MLB DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (5/12/24) (2024)

Happy Mother's Day, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The early part of the MLB season has been good to me, so I'm looking to build off that momentum and hit the ground running as we progress into the 2024 campaign. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's slate!

We have some really interesting matchups today. The pitching mix is deep, featuring aces, midrange starters, and worthwhile back-of-the-rotation punt arms, which will certainly lead to some interesting lineup decisions. I'll point out the standout plays, but with a nine-game slate (10 games on FanDuel) and so many options on the mound, there will be plenty of opportunity to get creative with your picks today.

This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/12/2024 and the slate locking at 1:35p.m. EDT. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.

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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Zack Wheeler vs. Miami Marlins ($11.5K DK, $11.2K FD)

There should be little doubt that Zack Wheeler is the best pitcher on this slate. Through eight starts, the 33-year-old sports a 2.27 xERA and a 2.59 xFIP. That success includes impressive numbers, like a .243 xwOBA, .188 xBA, 86.4 MPH average exit velocity, 5.1% barrel rate, and a 33.9% hard-hit rate. Wheeler is also generating a career-best 32.1% strikeout rate, comprised of a 32% chase rate and a 31.3% whiff rate.

Zack Wheeler racks up a season-high 11 Ks!

He lowers his ERA to 1.64. pic.twitter.com/szNXSvQLX8

— MLB (@MLB) May 6, 2024

See Also

NBA DFS: DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (5/10/24) - Today

Wheeler draws a very favorable matchup with the Miami Marlins today. They are plating just 3.6 runs per game on the season and recently traded away one of their best hitters, Luis Arraez. Overall, the Marlins carry a horrible 84 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers.

Luis Gil vs. Tampa Bay Rays ($9.3K DK, $9.1K FD)

He's not exactly cheap, but Luis Gil offers a similar ceiling to Zack Wheeler at a much more approachable price tag. Across seven outings, Gil boasts a strong 3.07 xERA. That mark includes a .176 xBA, 6.1% barrel rate, .290 xSLG, and a 31.7% hard-hit rate. He also features some incredible swing-and-miss stuff, generating a 29.9% whiff rate and a 29.4% strikeout rate. The downside is that Gil's awful 15.7% walk rate can get him into trouble. He has generally been able to work his way out of these situations, but there's obvious volatility in Gil's game.

Gil will square off against a mediocre Tampa Bay Rays offense. The Rays have underwhelmed so far this season, scoring fewer than 4.1 runs per game. That mark includes a middling 100 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers alongside a .124 ISO and a 23.4% strikeout rate. There is talent on the Tampa Bay roster, but the prolonged slumps from Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena make this a lineup worth targeting against.

Also Consider: Justin Verlander, Zac Gallen, Bryse Wilson

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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Josh Naylor - 1B, CLE vs. Michael Soroka ($5.3K DK, $3.7K FD)

Josh Naylor is tearing the cover off the ball these days. He sports a .275/.358/.565 slash line with 11 home runs, one short of the major-league lead. Naylor's success includes a .392 xwOBA, .303 xBA, .549 xSLG, 11.2% barrel rate, and a 90.8 MPH average exit velocity.

Michael Soroka will be a preferred pitcher to target on this slate. He's having a horrible season, posting a 6.42 xERA through eight starts. Soroka is getting clubbed by opposing hitters to the tune of a .502 xSLG and a .300 xBA. He's also been unable to miss bats, generating a nonexistent 11.6% strikeout rate and a 17.4% whiff rate.

Davis Schneider - 2B/OF, TOR vs. Bailey Ober ($3.8K DK, $2.9K FD)

Davis Schneider is having a strong season, posting a .287/.388/.517 slash line with four home runs. While the surface stats are encouraging, they don't do him justice. Schneider is wrecking the ball, producing a 19.3% barrel rate, .490 xSLG, 91.1 MPH average exit velocity, and a 45.6% hard-hit rate. He seems poised for a breakout, and the Toronto Blue Jays agree, given Schneider's recent promotion to the leadoff spot on Saturday.

