What a weekend of baseball so far with an exciting Sunday still to come. We had a walk off-win for the Diamondbacks over the Nationals last night that saw 7 runs in the 9th inning between the 2 teams. NL Cy Young favorite, Spencer Strider, got double digit strikeouts again and Nathan Eovaldi pitched another gem. The Dodgers survived another Fernando Tatis multi-hit game to win 2-1, which sets up what should be an epic rubber match for Sunday Night Baseball.  

This is for the 5/7 10:35 AM PST slate on DraftKings. As always, make sure to check lineups before first pitch.  

Writer’s record:

8-7-1

Houston Astros ML @ Seattle Mariners (+105)

I don’t see Bryce Miller replicating his debut vs. the Houston Astros. While Miller was exceptional against the A’s, the Astros are a different caliber of lineup. I’m interested in them at plus money vs. the rookie.

Baltimore Orioles ML @ Atlanta Braves (+139)

The Orioles have shown they’re no joke. They were up yesterday before Kevin Pillar hit a go-ahead HR in the 8th inning to give the Braves the 5-4 victory. Tyler Wells has been serviceable this year and should be at least good enough for the O’s to get the win. I’ll take them as underdogs to walk out of Atlanta with a series W. 

DFS Pillar Plays

Gerrit Cole

Position: P

Salary: $11,500

Cole has been one of the best pitchers in the league so far. This will be his first start vs. the Rays. In 4 starts against Tampa last year, he accumulated a 1.07 ERA with 35 strikeouts. Good pitching beats good hitting every time and Cole is in fine form at the moment.    

Masataka Yoshida

Position: OF

Salary: $5,100

Since April 15, Yoshida has a .366 BA with 5 HR, 18 RBI and 14 runs scored. He’s on a 15-game hitting streak and got the day off yesterday, so expect him to be fresh and ready to pick up where he left off. 

Javy Baez

Position: SS

Salary: $3,400

Baez continues to be good value at the SS position. Since the second half of April, El Mago has 21 hits, 12 RBI and 3 homers, all 3 of which came in the last week. The Cardinals pitchers are struggling at the moment. They trail only the A’s in hits against and Baez is comfortable playing the heel at Busch Stadium. 

Brent Rooker

Position: OF

Salary: $3,800

Rooker should have a big game vs. Ryan Yarbrough and the Royals’ pitching staff. Yarbrough has a 7.40 ERA and already has 4 losses on the year. Rooker is putting up ridiculously efficient production with a 1.156 OPS and has big potential in this matchup.

DFS Value Plays (<$3200 Salary)

Eric Haase

Position: C

Salary: $3,000

Haase came up with the first RBI for the Tigers yesterday. That helped start them on the path to spoiling Adam Wainwright’s season debut. He averages 13.6 FPPG over his last 5 games. The Tigers are scrappy and this series in STL has been competitive with runs on the board. 

Esteury Ruiz

Position: OF

Salary: $3,200

It’s a shame the A’s are bad because they have some great players to watch. Ruiz now leads the league in SB and is on an 8-game hit streak. This series has been high scoring so far, with 20 and 9 runs scored in the previous two contests. Ruiz should be able to get on base vs whoever is out there for KC and look out when he does. 

Enmanuel Valdez

Position: 2B

Salary: $2,600

It seems like everybody on this Red Sox team is hot at the moment. Valdez should be back in the lineup as righty Taijuan Walker takes the mound for the Phillies. He has 3 multi-hit games in May already and there should be plenty of opportunities with every one else around him getting on base.