Welcome to the Fantasy Alarm MLB DFS Playbook for Tuesday, May 20th! 

Let’s start the week on the right foot with some winning lineups today. We have an 11-game main slate in store for us this evening on DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:05 PM ET. Today, we have plenty of talent on the diamond and many different ways to build your lineup. Our expert analysis is here to guide you through the top pitchers, value plays, and stackable offenses to target.

Whether chasing big GPP prizes or grinding cash games, we’ve got you covered with insights tailored to today’s matchups. Let’s jump right into the key plays and strategies to dominate the slate!

 

 

This season's MLB DFS picks and playbook will consist of a pitcher and hitter core players section with written analysis, player pool grid and core stacks section.

The core player section should be used as a starting point for all lineups, you may not be able to use all players in the same lineup, but those players should be the building blocks for you on a given night.

The player pool grid will feature both players from the core player section along with additional plays to help you build a complete lineup. The grid will be broken into top priced players, mid-priced players and value tier players.

The stacks section will bring you are favorite lineups stacks for the day and which players we would look to include in those stacks based on matchups and pricing.

Check out the MLB DFS Show to get an initial outlook on the day's MLB DFS slate to give you a good base for the start of your research each day! 

 

Tune into the MLB DFS Livestream at 5 PM ET to watch us break down today’s slate, give you last-minute advice, and answer any questions before locking in those lineups!

Make sure you subscribe to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel so you never miss a show! Also, join the Fantasy Alarm Discord to get your DFS lineup questions answered by our MLB DFS team! Plus, as always, be sure to check in with our MLB DFS Tools, with the Daily MLB Projections, MLB DFS Rostership Projections, and our MLB DFS Lineup Generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting.

 

MLB DFS Picks & MLB Playbook

MLB Weather: Tuesday, 5/20

Cleveland Guardians vs. Minnesota Twins

This game has been PPD.

Seattle Mariners vs. Chicago White Sox

This game is cold with wind blowing in AND there's going to be a lot of rain prior to the game that could cause a delayed start or even a PPD. This one is something to monitor.

Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays

It's going to be 87 degrees at first pitch with winds blowing out at about 8 MPH. It's really great hitting weather.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers

Let's get into today's core pitching plays for our DFS lineups

Core MLB DFS Pitchers

Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

Only MacKenzie Gore (amongst qualified starters) has a higher strike rate than last years AL Cy Young award winner as Tarik Skubal as a 33.6% K-rate and is holding his opponents to a .217 AVG, posting a 2.25 SIERA and 2.20 xFIP. This is the best pitcher in baseball and the matchup isn't easy, but he can make any matchup look easy.

Jesus Luzardo, Philadelphia Phillies

The Rockies check in as the 23rd ranked offense in OPS, 24th in wOBA, 15th in ISO, and 1st in K-rate (28%) against lefties this year. Luzardo has a 26% K-rate and has kept the ball on the ground 43% of the time, which is highest GB rate since 2020. 

Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres

Dylan Cease checks in as a fairly low-owned option today and I'm not sure I agree with that. The Blue Jays rank 22nd or worse against righties in OPS, ISO, wOBA, and wRC+ this season. Cease is 10th in baseball with a 28.6% K-rate and his peripherals look much better than surface level because his BABIP is .331, SIERA 3.42, and xFIP is 3.51. He's been dominant in back-to-back starts.

Will Warren, New York Yankees

Will Warren isn't qualified yet, but amongst all pitchers that have thrown 40 innings this year, Warren's 27.9% K-rate would rank 19th in the league. There's a lot to like about Warren as his 3.47 SIERA and 3.18 xFIP look really good. His matchup is good too, as Texas ranks 27th in OPS and wOBA, 19th in ISO, and 25th in wRC+. They strike out less than 21% of the time, which isn't great, but Warren leads the league in called strike rate.

