Fantasy Baseball: Five Hitters to Target Thursday

Fantasy Baseball Briefing for Thursday 5/18

It’s a light day Thursday with just 12 teams playing, but there are some good matchups to target nonetheless. Below are some hitters with a history of success versus the opposing pitcher that have also been good as of late and can help your lineups!

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Kevin Kiermaier: “Please stand up if you have the highest batting average in May out of these five batters listed here.” [Kevin Kiermaier quietly stands up while the likes of Arenado, Rizzo, Judge, and Freeman look on] Kiermaier actually has the highest BA of all players with at least 20 at-bats during the month of May. He is 17-for-40 (.425) with 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 6 BB, and 3 stolen bases this month. He sat out Wednesday with an illness, but if he is in the lineup Thursday then plug him in, because he also has good numbers against Cortes.

Nolan Arenado: Arenado has also had a nice month of May, going 18-for-58 (.310) during that span, but it’s also the power that has showed up. Arenado has 6 homers and 18 RBI in 14 games this month, with 5 of those HR coming in his last 6 games. He’s also got the history against Urias, with 4 of his 6 hits off the lefty going for extra bases.

Anthony Rizzo: While we’re on the subject, Rizzo’s month of May looks like this: 20-for-59 (.339), 2 doubles, 4 HR, 10 RBI, and 8 walks. Not too shabby. None of the Yankee hitters were able to do much Wednesday against Bassitt, but look for them to get back on track Thursday against Berrios, whom they’ve had quite a bit of success against — in particular Rizzo. He’s 9-for-22 (.409) with 2 HR off Berrios, and also has a pair of doubles and 3 HR against Mayza/Richards/Romano out of the Jays’ bullpen.

Aaron Judge: Judge came off the IL 5/9, but he is 10-for-33 (.303) in May and in the midst of a 5-game hit streak (7-for-19, .368) that includes 5 HR as well. He’s also got the history against Berrios.

Freddie Freeman: 21-for-61 (.344) in May for Freeman, riding a 7-game hit streak that includes 3 doubles, 2 HR, and 9 RBI. He’s got the history against Wainwright, and Wainwright hasn’t exactly been sharp in his only two starts this season, giving up 7 or more hits and 4 earned runs in each game.

DFS Stack to Consider

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Freeman/Betts/Muncy: all three have some history against Wainwright, and Waino is the cheapest pitcher on both FD and DK, which typically means the pitcher could be in for a rough outing.

Kiermaier/Chapman/Bichette or Springer: Chapman has 2 career HR off Cortes, and Bichette and Springer both have 1 HR off Cortes. Some combination of these is a viable play.

Rizzo/Judge/LeMahieu: DJ also has good numbers off Berrios, but he’s not nearly as hot as the other players and doesn’t necessarily carry the same pop.

Betting Angle

NYY @ TOR: (alt) over 8.5 total runs (-132 on FanDuel) — no runs scored through 9 innings Thursday could mean the offenses are due for a breakout today, and several hitters from both squads as outlined above have had success against the opposing pitcher.

Dodgers @ Cardinals: LAD F5 ML (-152 at FanDuel) — in addition Freeman/Betts/Muncy, David Peralta has hit Wainwright well. If he is starting, look for the Dodgers to jump out to an early lead.

Rizzo/Arenado/Freeman to get a hit parlay (+161 at FanDuel): back to the well with this Arenado and Freeman but why not, both have the history and are hot right now. Add Rizzo to get it to plus money.

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