MLB DFS Playbook: May 8

Manoah has been an absolute beast, scoring at least 19.3 DK points in every start this season while averaging 24.7 points per game (the next highest on this slate is Cole at 16.5). He is currently a perfect 4-0 with a 1.45 ERA and 32 strikeouts across 31 innings of work. 

Cole seems to have figured things out after a slow start as he has been very dominant in his last two starts, scoring 34 and 25.3 points on DK with a combined 12.2 shutout innings with 15 strikeouts and a pair of victories. His ERA now stands at a sharp 3.00. 

Paddack has scored 19.2 and 17 points on DK in his last two outings and now he gets a great matchup against the As. Oakland is 23^rd in runs per game this season at 3.44 and dead last in runs per game over the last three games with a mark of 0.33. They also have the highest strikeout rate in the league at 27.0-percent. Paddack’s ERA is sitting at an impressive 3.15 mark through four starts this season. 

Mahle has been dreadful this season and I wouldn’t put him anywhere near a cash game lineup, but he is really cheap now and facing the Pirates, so he’s worth a shot in GPPs. He is not as bad as he has pitched so far this year and he easily has 20+ point upside. The Pirates rank 21^st in runs per game this season and have the 8^th highest strikeout rate.

Lyles being the cheapest pitcher on the slate makes no season if I’m being blunt. He is coming off a game in which he scored 20.9 points, pitching six innings of one-run ball with 6 Ks. He has pitched well in two of his four starts this year and this matchup with the Royals is a good one as they are averaging just 3.04 runs per game this season, which ranks 29^th in the league. 

Kirk is heating up with three double digit DFS scoring games in his last four. He is now hitting .270 on the year with a home run. McCarty got rocked for four runs in three innings in his debut two weeks ago. 

Stephenson has scored 26 and 23 points on DK in his last two starts, going 5-8 with a home run, two doubles, three runs, a steal, and six RBI. Talk about production. Thompson is not a scary pitcher by any means. 

Melendez hasn’t set the world on fire, but he has collected a hit in each of his first two career games and has walked once. He is nearly the minimum price and Lyles isn’t exactly the best of pitchers. 

Rizzo is only hitting .242, but he has already launched nine home runs and drove in 21 this year. He is the only first basemen averaging double-digit points per game this season. 

Tellez is red hot at the dish right now, going 12-32 (.375) with four home runs, five doubles, and 15(!) RBI over his last eight games. Morton has been really bad this year with a 6.85 ERA and 1.73 WHIP. 

Mountcastle has gone 4-8 with a pair of home runs, a double, and three RBI over his last two games. He has had success in this matchup in a small sample size too, going 3-6 (.500) with a home run against Greinke. 

Altuve is currently on a five-game hitting streak and in that span he has gone 8-16 (.500) with three home runs and six runs scored. You could say he’s hot at the dish right now. 

Albies is a known lefty killer and I am, once again, here to remind you of that. He has also picked up a pair of hits in three at-bats against Ashby in his career. 

Gimenez has a really tough matchup with Manoah, but he’s so cheap and he’s really hot at the plate right now, hitting .412 (14-34) with a home run, a steal, and nine RBI over his last nine games. 

Riley is off to another productive season as he is hitting .255 with seven home runs, seven doubles, and 15 runs scored thus far. There aren’t a ton of stacking options today, but the Braves are one. 

Drury is 5-8 with a home run, three doubles, five RBI, and four runs scored over the last two games. Did you know he already has five home runs this year? Now you do. 

Witt Jr, prior to last game, was riding an 11-game hitting streak in which he hit .342 with a home run, three steals, and three doubles. I think he bounces back in the hit column today and could have a big day today. 

Adames is hitting .292 over his last 12 games with SEVEN home runs and 18(!) RBI. The hot streak has brought his average DK point per game number to 9.6, which tops all SS on this slate and by a wide margin (Bo is the next highest at 7.0) 

Speaking of Bo, I also like him today. He has crushed lefties in his career with a slash line of .347/.396/.582 against them, compared to .279/.318/.462 against righties. He is facing a bad lefty today. 

Lewis has gone 2-7 with a double through his first two career games. Most importantly he is essentially the minimum price today and I am not scared of this matchup against Jefferies. 

Judge has been great this year, averaging 10.7 DK points per game as he is hitting .292 with nine home runs and 19 RBI. He is hitting .308 with a .366 OBP against righties this year, compared to .259 and .333 against lefties, respectively. 

Alvarez is having a great season thus far, hitting .263 with eight home runs, 15 RBI, and 15 runs scored. This matchup with Peralta and the Tigers bullpen is a good one. 

Acuna is finding his groove at the plate as he has gone 3-7 with a home run in back to back games over the last two days and also swiped a base yesterday. 

Teoscar smashed lefties last season, slashing .372/.407/.744 against them, compared to .273/.328/.456 against righties. The Blue Jays will be a popular stack today, but for good reason. 

Tucker has been very up and down so far this season, but we know the talent he possesses and how he has the ability to hit home runs and/or steal bases on any given day. 

Did you know Gamel is hitting .550 (11-20) with a five extra base hits and six RBI over his last five games while scoring at least 15 points on DK in four straight games? Now you do. He is also 5-9 (.556) with a dinger against Mahle in his career. 

Hays is hitting well this year with a .287 average, seven doubles, and three home runs. The best part of Hays though is that he’s being severely underpriced and makes for a great value play. 

Kiriloff is just 1-19 to begin the year, so that’s pretty rough, but he hit well last season and his price tag has plummeted to nearly the minimum price. I don’t mind taking a chance on him today in a GPP.