DFS MLB FanDuel Home Run Predictions 5/24/19

Swingin’ for the Fences 

MLB provided us with a nice, small, and carefree slate yesterday but we’re back at it again today with another full slate of action. My last piece did a bit better than the debut but I know we can definitely do better. Today’s slate features a ton of powerful offenses in action against struggling, home-run prone pitchers that we need to take advantage of. I’m rather excited to jump into it so let’s not waste any more time.

Catcher/Corner Infield

Todd Frazier – $2,500 vs DET (Soto)

Don’t look now but the former HR Derby champ is making a charge. With all the injuries that have been plaguing the Big Apple, Frazier has been asked to step up and he has so far delivered. Although he hasn’t hit one out yet, he’s in a terrific spot to do so. He’s gone 8 for his last 19 and is going against a pitcher in which the Tigers still have hope for for some strange reason. Also, contrary to past factors, Citi Field has been among one of the better venues for HRs with a factor of 1.152. The wind is blowing in but Soto is just that bad where the wind will unlikely be a major factor.

Yasmani Grandal – $3,200 vs PHI (Eickhoff)

Eickhoff isn’t really a bad pitcher…he’s got a solid 3.23 ERA and is holding opponents to a .223 batting average. With all that said, he’s been having extreme long ball troubles over his last couple starts. Prior to his outing against MIL, he had not given up a bomb all year. Since then, he’s given up 5 over his last two in a span of 9 innings. Although the handedness of the HRs is almost split, the rates and history undoubtedly give the upper hand to LHBs. He’s struggled quite a bit against LHBs for the entirety of his career and so far this season, he’s allowed them to slug .511 with a wOBA of .356 along with a stupidly high FB% rate of 72% and a 46% hard contact rate to top it all off. Grandal comes into this game in very solid form, sporting a .316 ISO over the last two weeks. Sorry, Jerad…but it looks like you’re going to give up a few more today.

CJ Cron/Marwin Gonzalez – $3,700/$3,300 vs CWS (Lopez)

Not only are you getting a third play but you’re getting a combo deal with it! The Twins are scary good right now and are posting massive power numbers. With last night’s performance, I don’t think I need to tell you their potency. Lopez has not been good so far this season, to say the least, and he’s already given up 11 bombs on the year. While he’s been worse against left handed bats, I think it’s safe to say we can throw that out the window with the Twins. Over the last week, 6 Twins have posted ISOs above .230. Just wrap your head around that for a second. Gonzalez was hugely disappointing in the drubbing yesterday night but is in yet another prime spot today to bounce back. Meanwhile, we’ve found out that Cron is actually an alien and can’t be tamed. Over the last week, he’s batting .364 with a .455 ISO, .503 wOBA, 220 wRC+, 31% line drive rate, and a 70% hard contact rate. *mic drop*

Middle Infield

Gleyber Torres – $3,900 vs KCR (Junis)

For someone as hot as he is (don’t get the wrong idea), it’s surprising how he isn’t $4k yet. He’s been absolutely tearing the cover off the ball and has 3 (!!!) double dong games in just over a week. Other than there being rain in the forecast, I don’t see any major reason why as to Torres can’t keep it going. Junis has been hit well from both sides of the plate and has given up 10 HRs on the season. This is just more of a plug-n-play. Don’t overthink it.

Jurickson Profar/Marcus Semien – $3,200/$3,500 vs SEA (LeBlanc)

Another combo deal for you peeps so better jump on it! LeBlanc has been everything short of spectacular, sporting a 7.36 ERA and allowing a batting average of .329. The more interesting aspect, however, is that every single run he’s given up this season (15) has been thanks to RHBs, as is the case with the HRs (6). RHBs have a sub 30% groundball rate against him and are at least making medium contact over 96% of the time. For Profar, he’s been quietly turning up the dial on the heater. Prior to his last start, he went 7-13 with three dingers over a 6 game span for an ISO of .385 over that stretch. Semien has been a bit quieter over the last week but he still has some pop in that bat. Over the last 4 games, he’s already garnered three doubles and a triple and knocked one out not too long ago, resulting in a very solid .258 ISO. Both players possess a ton of pop and have been obliterating cutters at will. I will give the edge to Semien between the two as he has been the much more effective hitter against the sinker (SNK/CUT are LeBlanc’s two main pitches).

Outfield

Harold Ramirez – $2,500 vs WAS (McGowin)

There’s been a bevy of talented youngsters being called up and producing immediately. While he hasn’t gone on at a torrid pace, Ramirez classifies as one of those youngsters. He hasn’t flexed a ton of power so far, but he’s shown proficient ability in making contact, getting a hit in all but one game so far. In the minor leagues this season, McGowin has started 8 games with a 4.32 ERA with 6 HRs allowed. He also seems to have abandoned his 4 seam and gone with just with his sinker and slider, neither of which are very frightening. Ramirez has been among the team’s best hitters since he’s come up and has earned quite a bit of playing time. I think he can get a hold of one tonight against a pitcher who doesn’t have much to offer.

Marcell Ozuna – $4,200 vs ATL (Foltynewicz)

Folty is yet another one of those pitchers I mentioned in the intro that is both struggling and home-run prone. He’s given up 10 HRs on the season and has once more shown his struggles RHBs. Lucky for us, the Cards have a couple powerful right handed bats. As this is the OF section, the pick is obviously none other than Marcell Ozuna. While the offense has sputtered a bit over the last couple series, Ozuna has maintained a batting average of .292 over the last week with an ISO of .375 and a wRC+ of 173. The weather projects to be a warm 84 degrees with a nice little 9 mph breeze out to the alley in left. I think it’s in the cards for him to hit one out today.

That does it for tonight’s slate! There’s plenty of offensive firepower to be had so make sure you get those lines in there and get some fireworks from each games. Bombs away!

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