MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks | May 23
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers
Wheeler has allowed more than two runs only twice this season, just eight in his last six starts, and he is working on a 15-inning scoreless streak. His home runs are up a touch, but that is because he has otherwise been so sublime that he is able to go after hitters directly. Currently, he has a career-high 11.25 strikeouts per nine innings, and his 1.69 walks per nine are also a personal best. The 35-year-old is among the National League Cy Young Award frontrunners after finishing second last year to Sale.
Sale gets the edge over Wheeler tonight across the board, mostly due to his discount, which is substantial on DraftKings and Yahoo. The Atlanta ace has led the league in strikeouts three teams, including last year, and he is among the leaders again this season, courtesy of his 11.85 per nine innings, which is his highest rate since before the pandemic. San Diego has been stellar at limiting strikeouts to southpaws, though Sale has the chops to make his own magic at the plate.
Injuries have limited Mahle to only 93.1 innings over the last two-plus seasons, which has robbed the now 30-year-old of a good portion of his prime. Prior to his many maladies, Mahle had developed into something of a strikeout artist. Sadly, that skill is no longer something he can rely upon, but he has continued to improve his groundball rate to compensate.
Lady Luck has been attending most of Mahle’s games and in his last nine starts, he has allowed just eight runs and two home runs, though the 37 strikeouts in 53.1 innings are substandard for a DFS ace.
For salary savers, LHP Yusei Kikuchi and the Angels are hosting the Miami Marlins in Anaheim tonight and while the 35-year-old lefty is still looking for his first victory, he can still be a fantasy factor in the right matchup.
The former Seibu Lion still has flyball tendencies, but between his home park and the Marlins, that is less of a concern tonight. The projected Miami lineup is short on strikeouts, but bereft of power and contact.
There should be four batsmen in the lineup who have a 30% or higher strikeout rate against southpaws, but the other five are well below league average in that department.
For those feeling feisty, RHP Sandy Alcantra is toeing the rubber for Miami tonight. The 29-year-old missed all of last year with Tommy John surgery and he is still trying to find the form that carried him to the 2022 National League Cy Young Award. Los Angeles is riding a seven-game winning streak, having secured series sweeps on the road against the Dodgers and Athletics. The Halos lineup has been inconsistent with contact and over the last season and change, they have a 27.5% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching. Alcantara is probably best left for the late slate, though he does help with salary relief in the featured tournaments on the two-SP sites, which means more chances for Coors Field hitters.
MLB DFS Picks: Top Stacks
Main Slate Secondary Target: Philadelphia Phillies
It is going to be almost 80 degrees at first pitch in Denver tonight and RHP Tanner Gordon is being recalled from Triple-A to make this start. Enjoy!
In West Sacramento at Sutter Health Park, it is going to be in the upper 70s as the Phillies get to face LHP Jeffrey Springs. Injuries in the last couple of seasons have derailed Springs ascent and fast-forwarded him from budding strikeout artist to crafty lefty in short order. He is a flyball pitcher in an offensive friendly ballpark against a team teeming with power.
The only two Philadelphia hitters who do not look appealing tonight are catcher J.T. Realmuto and defensive outfielder Johan Rojas. Every other player has deep green across the dashboard, including Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who are two of the best in the game in lefty-lefty matchups. Anything less than half a dozen runs and a trio of taters will be a disappointment for the Phillies, making them an excellent Coors Field countermove.
Main Slate Secondary Target: Tampa Bay Rays
It is going to be a warm day in Tampa, which has the temperatures for first pitch forecast to be in the upper-80s, with humidity in the mid-50% range. That is going to be a problem for Lauer and his flyball tendencies. In 2023, Lauer was dreadful with 3.09 home runs per nine innings, which had the veteran demoted to the minors for three months. Milwaukee called him back up for a redemption start on the second to last day of the season, in which he was decimated by the Chicago Cubs, ceding three home runs, eight earned runs and four walks. He spent 2024 in the KBO, winning the 2024 Korean Series with the Kia Tigers, who did not bring him back after his pedestrian performance across seven appearances.
Toronto gave Lauer a minor league deal and he was recalled from the Buffalo Bison at the end of April. Though he will only be 30 years old when he celebrates his birthday next week, this may be his last chance to stick in the majors.
Yandy Diaz and Jose Caballero are the key hitters at the top of the order, with former Toronto backstop Danny Jansen a stellar option on DraftKings and Yahoo, to check off the catcher requirement. If there is no right-handed opener for Lauer, Christopher Morel and Junior Caminero will likely be in the heart of the order, making them solid tertiary targets, who do have an elevated pinch-hit risk.
Today’s Top Sports Betting Picks
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Swanson has been stellar this season in righty-righty matchups, with a .336 wOBA and .193 ISO, which is a major improvement over last year. This game is in Great American Ballpark, which boosts bats, and we know that RHP Hunter Greene is not afraid to challenge opposing hitters. With this loaded Chicago lineup, Swanson, along with Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw are the most likely to see “better pitches” as Greene targets that trio as the easiest outs at the bottom of the order.