Davis Schneider's 4th homer of the season 💪 pic.twitter.com/2BG9hWqolB

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 11, 2024

Bailey Ober is far from the worst pitcher on this slate, but he's also vulnerable to giving up power. Opposing hitters have generated a gratuitous 11% barrel rate off Ober. In particular, right-handed hitters are giving him trouble, posting a .481 slugging percentage against him this season, part of a .444 career mark.

Edmundo Sosa - 2B/SS, PHI vs. Braxton Garrett ($2.8K DK, $2.5K FD)

In Trea Turner's absence, Edmundo Sosa is getting the job as the Philadelphia Phillies starting shortstop. He is slashing .282/.391/.462 with a 146 wRC+. Sosa isn't a prolific hitting talent, but he can mash left-handed pitching. Sosa is slugging .737 against southpaws in a limited sample this season, up from a .483 slugging percentage in 2023 and a .458 career mark.

Braxton Garrett makes his 2024 debut on Sunday. He's coming off a successful season, posting a 3.66 ERA across 159 2/3 innings pitched. While the surface stats were worthwhile, Garrett's advanced metrics highlight plenty of room for regression, starting with a 4.58 xERA. That includes surrendering a 45.1% hard-hit rate and a .441 xSLG. Right-handed hitters slugged .448 against Garrett last season, part of a .455 career slugging percentage.

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Christian Yelich - OF, MIL vs. Miles Mikolas ($5.3K DK, $3.9K FD)

Christian Yelich was activated from the injured list a few days ago and has hit the ground running again. He has posted consecutive multi-hit efforts heading into today and doesn't seem to have missed a beat. Overall, Yelich boasts an outstanding .346/.414/.692 with a 207 wRC+. That includes a .614 xSLG, 11.9% barrel rate, and a 50% hard-hit rate.

Miles Mikolas is looking pretty much cooked at this stage of his career. Through eight starts, the 35-year-old has a 5.51 xERA. Opposing hitters are lighting Mikolas up with a .526 xSLG, 45.8% hard-hit rate, and a 9.7% barrel rate. He will be one of the better pitchers to stack against today.

Seiya Suzuki - OF, CHC vs. Bailey Falter ($4.8K DK, $3.3K FD)

Seiya Suzuki is another name freshly activated off the injured list. In limited action this season, he carries a .313/.378/.516 slash line, which builds off his .842 OPS from a year ago. Suzuki is the biggest southpaw killer in the Chicago Cubs lineup, slugging .488 against left-handed pitching for his career.

While his 4.34 ERA is decent enough on the surface, Bailey Falter is due for some regression. He's posted an ugly 5.13 xERA across seven outings this season. The struggles consist of a .495 xSLG, a 10.6% barrel rate, and a .279 xBA. Falter should have a tough time with this Chicago Cubs lineup.

Trevor Larnach - OF, MIN vs. Alek Manoah ($4.2K DK, $3.3K FD)

A platoon-style role limits Trevor Larnach's playing time, but his production is worthwhile when he's out there. He has generated a .345/.393/.545 slash line with a 167 wRC+ so far this season. Larnach's advanced metrics are nothing short of spectacular, featuring a .607 xSLG, .340 xBA, 94.5 MPH average exit velocity, 55.8% hard-hit rate, and an 11.6% barrel rate.

Alek Manoah returned to the majors last week, and the results were not pretty. The Washington Nationals tagged him for six earned runs over four innings pitched. The struggles were no surprise given the 5.87 ERA Manoah posted in 2023 and the 6.50 ERA he produced across four starts in Triple-A this season. Simply put, Manoah might not be a major-league-caliber pitcher right now.

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

1. Milwaukee Brewers vs. Miles Mikolas

• Favorite Plays: Christian Yelich, William Contreras, Willy Adames, Rhys Hoskins

2. Chicago Cubs vs. Bailey Falter

• Favorite Plays: Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, Nico ho*rner, Ian Happ

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