Gunnar Hoglund, Athletics

This is a risky one, but one that could be quite profitable if it hits like I think it can. NOW, the Angels have a ton of power. The Angels are 22nd in OPS, 23rd in wOBA, and 24th in wRC+, but rank 5th in ISO against right-handed pitching. They sell out for power. They also have a 27% K-rate against righties. GPPs only.

 

 

Recommended MLB DFS Hitters

Let's check out today's core plays to build our lineups around.

Core MLB DFS Hitters

Aaron Judge & Pals

I'll tip my cap to what Patrick Corbin has done to this point – or at least since he was bit by a spider – but the luck probably runs out today. Righties have a .145 ISO, but .181 xISO and he's allowed a .318 wOBA but a .337 xwOBA and RHH only strike out 17% of the time.

Aaron Judge has a .750 ISO & .707 wOBA vs. LHP this year. Paul Goldschmidt has a .459 ISO & .666 wOBA vs. LHP, too. I like where Anthony Volpe is against lefties posting a .208 ISO & .401 xwOBA. I'd punt with DJ LeMahieu and I'm also fine playing Cody Bellinger in the midst of his 13-game hitting streak.

Getting Rowdy With the Top 2/3 of the Seattle Mariners Lineup

UPDATE - Adrian Hauser is starting tonight, not Bryse Wilson. Changes things slightly, not as bullish as I was earlier on Mariners. Still in play.

Bryse Wilson is, well, not a very good pitcher.

  • Righties: .244 ISO, .281 xISO, .401 wOBA, .429 xwOBA, 7% SwStr, 12% K
  • Lefties: .217 ISO, .227 xISO, .438 wOBA, .438 xwOBA, 9% SwStr, 12% K

J.P. Crawford; .279 AVG, .338 wOBA // Jorge Polanco; .321 AVG, .330 ISO, .432 wOBA, 10 HR // Julio Rodriguez; .138 ISO, .185 xISO, .312 wOBA, .350 xwOBA // Cal Raleigh; .313 ISO, .396 wOBA, 10 HR // Randy Arozarena; .180 ISO, .363 wOBA // Rowdy Tellez; .304 ISO, .332 wOBA, 8 HR

The Tiger King(s): Kerry Carpenter & Riley Greene

I can't say I'm the biggest Erick Fedde believer in the world and there's nothing his numbers say to me other than Lady Luck has been on his side. He has a 3.44 ERA but a 4.93 xERA, 5.14 xFIP, and 5.38 SIERA. Fedde has only allowed a .072 ISO to lefties but .156 xISO and a .235 BABIP.

Carpenter has been awesome against righties this year and it's actually been a bit unlucky, too. He has a .217 ISO and a .292 xISO. You can say the same thing about Greene and his .296 ISO and .415 wOBA against right-handed hurlers.

Philadelphia Phillies. All of them. Any of them.

Antonio Senzatela starts for the Rockies and, well, good for him making the money that he's making this year. Righties are hitting .366 with an OPS north of 1.000 and lefties are hitting a .396 with a .940 OPS.

J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner all have an OPS of .736 or better against righties. I'm OK with anyone else in the lineup.

Ezequiel Tovar, Colorado Rockies

It's a price thing, really. I do like Jesus Luzardo a lot, but I'm also not afraid of using batters against him either. It is in Coors after all. Righties do have an xwOBA of .335 and his numbers are a LOT worse against them than lefties. Meanwhile, Tovar's homered in two straight games and had a .197 ISO against LHP last year.

Athletics Righties & a Sprinkle of Lefties, too

Right-handed bats have absolutely crushed Kyle Hendricks this year as he's allowed 2.67 HR/9 along with a 46.8% FB rate. He's also been quite lucky against lefties allowing a 5.83 xFIP and .242 BABIP.

The A's have some great righties, primarily Brent Rooker, Shea Langaliers, and Jacob Wilson. I love all three. I'd also look at Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler, and Miguel Andujar in stacks.

Player Pool

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Stacks

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