DraftKings Early MLB Picks March 31: Stack the Yankees against Estrada

TORONTO, ON – MARCH 29: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring a run in the fifth inning on Opening Day during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks March 31: Stack the Yankees against Estrada

We have a split slate today with seven early and seven evening games. The Boston-Tampa game is left out in limbo, but can be found on the afternoon slate if you really want to play that. There are still a few aces hanging around due to deep rotations and rainouts.

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Speaking of rain, The Pittsburgh-Detroit game is the only one threatened again. Keep an eye on this leading up up first pitch at 1:10 eastern.

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

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 08: Carlos Carrasco #59 of the Cleveland Indians pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Carlos Carrasco ($10,100): Honestly, all of the upper tier pitchers have matchups in which they have struggled. The Rangers are hitting .311 with a homer and nine runs in 61 at bats against McCullers. The Reds are only hitting .226 off of Strasburg, but they have six homers and 14 runs in only 84 at bats. On top of that, Strasburg has a 5.18 ERA in five career starts at Great American Launching Pad. The Cardinals are hitting a solid .278 off of deGrom with just 18 strikeouts in 90 at bats. The only one I would really consider is McCullers since he has racked up the strikeouts against Texas.

As for Carrasco, his numbers against Seattle aren’t all that great. The Mariners are hitting a solid .257 with five homers and 11 RBI in 105 at bats. However, Carrasco has 25 strikeouts against the current Mariner lineup. Carrasco has also pitched well in Safeco Field. He is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA in three career starts there.

Middle Tier:

James Paxton ($8,200): Paxton has held the Indians to a .243 average in 37 at bats with only one homer, four runs, and 13 strikeouts. Paxton averaged 22 DraftKings in 13 home starts last season. Even though he may not get the win against Carrasco, Paxton has good upside tonight.

Michael Wacha ($7,900): Wacha has dominated the Mets in his career. The current roster is hitting a pathetic .141 in 85 at bats with only two homers and three RBI to go with 25 strikeouts. This great strikeout potential and weak lineup has me leaning towards Wacha as a pivot off of the expensive starters.

Michael Fulmer ($7,400): The only current Pirate to face Fulmer is former Ray Corey Dickerson. Dickerson is a sad 1-11 off of him. I like Fulmer here since Pittsburgh isn’t a great hitting team. I am also a fan of Fulmer’s 2.12 ERA this Spring. There is plenty of potential here. At least so far in his career, Fulmer is better earlier in the season.

Matt Shoemaker ($7,000): Shoemaker’s stats against Oakland are an anomaly. Oakland is hitting .339 in 59 at bats against Shoemaker, but the only damage done is four solo homers. That’s it. Shoemaker posted a 3.60 ERA in three starts against Oakland last year, and he has a decent shot at a win against Mengden.

Bargain Pitchers:

Luis Castillo ($6,000): Castillo has good strikeout potential, but not much else. It’s a tough matchup against Strasburg and the Nationals are hitting a solid .259 off of him. However, they only have four runs. If Castillo can limit the walks, there is decent potential here.

Matt Moore ($5,800): You need a tough stomach for this one, but the Astros are only hitting .216 off of him in 37 at bats with a pair of homers and ten strikeouts. The Astros have scored six runs off of him though, and they usually hit lefties hard. On the bright side, the Rangers are hitting a robust .311 off of Lance McCullers with nine runs in only 61 at bats.

Trevor Williams ($5,200): Williams racked up 28 DraftKings points in his start against Detroit last season. Williams is never much of a strikeout pitcher, but he showed signs this spring of notching a few more. I’m not opposed to using Williams in any pitcher’s park this year.

GOODYEAR, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds poses for a portrait at the Cincinnati Reds Player Development Complex on February 20, 2018 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Joey Votto is 5-16(.312) with four walks, two homers, five runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Stephen Strasburg. Eugenio Suarez is just 1-8 against Strasburg, but that one hit is a homer.

Anthony Rendon has three walks and two hits in eight at bats against Luis Castillo. Both of those hits are home runs, and he has driven in three.

This might be one of those days to pay up at catcher. Gary Sanchez is 4-16 with a walk against Marco Estrada. Nothing special, right? Well, all four hits are home runs and he has driven in seven.

