There is a loaded Thursday of MLB DFS beginning with an early slate of five games on DraftKings and four games on FanDuel, followed by a slightly larger main slate on each site. Headlined by a pitching duel between the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani and Oakland’s Chris Bassett, the other remaining options add some interesting pivots to a rather limited offering. Starting with the early slate, here are the Spotlight Pitchers for daily fantasy baseball lineups on Thursday, May 27.
Top Daily Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers | May 27
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Early Slate Spotlight
Shane Bieber (CLE) at DET
DraftKings $10,800; FanDuel $11,300
Proj. Points: DraftKings 28.10; FanDuel 49.39
Proj. Ownership: DraftKings 65.7%; FanDuel 60.3%
DraftKings Points A, Value A
FanDuel Points A, Value A
Pablo Lopez (MIA) vs. PHI
DraftKings $9,400; FanDuel $8,900
Proj. Points: DraftKings 16.66; FanDuel 30.07
Proj. Ownership: DraftKings 19.4%; FanDuel 15.1%
DraftKings Points B, Value D
FanDuel Points B, Value D
Kyle Hendricks (CHI) at PIT
DraftKings $7,200; FanDuel $8,500
Proj. Points: DraftKings 15.34; FanDuel 29.37
Proj. Ownership: DraftKings 25.4%; FanDuel 10.3%
DraftKings Points C, Value B
FanDuel Points C, Value C
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Main Slate Spotlight
Shohei Ohtani: LAA at OAK — DraftKings $7,700; FanDuel $10,300
Ohtani takes the mound against Oakland and is averaging 20.38 DraftKings and 35.33 FanDuel points with a 34.9% strikeout rate in six starts. Awesemo’s MLB Top Pitchers Tool gives Ohtani a 27.3% chance to become a top-two pitcher on DraftKings and a 15.2% chance of being the top pitcher on FanDuel. A significant discount and solid MLB DFS projections give him a 22.7% chance of being a top-two value on DraftKings, while a major price hike on FanDuel gives Ohtani just a 5.5% chance of being the top value pitcher on that site. Daily fantasy baseball ownership projections of 14.8% on DraftKings and 1.7% on FanDuel signify some of the bargain-chasing on DraftKings, while the spend-up remains too much for most on FanDuel.
Scheduled to face five righties, three lefties and one switch-hitter from Oakland, Ohtani has struck out 44.8% of right-handed hitters and has a 0.85 WHIP. Matt Olson (fourth) is earning a .303 ISO and 167 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers this year, which could give Ohtani issues given his 1.80 HR/9 allowed to left-handed hitters. The Athletics collectively have a .221 batting average, 23.9% strikeout rate and 103 wRC+ against right-handed pitching. With Ohtani’s strikeout upside and massive discount on DraftKings, he’s a clear top option for the main slate, while a spend up on FanDuel sheds ownership at a premium.
Awesemo’s FanDuel Grades: Points C, Value E
Awesemo’s DraftKings Grades: Points B, Value B
Chris Bassitt: OAK vs LAA — DraftKings $8,300; FanDuel $9,100
On the other side of the American League West showdown is Chris Bassitt, averaging 18.9 DraftKings and 35.1 FanDuel points and a 25.7% strikeout rate. Awesemo’s MLB Top Pitchers Tool gives Bassitt a 26.7% chance of becoming a top-two pitcher on DraftKings and a 16.4% chance of being the top pitcher on FanDuel. Bassitt’s MLB DFS projections and moderate salary cost give him a 18.3% chance of being a top-two value and a 9.1% chance of being the top value pitcher on FanDuel. Daily fantasy baseball ownership projections of 25.5% on DraftKings and 26% on FanDuel shed light on the limited mound options the slate offers, but the public investment still doesn’t overwhelm.
Due to face a lopsided Angels order of seven righties, Bassitt has a 25% strikeout rate and 1.16 WHIP against right-handed bats. Ohtani has a .372 ISO against right-handed pitchers, and Bassitt’s 1.42 HR/9 surrendered to left-handed hitters raises concerns. That said, the Angels have a .257 batting average, 24.5% strikeout rate and 107 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season. With few alternatives matching his fantasy potential, Bassitt offers promising projections at a consistent rate of performance.
Awesemo’s FanDuel Grades: Points B, Value D
Awesemo’s DraftKings Grades: Points B, Value C
Kolby Allard: TEX vs SEA — DraftKings $4,000; FanDuel $6,000
Kolby Allard draws his first start against Seattle, recording a 26.7% strikeout rate in 20 innings of relief work this season. Awesemo’s MLB Top Pitchers Tool gives Allard a 17.8% chance of becoming a top-two pitcher on DraftKings and 13.1% chance of being the top pitcher on FanDuel. His MLB DFS projections are a bargain at his bare-minimum asking price, providing a 53.8% chance of being a top-two value on DraftKings and 22.9% chance of being the top value pitcher on FanDuel. MLB daily fantasy ownership projections of 3.45% on DraftKings and 0.2% on FanDuel indicate that, despite his discount and favorable matchup, Allard remains beneath the chalk line.
The Mariners will have five lefties and four right-handed hitters, and Allard has a 25% strikeout rate and 1.20 WHIP against left-handed opposition this year. While Mitch Haniger remains a threat to lefty pitchers with his .313 ISO, Allard’s 0.83 HR/9 allowed to right-handed hitters over his career provides some relief. Seattle has a .200 batting average, 28.1% strikeout rate and 81 wRC+ against left-handed pitching this year, adding further confidence to the discounted alternative. While he’s not likely to go much further than four innings, the savings Allard provides allow for frivolous spending elsewhere.
Awesemo’s FanDuel Grades: Points D, Value A
Awesemo’s DraftKings Grades: Points C, Value A
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