DraftKings Early MLB Picks April 5: David Price is the clear top pick

BOSTON – MAY 1: General view of the exterior of the Boston Red Sox home field of Fenway Park on May 1, 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By: Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks April 5: David Price is the clear top pick

We have yet another split slate early in the MLB season. There are 11 games again, but the 1pm Eastern first pitch of Mets-Nationals is apparently too early for the early tournament. That is available only in a showdown matchup. The other six early games make up our early tournament.

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There was another rainout yesterday, but none of the early games have rain in the forecast. The game in Boston promises to be blustery, but wind in Fenway could blow some balls out of the park.

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 in DraftKings dollars, use this link for the referral bonus with your first deposit of $5 or more! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn those DraftKings dollars into more!

Next: DraftKings Pitcher Plays

SEATTLE, WA – MARCH 31: James Paxton #65 of the Seattle Mariners delivers in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Safeco Field on March 31, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

David Price ($12,100): Price has dominated his former team so far. The current Rays are hitting just .136 off of Price in 118 at bats with only one homer and three runs with 32 strikeouts. I am a little nervous about the conditions here, but this kind of sustained dominance is exactly what you want to build your lineup around.

James Paxton ($9,600): The Twins have hit lefties pretty well over the last couple of years. They are hitting a solid .250 against Paxton in 48 at bats with two homers and five RBI. The thing that sets Paxton apart is the 14 strikeouts. There is potential here since the Twins have been very hit and miss in the early going.

Middle Tier:

Tyler Anderson ($7,900): The pitching world behind David Price is a little dicey. The Padres are hitting .256 off of Anderson in 39 career at bats, but they only have one homer and three runs to go with nine strikeouts. Anderson has pretty good potential here, even though he has pitched better at Coors Field so far in his career.

Caleb Smith ($7,600): Smith looked very good in his season debut, allowing only one run to the Cubs in 5.1 innings while striking out eight. There is good potential here against a Phillies team that isn’t one of the better hitting teams around. The Marlins also hit Nick Pivetta well in his start against them last year.

Bargain Pitchers:

Daniel Mengden ($6,600): Mengden has held the Rangers to a .220 average in 41 at bats with only two runs and 13 strikeouts. Mengden’s career has been marred by inconsistency, and his season opener was no exception. You would think that pitching in Oakland would help this dynamic, but Mengden is 0-9 with a 6.57 career ERA in 12 home starts. That should keep you off of him despite the favorable stats.

Yonny Chirinos (4,000): Chirinos held the Red Sox to one hit in 12 at bats with three strikeouts. However, it takes a giant leap of faith to use him on a windy day at Fenway. This could be a monumental disaster. There is a reason that Chirinos is priced cheaper than many hitters.

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 01: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers smiles after scoring from second base on a single by Nicholas Castellanos of the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of game two of a double-header against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park on April 1, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Pirates defeated the Tigers 8-6. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Nolan Arenado and Ian Desmond are going to be popular picks against left handed rookie Joey Lucchesi. And you know what? They may just be worth it.

Jose Abreu is 8-15(.533) with a walk, a double, a triple, a homer, two runs scored, and five RBI in his career against Jordan Zimmerman. I hope Omar Narvaez starts against Zimmerman today. Naraez is a perfect 4-4 with a walk against Zimmerman with two runs scored and a RBI. Who cares if all the hits are singles?

MIguel Cabrera has clobbered James Shields. Miggy is 26-70(.371) with seven walks, ten doubles, 12 runs scored, and 12 RBI in his career against Shields. Jeimer Candelario is 1-3 with a solo homer off of Shields. Victor Martinez is worth a look as well. Martinez is 16-55(.291) with four walks, five doubles, a homer, three runs scored, and seven RBI in his career against Shields.

Middle Tier:

Miguel Sano is 3-6 with a double, a triple, and two runs scored in his career against James Paxton. Eduardo Escobar could be worth a look as well. He is 2-7 with a solo homer off of Paxton.

Rafael Devers has the only hit and only RBI against Yonny Chirinos, for whatever that means.

Brian Anderson is off to a good start this year, and he is already 1-2 against Nick Pivetta. Justin Bour is the opposite. Bour is off to a horrible start this year, but he is 2-5 with two runs scored against Pivetta.

Matt Chapman hit lefties hard last year. Martin Perez was no exception. Chapman doubled off of him twice in six at bats with a run scored and a RBI.

Bargain Shoppers:

I’m not sure how Kyle Seager is only $3,400. He is 6-21(.286) with three walks, two doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI off of Kyle Gibson. I’m not fooled by Gibson’s first start of the season. I’ve been a Twins fan for a long time. Gibson will crash back to earth soon enough. It could even be here.

Ageless wonder Adrian Beltre is 5-8 in his career against Daniel Mengden, but the only counting stat he has is a run scored.

Remember Christian Villanueva? You know, the guy who smacked three homers in just his 14th major league game? Well, he was 2-3 with a homer and two RBI in his career against Tyler Anderson, and he is just $2,500.

Wilson Ramos could be a sneaky play against David Price. Ramos is 2-6 off of Price, but he has no counting stats.

SEATTLE, WA – MARCH 31: Robinson Cano #22 of the Seattle Mariners hits an RBI single to drive in Dee Gordon #9 in the third inning against the Cleveland Indians at Safeco Field on March 31, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The Cleveland Indians beat the Seattle Mariners 6-5. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Oh man, Robinson Cano is expensive. Cano is 8-27(.296) with a walk, a double, two runs scored, and five RBI against Kyle Gibson. Jean Segura is 3-9 with a solo homer and two runs scored against Gibson.

Middle Tier:

Brian Dozier is 2-8 with a walk a homer, a steal, and two runs scored off of James Paxton. Dozier is off to a good start this year, and he has hit lefties hard in his career. Dozier is not a bad option.

Tim Anderson has struggled some against Jordan Zimmerman, but his speed makes him dangerous. Yolmer Sanchez is 2-5 with a double, a steal, and a run scored off of Zimmerman so far.

Bargain Shoppers:

Derek Dietrich only has one hit in five tries against Nick Pivetta, but it is a two run homer.

Jed Lowrie is worth a look again today. Lowrie is 9-26(.346) with two walks, two doubles, four runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Martin Perez. If you need to save money to pay for Price, Lowrie is a solid option.

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:

Just because Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez are a combined 0-3 against Yonny Chirinos doesn’t mean they aren’t worth using today. They are a solid stack option against who is likely the weakest pitcher on the slate today.

Khris Davis is 8-17(.471) with six walks, two doubles, two homers, six runs scored, and six RBI in his career against Martin Perez. New A Stephen Piscotty is 1-2 with a walk and a solo homer off of Perez.

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Middle Tier:

Byron Buxton is 2-4 with a run scored so far against James Paxton. However, Buxton wont realize his true potential until he starts hitting leadoff for the Twins. His value takes a hit batting seventh.

Avisail Garcia is once again a solid option. Garcia is 5-11 with a homer, three runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Jordan Zimmerman.

Bargain Shoppers:

Kevin Keirmaier is 3-11 with a walk, a double, a solo homer, and three RBI in his career against David Price. He is an intriguing low priced option.

Manuel Margot is 3-6 with a double, a run scored, and a steal off of Tyler Anderson. His speed makes him worth a look.

Guillermo Heredia is 2-3 so far against Kyle Gibson. He is worth a look if you need to save money.

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!