Middle Tier:

I’m not sure why the Blue Jays are so cheap against CC Sabathia. Josh Donaldson is 10-39(.256) with two walks, two doubles, two homers, seven runs scored, and four RBI in his career against CC. Justin Smoak is 7-26(.269) with three walks, two homers, three runs scored, and five RBI and he will only set you back $3,300. Kendrys Morales is $100 cheaper, and he is 9-25(.360) with a walk, three doubles, a homer, two runs scored, and six RBI against Sabathia.

Todd Frazier is the only Met that has been able to hit Michael Wacha, and he has only been a Met for one regular season game. Frazier is only 6-24, but he has two walks, a double, four runs scored, and two solo homers against Wacha. Yes, those are the only current Met homers against Wacha.

Josh Bell knocked in three runs against Jordan Zimmerman yesterday. He is a strong candidate to hit Fulmer here as well. Miggy put on a show against Ivan Nova yesterday, and is a great candidate to do the same to Williams. Jeimer Candelario is a solid cheaper option as well.

Bargain Shoppers:

Both Kyle Seager and Ryon Healy have homered off of Carlos Carrasco. They are a combined 7-19 with two homers and three RBI, and cost a combined $6,500.

Jedd Gyorko is inexpensive, but he is a respectable 3-9 with a solo homer and two runs scored against Jacob deGrom. He could be worth a flier today.

Jefry Marte is very cheap, and his one hit against Daniel Mengden in two at bats is a grand slam.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Carlos Correa #1 and Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrate defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in game seven to win the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Trea Turner was quiet yesterday, but he is worth another look against Luis Castillo. Batting leadoff in Cincinnati is not a bad thing either.

Jose Ramirez is never a bad idea. He is 2-5 with a double and two runs scored. That may be a little too much to pay at $4,700 without elite production.

Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve are simmering against Matt Moore. It’s only a matter of time until they explode. They are a combined 3-10 with two walks, a double, a homer, and two RBI. If only going with one though, I’m going Altuve.

Middle Tier:

Elvis Andrus is 6-11 with a walk, three doubles, a run scored, and four RBI in his career against Lance McCullers.

Paul DeJong had a strong showing against deGrom last year. He singled, doubled, and hit a solo homer in six tries off of deGrom.

Robinson Cano is 7-20 with a walk, two doubles, two homers, and six RBI in his career against Carlos Carrasco.

Marcus Semien and Jed Lowrie have both taken Matt Shoemaker deep. In fact, there could be plenty of crooked numbers here too. They are a combined 10-33 with four walks, four doubles, and five runs scored to go with the solo homers.

Bargain Shoppers:

How is Scooter Gennett only $3,400? Gennett is 4-11 with a walk, a double, three homers, four runs scored, and six RBI off of the All Star.

Adam Frazier is batting leadoff for a team that scored 13 runs on the opener. And he is priced right in the middle of the pack. There is potential here.

Neil Walker and Didi Gregorius have a combined five homers in only 60 at bats against Estrada. In fact, the Yankees have clubbed 15 home runs in just 153 at bats against Estrada. That’s about one every ten at bats. A Yankee stack is definitely in order today.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

OAKLAND, CA – MARCH 29: Khris Davis #2 of the Oakland Athletics bats against the Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on March 29, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

It should come as no surprise at all that Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge have clobbered Marco Estrada. They are a combined 11-25 with three walks, three doubles, five homers, eight runs scored, and nine RBI. It’s going to be a long afternoon for Estrada, and anyone that doesn’t stack this game.

Khris Davis is 4-8 with three walks, three runs scored, and two solo homers against Matt Shoemaker. The power is very real, even in the cavernous Oakland Coliseum.

Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun are both perfect against Daniel Mengden. So there you have a high priced and a bargain pick all in one!

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Middle Tier:

Wow, where to start in the outfield? I like almost all of the outfielders in the Tigers-Pirates tilt, but leaning towards Marte and Leonys Martin to save money.

This isn’t all about whom to play. Sometimes it’s about whom not to play. Jay Bruce is a dismal 1-28 with 12 strikeouts in his career against Wacha. On another note, both Dexter Fowler and Marcell Ozuna have homered off of deGrom in their careers and are a combined 10-36.

Bargain Shoppers:

Shin-Soo Choo is a solid 4-10 with two walks, a homer, two runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Lance McCullers.

Steve Pearce is just $2,800, but he is 8-27(.296) with three walks, two homers, four runs scored, and four RBI against CC Sabathia.

If Rajai Davis pulls the start, he is worth a look. Davis is 5-11 with a walk, a triple, a steal, five runs scored, and a solo homer off of James Paxton.

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!