DraftKings Early MLB Picks March 29: Happy Opening Day!

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 05: Bench coach Chris Speier #35 of the Washington Nationals holds a bat and ball before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 5, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks March 29: Happy Opening Day!

We only have two early games in our DraftKings tournament today. The pickings are pretty slim. It seems as though the bulk of the separation will come from the second pitcher slot. Let’s see who can help us there and if there are any sleeper bats to pick up on.

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We will provide you with several options to build your lineup here. Want to spend all your money on pitchers and play bargain bats? We will highlight who is worth the money. Want to punt arms and pay up for the big boppers? We can help you with that as well, and everything in between!

These tips are based mostly on past performance. This is a nice tool for building a lineup, but should not be the only pieces of information you use. Stacking against a bad pitcher is always a good idea!

For you first time players, if you would like a free $20 entry into the opening day contest, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn those DraftKings dollars into more!

Next: DraftKings Pitcher Plays

BROOKLYN, NY – MAY 22: New York Mets Pitcher Noah Syndergaard attends Gotham Magazine’s Celebration of it’s Late Spring Issue with Noah Syndergaard at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge on May 22, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for Gotham Magazine) /

Top Tier:

Noah Syndergaard ($12,100): Thor made just seven starts last year before tearing a lat muscle. His return will come on Opening Day, which in itself is quite an accomplishment on this pitching staff. The current Cardinals roster is only hitting .220 against Thor with just two homers and six runs scored in 43 at bats. The bad part is that Syndergaard only has 12 strikeouts. There is risk here, but Thor has looked good enough this Spring to help us feel better about taking that risk.

Carlos Martinez ($11,100): If you aren’t going Thor, the next best bet is his mound opponent. That should keep us from using both. The value on Martinez goes down due to his tougher matchup, but the Mets are only hitting .226 against Martinez with five homers and 11 RBI in 121 at bats. I kind of like Martinez coming off the year he had against a Mets offense that is still mostly in flux.

Middle Tier:

Jon Lester ($10,900): There is risk involved with Lester. The Marlins, or what’s left of them, has hit Lester well. The current Marlins are 13-44 with a homer and seven RBI with only seven strikeouts. I prefer my number one pitcher having strikeout potential. It isn’t really there with Lester, but this Marlins offense projects to be pretty bad. There is still potential here.

Ivan Nova ($7,000): The Tigers hit Nova pretty well while he was in the American League, but Miggy did most of the damage. Nova isn’t a high strikeout guy, but he is going in a pitcher’s park against a guy who had a 6.08 ERA last year. Hey, remember when Opening Day starters were good?

Bargain Pitchers:

Jordan Zimmerman ($6,000): Zimmerman’s strikeouts have been up this spring, so there is hope that he wont be as bad as last year. As far as Opening Day matchups go, this is a decent one for Zimmerman. The Pirates weren’t all that great on offense last year, and they lost Andrew McCutchen. The current incarnation of the Pirates is 17-57(.298) with a pair of homers and six RBI with just five strikeouts. But hey, that’s why he’s cheap. What you are chasing at the low rmf end here is a win. Zimmerman gives you a puncher’s chance at a win, at least.

Jose Urena ($5,000): Urena may give the most bang for your buck at pitcher. The Cubs are hitting a modest .263 in 38 at bats with a pair of homers and six RBI, but they have struck out eight times. Urena should pick up more strikeouts than Zimmerman, but his chances at a win are much lower. Or are they? Urena was 2-0 with a 2.46 ERA against the Cubbies last season.

MESA, AZ – FEBRUARY 28: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs bats against the Oakland Athletics during the spring training game at Sloan Park on February 28, 2018 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Surprisingly, Anthony Rizzo is only 2-6 off of Jose Urena, but both hits are doubles, he has walked three times, and he has driven in three. Thinking about Kris Bryant? He’s 0-5 against Urena.

Miguel Cabrera is the guy that has hit Ivan Nova hard. Miggy is 5-15 with two walks, a double, a homer, two runs scored, and four RBI against Nova. Nick Castellanos is 2-4 with a triple and four RBI. The Tigers have a good history against Nova.

Middle Tier:

The Pirates aren’t very expensive, and there is good reason for that. Going cheap with Francisco Cervellli could be the choice at catcher. Cervelli has a walk, a double, and a RBI in one game against Zimmerman. David Freese is a nice place to go cheap. Freese is 4-11 with a walk, a double, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI off of Zimmerman. I will also admit that I like Colin Moran here against Zimmerman. Why not, right?

Bargain Shoppers:

The Mets are even cheaper! Mostly because this offense isn’t expected to be any good. Adrian Gonzalez is just $3,300 and it only 3-15 against Carlos Martinez, but he has three walks, a homer, two runs scored, and four RBI against Martinez.

Yadier Molina is a solid, and cheaper, choice at catcher. He has a single, a double, and a run scored in six tries against Thor. I don’t know that I would use any other Cardinal against him though.

MESA, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs poses during Chicago Cubs Photo Day on February 20, 2018 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Ian Happ is going to be a popular pick. Happ has clobbered Urena. He is 3-5 with a walk, a double, a solo homer, and two runs scored against Urena. Happ has the best past performance of any Cub against Urena.

Middle Tier:

Jose Reyes. The very mention of this name will likely draw a cringe from most fantasy owners. The oft-injured shortstop has ruined many a fantasy team. In fact, I’m pretty sure that Reyes is the reason that we have daily fantasy sports. He can’t hurt you (much) here! Reyes is a solid 4-13(.308) with a double, a solo homer, and three runs scored against Martinez. Asdrubal Cabrera is 2-6 with two walks, a double, a run scored, and a RBI against CarMart.

Bargain Shoppers:

Starlin Castro has struggled against former teammate Jon Lester (1-10), but Martin Prado has not. Prado is 7-16(.438) with three doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI against Lester.

Jedd Gyorko is only 1-6 lifetime against Thor, but that hit is a two run homer.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

MESA, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs poses during Chicago Cubs Photo Day on February 20, 2018 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Kyle Schwarber will be highly used against Urena. He has a double and a run scored in his only game against Urena. Jason Heyward was the one that homered off of Urena though. There is a chance that Heyward starts with a righty on the mound.

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Middle Tier:

I’m a big fan of Corey Dickerson today against Zimmerman. Dickerson is 6-10 with two doubles, a homer, two runs scored, and four RBI off of Zimmerman. Gregory Polanco is also worth a look, but Dickerson is the cheapest Pirate outfielder today, and has a great track record against Zimmerman.

The Mets have homered five times off of Carlos Martinez, so you know there are some Mets worth using. Most are in the outfield. Yoenis Cespedes is 4-12 with a walk, a double, and a solo homer off of Martinez. Jay Bruce is only 4-19(.211), but he has three walks, two doubles, and two solo homers off of him.

Bargain Shoppers:

Lewis Brinson, the centerpiece of the Yelich deal, is a tempting punt against Jon Lester today. Brinson is going to start in center and likely lead off for the Marlins for a reasonable $3,200. Cameron Maybin is another cheap punt option at $2,900, but he is hitless in three tries against Lester in his career.

Mikie Mahtook and Leonys Martin are a combined 4-7 with a steal and a RBI off of Ivan Nova. Both are reasonably priced at $3,300. I like Martin more since he will likely be batting leadoff.

Next: MLB DFS Picks and Pivots

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our PGA picks. We also have plenty of NFL stuff to get you ready for football!