DraftKings Early MLB Picks April 8: Stack against Jason Hammel

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – MAY 10: Pitcher Jason Hammel #39 of the Kansas City Royals makes his way to the dugout at the end of the third inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks April 8: Stack against Jason Hammel

The early tournament is the much larger one today with ten games starting at 1 or 2 pm Eastern. There are some good options, some risky options, and some crazy options. We’ll give you some bats to go with whichever you choose.

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We didn’t lose any games to rain yesterday, but there were still some cold ones. None of the early games have rain in the forecast, but it could be chilly in Cleveland, Chicago, and Pittsburgh.

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

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Charlie Morton #50 of the Houston Astros pitches during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Charlie Morton ($11,500): A lot of people are going to be on Morton here against a bad San Diego team. However, the current Padres are hitting .316 against him. The good news for San Diego ends there though. They only have one homer and six strikeouts to show for their trouble. There is good potential here, but I’m not sure he’s worth that much more than Clevinger.

Mike Clevinger ($10,900): Clevinger has held the current Royals to a .152 average in 33 at bats with a homer and two RBI, but the ten strikeouts are what lands him in this tier. Of course, it has something to do with his mound opponent as well. Jason Hammel has been pounded by the Indians.

Jake Arrieta ($9,700): Only four current Marlins have faced Arrieta before, but they haven’t had any success. They are just 3-20 with three strikeouts against Arrieta. This is about as easy of a debut as you could ask for Arrieta with his new team. There is huge potential here.

Middle Tier:

Jose Quintana ($8,900): The Brewers are hitting a paltry .224 with no homers and just eight runs in 134 at bats against Quintana in his career. The bad part is that Quintana only has 29 strikeouts. Quintana has been enigmatic at best since joining the Cubs. He always carries a healthy amount of risk, but with this kind of past history, it just might be worth it.

Eduardo Rodriguez ($8,100): The current Rays are just 5-27(.185) with a solo homer and a staggering 10 strikeouts. There is serious strikeout potential as well as win potential here. The Rays are going with a bullpen day today, essentially punting this game away. Rodriguez will be highly owned in this situation, and for good reason. He could put up some pretty good numbers.

Tyler Mahle ($7,700): Mahle was superb in his season opener, putting up 29.1 DraftKings points against the Cubs. The current Pirates are hitting just .192 with only three runs and five strikeouts in 26 at bats. There is very good potential here against a pretty light hitting Pirates team.

Bargain Pitchers:

Jordan Montgomery ($7,000): The Orioles are only hitting .215 off of Montgomery in 65 at bats with three homers and six runs. Those are pretty average numbers, but Montgomery racked up 19 strikeouts in those 65 at bats. There is very good potential here, especially with Baltimore sending Mike Wright out there.

Mike Fiers ($6,500): The current White Sox are only 4-20 against Fiers with no runs and six strikeouts. Considering the Pale Hose only salvaged one run yesterday against the Tigers, Fiers has very good potential here at a very low price.

Marco Gonzales ($6,300): Gonzales was solid in his season debut against the Giants, turning in a quality start. He could do the same in Minnesota, but there is risk here. The Twins usually hit lefties well, and Gonzales doesn’t pick up many strikeouts, so if he gets into trouble, he doesn’t have strikeout potential to salvage his score. That also limits his upside.

SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 1: Edwin Encarnacion #10 of the Cleveland Indians rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off or starting pitcher Mike Leake #8 of the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of a game at Safeco Field on April 1, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

There is no part of me that trusts Jason Hammel against the Indians. The Indians are hitting .264 with ten homers and 22 RBI in just 125 at bats. Edwin Encarnacion is 9-32(.281) with a walk, a double, five homers, seven runs scored, and seven RBI in his career against Hammel.

Look, I like Chase Anderson and his upside quite a lot, but he has allowed more runs than strikeouts picked up against the small bears. The Cubbies have had his number. Bryant is one of the key players. Bryant is 6-15 with a walk, a double, three homers, four runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Anderson.

