Fantasy Baseball: DraftKings Early MLB Picks For April 15

Sep 26, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Duvall (23) hits a three run home run off of St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Luke Weaver (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks For April 15

The big slate is early today, with 10 of the 15 games in the early DraftKings tournament. We have several ace caliber pitchers taking the hill this afternoon. Who is worth paying for? Let’s check out some past stats!

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The money line in the early tournament yesterday sat at 97, which isn’t bad for a two game slate. My lineup finished just over that threshold, but Daniel Murphy driving in Bryce Harper actually knocked me down a money tier even though Harper plated the winning run. Murphy was much more highly owned. Oh well, I will take it with the slow week I’ve had.

The winning lineup was only at 135.2 points. There isn’t much room to separate with only four teams to choose from. He used both Stephen Strasburg and Aaron Nola, who faced off against each other. He also got at least seven points from every position player. That resulted in a win!

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. Check out this post from Matt McGarvey for great tips about whether to use a hot player in DFS or not.

For you first time players, if you would like $10 worth of free entry tickets, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn that $10 into more!

Next: DraftKings Late Lineup 1

Apr 8, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor looks at his baseball bat in the dugout during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

P: Chris Sale ($11,500): You want to pay up for Sale today. The Rays are hitting just .139 against Sale is 79 at bats with only one homer (by backup catcher Curt Casali, no less) and three runs scored. If that isn’t enough, Sale has 29 strikeouts in those 79 at bats. The history is all here for a dominant performance from Sale.

P: Brandon Finnegan ($6,800): Anyone at this price is a bit of a risk, but Finnegan has held the Brewers to a .189 average in 37 at bats with one homer and four runs to go with eight strikeouts. Sure, those are kind of pedestrian numbers, by Zach Davies has been pounded so far this year. Finnegan has a 1.00 ERA in two starts. He isn’t going deep into games by any means (he needed 69 pitches to record six outs in his last outing), but he has great potential for a win today and should get enough strikeouts to limit any damage.

C: Stephen Vogt ($3,000): Despite the strong start for Lance McCullers in 2017, the past stats don’t favor using him against Oakland. The A’s are hitting .382 against him in 34 at bats! Vogt has done a majority of that damage, going five for eight with a double, a homer, and two RBI against McCullers.

1B: Carlos Santana ($4,300): Santana is only 13-66(.197) in his career against Justin Verlander. So why play him? Santana has drawn eight walks, doubled twice, hit seven home runs, and driven in 11. There is a risk involved here since Santana doesn’t always get on base against Verlander, but when he does, look out!

2B: Jose Peraza ($3,800): I want at least some exposure to Zach Davies with as poorly as he is pitching lately. Peraza seems a good place to get that. He is two for five with a homer and three RBI against Davies. Dustin Pedroia is also a good option here due to his career numbers against Jake Odorizzi. I just think there is more potential with Peraza.

3B: Nolan Arenado ($4,200): Arenado is three for seven with a walk, two doubles, and a RBI against Matt Moore. Arenado is 5-10 against lefties already this year. He has hit southpaws worse than righties in his career so far, but I am going with the trend he has shown so far this year.

SS: Francisco Lindor ($4,300): We may as well go ahead and make it an Ohio stack here with Reds and Indians. It’s not just for show. I have the stats to back it up! Lindor is 7-17(.412) with two walks, a double, a triple, a homer, and seven RBI already against Verlander. He may be the best option to get to Verlander tonight.

OF: Billy Hamilton ($4,100): Hamilton is four for eight with a triple in his career against Davies. He is also off to a great start this year. With Hamilton getting on base this much, I want a piece of this. He has world-class speed against a young catching corps.

OF: Adam Duvall ($4,200): Duvall is 5-14(.357) with a double, a homer, and four RBI against Zach Davies already in his career. The Reds are playing well as a whole right now. If you are a stacker, a Reds stack looks like a great idea tonight.

OF: Jayson Werth ($3,600): Werth is only 4-18 against Jeremy Hellickson in his career, but he has a walk, three doubles, a homer, and an impressive eight RBI. If he gets the bat on the ball, it’s going a long ways!

Next: DraftKings Early Lineup 2

Apr 2, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez (18) pitches to a Chicago Cubs batter during the first inning of opening night at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

P: Carlos Martinez ($9,100): I thought about going with Jake Arrieta, but I don’t trust windy days at Wrigley no matter whichh direction it’s blowing. That leaves Martinez, who has held the Yankees to a .227 average in 22 at bats with only two runs scored and nine strikeouts. The strikeout potential has me on Martinez even though he may give up a couple of runs. The win potential isn’t quite as high as Arrieta’s against Tyler Glasnow, but it’s not bad either against CC.

P: Tyler Chatwood ($7,300): I am looking for a little cheaper pitcher here with upside. The pickings are slim down here. There is no way I’m starting a rookie against the Blue Jays (sorry Alec Asher). Odorizzi has been hit hard by Boston, and Davies at Cincinnati? No thanks. Give me Chatwood, who has actually held the Giants to a .250 average in 140 at bats with only two homers and ten runs. The 23 strikeouts leave little margin for error, but Chatwood is 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA in his career at AT&T Park. Looks good to me!

C: Welington Castillo ($3,200): Castillo is 8-26(.308) with a walk, a double, four homers, and eight RBI against Marco Estrada in his career. Most of the Orioles have hit Estrada well, but none as well as Castillo has. If he is in the lineup, Castillo is a must play today.

1B: Miguel Cabrera ($4,900): Miggy came through for us the other day against the Twins. The past stats say that he will against Corey Kluber today as well. Cabrera is 20-47(.426) with three walks, two doubles, five homers, and ten RBI in his career against Kluber. He is worth paying the premium for today!

2B: Brian Dozier ($4,400): As with most pitchers, Dozier hasn’t hit for a high average against Jose Quintana. He is just 11-49(.224). It’s what he has done with those 11 hits that have us signing him up again. Dozier has three walks, two doubles, four homers, and nine RBI against Quintana in his career. He may get a zero, but there is also a good chance that he gets 14!

3B: Xander Bogaerts ($4,400): Bogaerts is 9-24(.375) with five walks, five doubles, a triple, and three RBI in his career against Jake Odorizzi already. You can’t really go wrong with Red Sox today. They have a career .291 average against Odorizzi in 148 at bats.

SS: Freddy Galvis ($3,300): Galvis is the only current Phillie to hit a home run against Tanner Roark. Overall, Galvis is 4-13(.308) with that homer and two RBI against Roark. He could be a great way to save some money tonight.

OF: Justin Upton ($4,500): Upton is 3-10 against Kluber, and all of the hits have gone for extra bases. Upton has two walks, a double, two homers, and four RBI off of Kluber. However, if you play in a format that docks for strikeouts, you may want to stay away. Upton has struck out five times against Kluber.

OF:Michael Brantley ($4,700): It doesn’t take a home run to make a player worth it. Brantley is 19-65(.292) with three walks, a double, a triple, and nine RBI in his career against Justin Verlander. That is a lot of crooked numbers for Brantley! Verlander has looked really good so far this year, but Cleveland always seems to have his number.

OF: Adam Duvall ($4,200): I didn’t really plan this, but looking at my salary left over, why not? Why not take a shot on a guy facing a pitcher with a ERA over 10 in a hitters park? So yeah, Duvall is in both of my lineups. That likely means he is more apt to don a Golden Sombrero than to launch one into the Ohio River.

Next: DFS Strategy - Take Your Game to the Next Level

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our NBA, NHL, and EPL picks!