP 

4.55 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 18.7 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .280 average, .335 wOBA, 30.1 fly ball rate and 42.3 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .219 average, .271 wOBA, 31.0 fly ball rate and 38.9 hard contact rate

Urena is certainly nothing special and the Nationals could have a big game off of him. I want to focus my attention on the lefty hitters for Washington and I really want to play Juan Soto tonight. $3,500 is a pretty hefty tag for a player with a whopping 10 at-bats under his belt so far. Bryce Harper might be $5,300 but he’s got the power to leave any park ever built. Matt Adams is wildly expensive as well and it would be hard to justify a huge spend on him tonight.

Nationals Hitters to Target 

Elite Options – Bryce Harper, Juan Soto

Secondary Options – Matt Adams, Trea Turner

Home Run Pick – Juan Soto

KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 9: Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates a single against the Seattle Mariners at Kauffman Stadium on April 9, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Whit Merrifield
KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 9: Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates a single against the Seattle Mariners at Kauffman Stadium on April 9, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Whit Merrifield /

Royals at Rangers

Royals Probable Starter – Eric Skoglund, LHP 

6.15 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18.0 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .174 average, .322 wOBA, 50.0 fly ball rate and 36.8 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .286 average, .357 wOBA, 34.4 fly ball rate and 46.3 hard contact rate

This game could provide plenty of offensive fireworks and could be one of the more attractive ones on the slate. Jurickson Profar and Delino DeShields are the best hitters against lefties by the wOBA measure but I will not pay $3,800 for Profar tonight. That just seems ridiculous to me but DeShields is under $3,000 which helps you fill in the lineup with the ace of your choice. Skoglund is a poor pitcher but he’s done well against lefties so far.

Any righty batter from the Rangers is fine, but their upside is relatively limited because the lineup is just average. Ryan Rua might be one of my favorite salary savers on the board. He’s minimum price and has a .332 wOBA against lefties this year.

Rangers Hitters to Target 

Elite Options – Delino DeShields, Ryan Rua

Secondary Options – Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Rangers Probable Starter – Mike Minor, LHP 

5.59 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 21.9 strikeout rate

Vs LHH – .192 average, .235 wOBA, 22.2 fly ball rate and 42.1 hard contact rate

Vs RHH – .287 average, .384 wOBA, 45.3 fly ball rate and 40.6 hard contact rate

I think this game might have two core plays for tonight because my goodness is Whit Merrifield in a good spot. He has a .507 wOBA against lefties which is close to what Ozzie Albies has. The best part is Merrifeld has a better matchup on paper and is $1,100 cheaper! That’s exactly why Albies isn’t that attractive to me tonight. Salvador Perez and Jorge Soler are in good spots as well. Perez is fairly priced at $3,500. Soler will be virtually un-owned I believe because he’s still over $3,000 and he’s been ice cold lately. This could be the game that reignites him.

Royals Hitters to Target 

Elite Options – Whit Merrifield, Salvador Perez

Secondary Options – Jorge Soler, Mike Moustakas

Home Run Pick – Whit Merrifield