DraftKings Early MLB Picks March 30: Happy Opening Day for rainouts

PHOENIX, AZ – MARCH 29: The Arizona Diamondbacks stand attended for the national anthem prior to the openning day MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on March 29, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks March 30: Happy Opening Day for the rainouts!

We only have two early games in our DraftKings tournament today. It is the two rainouts from yesterday! The same starters are scheduled to take the mound, so most of the things that held true yesterday will today.

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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

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 30: Ivan Nova #46 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field on August 30, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Max Scherzer ($12,000): Okay, Scherzer is close. He has whiffed 17 of the 42 Reds batters he has faced. No, I didn’t fail math. That’s a better ratio. However, this is a tougher ballpark to pitch in. In theory. Scherzer only has one start in Cincinnati. He threw six shutout innings while striking out ten. If you fade Sale, Scherzer is at least as good of an option. The Rays are a bit weaker than the Reds though.

Middle Tier:

Ivan Nova ($7,200): 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?

Jordan Zimmerman ($6,700): 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 end here is a win. Zimmerman gives you a puncher’s chance at a win, at least.

Bargain Pitchers:

Homer Bailey ($4,900): I wouldn’t recommend Homer even to the most contrarian of players. The Nationals are hitting a Hall of Fame like .435 off of Bailey in 46 at bats with a homer, eight RBI, and a staggering 16 runs scored. Oh, and Homer only has four strikeouts. You can use both pitchers from the Pittsburgh game and stack Nats bats, but whatever you do, don’t use Bailey. Things will not end well.

MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 28: Jesse Winker #33 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a RBI single scoring Joey Votto during the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 28, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

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?

Joey Votto has actually hit Scherzer pretty well. Votto is 4-10 with two walks, a double, a homer, two runs scored, and three RBI against Scherzer.

Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon are a combined 4-11 with two doubles, three walks, two runs scored, and three RBI in their careers against Homer Bailey.

Bargain Shoppers:

For a bargain, you can try Tucker Barnhart. Barnhart is 2-4 with a walk and a run scored against Scherzer.

I don’t know what the platoon situation will be for Matt Adams, but his is a whopping 8-12 with three walks, a double, a homer, and three RBI against Bailey. Yes, he has the Nats only homer off of a pitcher named Homer.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07:Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals strikes out against the Chicago Cubs with the bases loaded in the fifth inning during game two of the National League Division Series at Nationals Park on October 7, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

It would be hard to move off of Trea Turner regardless of past history against Homer Bailey. Luckily for us, Turner has the stats to back it up. Turner is perfect off of Bailey with two singles, two runs scored, and a RBI.

Middle Tier:

Howie Kendrick and Wilmer Difo will provide much-needed salary relief for your Nationals stack. There is no guarantee that either of them will start, so be sure to keep an eye on those lineups. Fortunately, baseball has late swap, so we can change it right up until first pitch. It may be prudent to make sure that you have the extra $300 to swap to Kendrick if you build with Difo. Kendrick is 3-5 with two runs scored against Bailey. Difo is 1-2 with a walk, a RBI, and two runs scored.

Bargain Shoppers:

Cliff Pennington‘s only hit in seven at bats off of Scherzer is a solo homer. The two walks and two runs scored give a bit of optimism for someone priced at a dirt cheap $2,500. As far as Scooter Gennett goes, leave him. Scooter is just 1-10 lifetime against Scherzer.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 8: Billy Hamilton #6 of the Cincinnati Reds makes a catch off the center field wall in the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Great American Ball Park on August 8, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

You can play Turner in the outfield as well if you so choose. Why would you do that? Because Bryce Harper is just 1-10 with a walk, a triple, and two RBI against Homer Bailey. I can’t explain it any better than you can. However, this is still a small sample size. Harper could still come up huge on the stage that is Opening Day.

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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.

Billy Hamilton is 3-5 with two doubles, two steals, and a run scored against Max Scherzer. Hamilton’s stolen base prowess will make him a popular DFS play all season, but especially on short slates like this.

Bargain Shoppers:

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: DraftKings Main Slate MLB Picks

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!