It is time to continue our MLB DFS Punt Plays series for the DraftKings and FanDuel main slate. Today’s top value plays feature Jordan Beck, Adrian Houser and more.
However, some context first.
A quality MLB DFS punt play is not only cheap to roster but crucially has upside worth pursuing. In baseball, that often translates into an inconsistent batter with power-hitting or stolen base potential. Or it could be a volatile pitcher offering strikeout upside and the ability to pitch deep into ballgames. Whatever the reason, there is enough rationale to believe that punt plays exceed the value of their price tag and recognizing a great punt play is critical to success in MLB DFS.
This article will highlight the top punt plays available on Thursday’s five-game MLB main slate, locking at 12:10 PM ET on both DraftKings and FanDuel. As mentioned already, it will feature Jordan Beck, Adrian Houser and more!
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MLB DFS Punt Plays Today – May 2
Adrian Houser – SP, NYM vs. CHC
MLB DFS DraftKings: $5,600
MLB DFS FanDuel: $6,600
The pitching options on this slate are ugly, so if you’re inclined to punt, then I say punt all the way down to the bottom with Adrian Houser. There’s no sugarcoating it: Houser is having a horrible season. Through five starts, he sports a 6.54 xERA and 6.04 xFIP. One positive is that the 2024 sample size is small, and there is a much larger body of work to tap into.
Adrian Houser posted a decent 4.30 xFIP across 23 appearances last season, which is right in line with his career 4.32 xFIP. The assumption is that Houser will begin to resemble that version of himself sooner rather than later. Additionally, unlike all the other pitchers priced below Carlos Rodon, Houser is stretched out enough to throw 90+ pitches.
The other reason that Houser is a viable option today is his matchup with the Chicago Cubs. Despite being one of the higher-scoring teams overall this season, the Cubs are a favorable opponent for Houser. They are currently missing key bats Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger and have scored only three runs per game over the past eight contests. Chicago has also been underwhelming against right-handed pitchers all year, generating a below-average 94 wRC+.
DJ Stewart – OF, NYM vs. CHC
MLB DFS DraftKings: $3,100
MLB DFS FanDuel: $2,700
DJ Stewart was featured here earlier in the week, and he rode the bench, so with few good punt options, I’m looking to run it back. Batting average is never going to be a big part of Stewart’s appeal, but the guy has worthwhile pop. Through 21 games, he owns a 147 wRC+ with four home runs and an .849 OPS. That success includes a 15.8% barrel rate, 44.7% hard-hit rate, and a 90.2 MPH average exit velocity.
Ben Brown is a promising prospect for the Chicago Cubs, but he’s also one of the better pitchers to attack on this slate. Through his first seven major-league outings, the 24-year-old owns a 5.80 xERA. Brown has been getting lit up by opposing hitters to the tune of a .509 xSLG, 13.8% barrel rate, 64.6% hard-hit rate, and a 96 MPH average exit velocity. This is a great spot for Stewart to go yard.
Jordan Beck – OF, COL vs. MIA
MLB DFS DraftKings: $2,700
MLB DFS FanDuel: $2,100
Today’s slate is particularly light on viable sub-3K options on DraftKings. Among the group, Jordan Beck stands out as the one with a real ceiling.  The 23-year-old is the fourth-ranked prospect in the Colorado Rockies farm system and the No. 73 prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline.
With 55-grade power and 55-grade speed, Jordan Beck has a demonstrated ability to fill up a box score. Through 25 games in Triple-A this season, he is slashing .307/.405/.594 with five home runs and three stolen bases, building off a 25-home run, 20-stolen base campaign in 2023.
There is a case to be made that Edward Cabrera is the best pitcher on this slate, so he isn’t the most ideal pitcher to target. Still, he’s shown some rust after opening the season on the injured list, bringing a 5.28 ERA into play today. Cabrera’s underlying numbers largely suggest that he is due for positive regression, but a 10% barrel rate illustrates how things can go wrong. A mediocre Washington Nationals lineup touched him up for six runs (five earned runs) over 4 1/3 innings pitched last time Cabrera took the mound.
For a limited time only, you can use promo code MLBSIMSWEEK to get access to one week of our industry-leading MLB Sims Max, Sims Data or Data packages for 40% off by clicking here!
Editor Note: If you’re looking for the best MLB DFS picks daily, we got you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something with more of a gambling tilt, our friends over at OddsShopper can get you going by teaching you how to bet on home runs. You can also look at our brand new MLB Weather Forecast page for daily weather reports on today’s games.
