DraftKings Early MLB Picks For April 14

Sep 12, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the DraftKings sign board during the match with FC Dallas playing against New York City FC at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

DraftKings Early MLB Picks For April 14

There are seven games going on this afternoon, creating an even split, which gives us plenty of options to choose from. Who should you spend on? Let’s hit the stats!

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NOTE: these picks are based solely on statistics. Some players have never faced their opponents, or have very little experience against them. I am not saying that none of those are good picks. The highest scorer of the day could be someone with no experience against his opponent. This is based on statistical analysis only. If you have a gut feeling, then by all means, follow that. This is not an exact science. The best lineups usually have a mix of proven stats and hot players.

Mat Latos and Vincent Velasquez have never faced today’s opponent, so no Twins or Padres hitters will be mentioned below.

For you first time players, if you would like a free entry into the $1 million baseball contest, use this link for the referral bonus!

Next: Pitcher Picks

Apr 8, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer (22) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Best Bets:

Chris Archer ($11,400): With a lighter board, I will still mention Archer here. He has given up to homers to Cleveland hitters in only 55 at bats, but he has allowed only 11 hits overall while striking out 17. Still, this could be a pitcher’s duel, and I’m not all that convinced the Rays will score enough to get Archer the win. That takes him down a notch.

Danny Salazar ($11,000): I will start this off by saying you should pick one or the other. I chose Archer because of a more proven track record. The Rays only have five hits off of Salazar in 25 at bats, but also have only struck out five times. However, they have not plated a run off of him. I expect these two to be pretty evenly matched, but only one can get a win.

Honorable Mention:

Ervin Santana ($8,100): Snicker if you want, but Ervin has pitched well against the current White Sox in his career. They are hitting just .182 off of him in 110 at bats with three homers and seven RBI. His 22 strikeouts are a pedestrian total, and he is currently pitching for the world’s worst team, but he could get a lot of points in this one. Latos was awful last year. Is that version of him completely gone?

Jaime Garcia ($9,700): The Brewers are only hitting .237 off of Garcia in 114 at bats, with only six extra base hits. He is a notch below the elite, but may deserve billing over Ervin simply because the Cardinals score runs.

Dark Horse:

Drew Pomeranz ($6,700): Pomeranz has little experience against the current Phillies, but that little is good. They have just three hits and one RBI in 16 at bats. The downside? Pomeranz only has three strikeouts. That limits his potential for big points, but the Phillie offense is a work in progress. There is potential here.

Next: Who Are The Best Stacks?

Apr 10, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) shown after being left on base against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

You have heard our FanDuel experts Matt Rogers and Brian Tulloch talk about “stacking” pieces of a lineup against certain pitchers. Here are the stacks that could work well on DraftKings today, based on past statistics.

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT use Julio Teheran against the Nationals. The team is hitting .296 off of him in 189 at bats with ten home runs and 35 RBI with only 39 strikeouts. The odds are against you. However, stacking Nationals’ hitter could be a good idea. Bryce Harper ($5,100) has seven extra base hits, including four homers and six RBI, in 25 at bats. Pay up for Harper! Jose Lobaton ($2,400) should get the start at catcher in a day game, and given his history against Teheran. Lobaton is a ridiculous 7-15 with two homers and five RBI against Teheran. How about Daniel Murphy ($3,900)? Murphy is 7-17 with six walks, three doubles, a homer, and six RBI against he Braves’ ace. Last but not least is Ryan Zimmerman ($3,500). The price is right, and Zimmerman has two homers and seven RBI against Teheran in 29 at bats.

The Cardinals are hitting .306 off of Wily Peralta in 183 at bats with seven homers and 29 RBI. Most of the damage has been done by three guys. Thomas Pham is on the DL, which is unfortunate because he has homered in both of his at bats off of Peralta. Matt Holliday ($3,700) is 10-26(.385) with two homers and seven RBI off of Peralta. Most of the damage has been done by Matt Carpenter ($4,900). Carpenter is 15-33(.455) with four walks, three doubles, three homers, and five RBI off of Peralta. He will get you some points. Another interesting play if he is in the lineup is Yadier Molina ($3,500). If Lobaton doesn’t play and Molina does, Yadi is a suitable substitute. He is 8-27(.296) with four RBI against Peralta.

Some of you may be wondering why I didn’t recommend Stephen Strasburg against the Braves. Sounds like a good matchup, right? Well, besides the fact that he was scratched from yesterday’s start because he wasn’t feeling well, the stats say no. The Braves are hitting .294 in 102 at bats off of Strasburg. Kelly Johnson ($3,100) and Jeff Francoeur ($2,700) have both taken him deep, and Nick Markakis ($4,000) has four hits off of him, but it has been Freddie Freeman that has punished Strasburg. Freeman ($4,600) is 12-31(.387) with six walks, two doubles, three homers, and nine RBI off of Strasburg. Yes, Stras will get the strikeouts, but I don’t trust him. I will play Freeman instead.

Jordan Zimmerman doesn’t have much of a history against Pittsburgh, but what he does favors the Pirates, and two in particular. David Freese ($3,100) is 2-5 with a walk, a double, a homer, and two RBI off of him. Andrew McCutchen ($4,600) has done even better. Cutch has two hits in six at bats. Both of them are solo home runs.

It should some as no surprise that Rockies-Giants could be another place to stack. Particularly the Rockies against Matt Cain. Nolan Arenado ($5,200) only has three career hits off of Cain in 17 at bats, but they have all gone for extra bases. Charlie Blackmon ($4,900) is struggling so far this year, but he is 6-17(.353) with two walks, a double, a homer, and two RBI off of Cain. DJ LeMahieu ($4,200) is 5-15 with a homer and two driven in. Gerardo Parra ($4,400) is 17-58(.293) with five doubles, five walks, and four RBI. We may even seen an appearance by Mark Reynolds ($4,100) who is 6-23(.261) with three doubles, two homers, and three RBI off of Cain. I will also use this opportunity to tell you to stay away from Carlos Gonzalez. While some of his teammates have feasted off of Cain, CarGo has not. He is just 6-47(.128) off of Cain with 17 strikeouts and only one extra base hit (a triple).

Surprisingly, only Hunter Pence (7-22, two homers, seven RBI) and Buster Posey (10-32, one homer, eight RBI) have hit Jorge De La Rosa hard. They are worth using if they are in the lineup though!

Next: More Notes For 4-14

Sep 26, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) hits a RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

Yan Gomes ($2,900) could be a good value play against Chris Archer. Gomes is 2-5 with a solo homer off of Archer. Jose Ramirez ($2,500) also has a solo shot off of Archer in three at bats.

The Tigers have hit .309 off of Gerrit Cole in 55 at bats, but they have only driven in three runs. That lofty batting average even include a 1-10 Ian Kinsler line in there. Nick Castellanos ($2,900) has three singles in five at bats. Justin Upton ($4,100) has singled twice and driven in a run in five at bats. However, anyone is a bit of a risk against a pitcher like Cole.

Ervin Santana has fared well against most of the White Sox lineup, but Melky Cabrera ($3,500) and Adam Eaton ($4,400) have both taken him deep.

Ryan Braun ($4,100) only has eight hits in 46 at bats(.174) against Jaime Garcia, but he has a homer and five driven in. Jonathan Lucroy ($3,200) is 10-34 (.294) with three RBI against Garcia, but may sit in favor of Martin Maldonado ($2,600) who is 4-11 with a homer and three driven in. If Maldonado starts, he could be a great value.

Next: FanDuel Value Picks For April 14

Stay tuned for the night lineups and our FanDuel picks!