Fantasy Baseball Picks: Top DraftKings MLB DFS Lineup Strategy for Dodgers vs. Angels Showdown on May 8

The Saturday night Showdown game on DraftKings this week is another edition of the Freeway Series as the Los Angeles Angels host the Los Angeles Dodgers for a weekend set for the first time this season. The Angels took the first game of the series, 9-2, on Friday night as they got to Julio Urías and Joe Kelly for nine runs in the first six innings of the game and also got a solid start from Griffin Canning. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Angels, who are 14-17, while the Dodgers are now 17-16, just one game over .500.

The Dodgers will try to level the series behind veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw ($13,000) on Saturday night while the Angels counter with righty Dylan Bundy ($10,800). Bundy has gone 0-3 in his six starts with a 4.00 ERA and 3.58 FIP while Kershaw is 4-3 with a 2.95 ERA and 2.53 FIP. DraftKings Sportsbook has the over/under for this game at 8.5 runs with the Angels as -160 favorites.

Let’s jump right into how to construct your DraftKings lineups for Saturday night’s Showdown contest.

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Captain’s Picks

Mookie Betts ($15,900 CP) - Betts connected on his fourth home run of the season in the series opener against the Angels, going 2-for-4 with 21 DKFP. Despite battling injuries, Betts is hitting .257 in his first 26 games this season with four homers, four stolen bases, a .193 ISO and a .357 wOBA. He has a 45.5% hard-hit rate in May after a 40.3% hard-hit rate in April, showing he may be finding his stride after a slow start by his standards.

Betts has typically been a beast at Angel Stadium, with a .314 average and nine home runs in exactly 100 plate appearances in Anaheim, the best home run rate he has at any park where he has at least 50 plate appearances. He also has a good history against Bundy, who he has taken deep four times while going 9-for-36 for a .361 ISO.

Clayton Kershaw ($19,500 CP) - Kershaw posted over 20 DKFP in five straight starts before a rough outing in his last start against the Cubs in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. He only threw 39 pitches, though, so he should be ready for a full workload despite working on just three days' rest.

In his seven starts, he has picked up 41 strikeouts in 39 ²⁄₃ innings and surrendered just three home runs. He has only allowed a 33.6% hard-hit rate overall and been able to go at least six innings in all but his most recent start and his very first start of the season. This will be his first meeting with his crosstown rivals this season, but he is 4-2 with a 2.88 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 40 ²⁄₃ career innings against the Angels.

Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB Showdown $15K Hidden Ball Trick [$5K to 1st] (LAD vs LAA)

Value Plays

Chris Taylor ($7,800) - With AJ Pollock ($7,200; hamstring) forced to leave Friday’s game and Cody Bellinger (leg), Zach McKinstry (oblique) and Edwin Ríos (shoulder) already on the IL, Taylor’s positional versatility will continue to be key for the Dodgers in the coming games. Wherever he has played in the field, Taylor has been performing well at the plate and has a .212 ISO and .387 wOBA this season as the result of a 43.5% hard-hit rate, which would be the second-highest of his career. He has been hot lately, going 15-for-45 (.333) with 9.3 DKFP per game over his past 13 games.

David Fletcher ($6,200) - Fletcher doesn’t have the power potential of expensive hitters but will be on the right side of the split against Kershaw and continues to be a reliable source of production in the Angels’ leadoff spot. Fletcher had three hits and three RBI with 21 DKFP in the first game of the series and has hit safely in 11 of his past 12 games, averaging 7.5 DKFP per game over that span. His lack of power limits his ceiling, but he’s a reliable value play.

Fades

Shohei Ohtani ($9,200) - I am a huge Ohtani supporter, so putting him here hurts a little bit. However, the most glaring split when looking at the two starting pitchers is that Kershaw has dominated left-handed hitters, holding them to just five hits in 41 plate appearances with a .125 wOBA. He has held lefties to just a 26.7% hard-hit rate, which doesn’t bode well for Ohtani or Jared Walsh ($7,000), who have been two of my go-to Angels options this season. You could go with either lefty as a contrarian play, but just be aware of the big-time uphill climb you’re setting yourself up for, especially with Walsh, who only has a .128 ISO and .264 wOBA against southpaws.

The Outcome

The Dodgers have gone just 4-14 over their past 18 games since the Padres rallied to take the final game of their first big three-game set. They have been finding ways to lose, including dropping three of their past six games in walk-off fashion. The Angels haven’t been much better, going just 6-12 over their past 18 games. While both teams have been playing poorly, looking at the starting pitching seems to give the Dodgers a distinct advantage, and I think Kershaw will bounce back and help his team get back in the win column behind a big game from Mookie in the second game of this series.

Final Score: Dodgers 5, Angels 2

Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB Showdown $15K Hidden Ball Trick [$5K to 1st] (LAD vs LAA)

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