As expected, Gary Sanchez sat out yesterday. However, it seems as though Sanchez was just removed from the game with a cramp on Friday. There is a good chance that Sanchez will be back in the lineup today. If he is, I’m interested. Sanchez has a two run homer off of Mike Wright in four career at bats.

Middle Tier:

Carlos Santana is off to a good start in his new home, and will hold the platoon advantage over Trevor Richards. The Phillies lit the Marlins up for 20 yesterday. What will they do for an encore? You can stack against the Fish and find out!

Jeimer Candelario is 1-3 with two walks and two runs scored against Reynaldo Lopez. James McCann is 2-3 with a double, a triple, a run scored, and a pair of RBI against Lopez.

Evan Gattis is 2-6 with a double, a homer, and three RBI in his career against Tyson Ross. Even J.D. Davis, who has struggled to start the season, is 1-2 with a walk, a double, and two RBI in his career against Ross. Davis is still starting for Gurriel, so there is potential value here.

Bargain Shoppers:

Eric Hosmer is dirt cheap, but he is back in an A.L. park with A.L. pitchers. Hosmer is 1-2 with a solo homer off of Charlie Morton. He is a very cheap dart throw here.

Yadier Molina is 3-7 with a run scored against Taijuan Walker. He is a decent pick if he is in the lineup. Jose Martinez is perfect against Taijuan Walker with a single and a three run homer.

Tucker Barnhart is 3-8 with a double, a run scored, and a RBI in his career against Jameson Taillon. Taillon has struggled against the Reds for some strange reason, but Taillon still has a solid 4.02 ERA at home.

Jesus Sucre could get a start in the day game. He is the only current Ray with a homer or a RBI against Eduardo Rodriguez. I would like Sucre if he starts.

ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 01: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros hits a single in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 1, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Jose Altuve is 2-4 with two walks, a double, two steals, and a run scored against Tyson Ross. You know, everything you want in a leadoff hitter. If you can afford it, Altuve should be worth the price.

Brian Dozier is off to a good start, and he has always hit lefties well. I have a feeling that a lot of people will use Marco Gonzales against a Twins offense that is either hot or cold, but never warm.

Francisco Lindor is 7-18(.389) with a double, a homer, a steal, four runs scored, and four RBI against Jason Hammel. Jason Kipnis is 3-11 with two walks, a double, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI. They fit nicely into an Indians stack against Hammel.

Middle Tier:

Tim Beckham is 2-9 with a solo homer in his career against Jordan Montgomery. Jonathan Schoop is 3-11 with a walk, a double, a homer, and four RBI in his career against Montgomery. I wouldn’t use either of them if you are using Montgomery, but there is potential here.

I really like Cesar Hernandez leading off the Phillies lineup that scored 20 runs yesterday.

Jean Segura is 10-29(.345) with a walk, a double, a triple, a run scored, a steal, and two RBI in his career against Lance Lynn. Lynn’s first start as a Twin didn’t go so well. There is potential for all the Mariners here.

Bargain Shoppers:

If you are looking for a punt at shortstop, Alcides Escobar could fit the bill. Escobar is only 1-8 against Clevinger, but the hit is a two run homer. Whit Merrifeild is 3-11 with a steal against Clevinger, so there is some potential there too.

Jonathan Villar is 3-7 with a walk, a run scored, and a RBI off of Jose Quintana. If you don’t trust him, there is some big value lurking in Brewer bats.

Ben Zobrist is 7-14 with a double, two homers, and four RBI in his career against Chase Anderson. If Zobrist is in the lineup for the Cubs, he will be in mine as well.

There is some serious potential here for Jose Peraza. Peraza is 8-11 with a walk, two doubles, two steals, and four runs scored in his career against Jameson Taillon. I hope he’s in the lineup today! Scooter Gennett is 8-20 with three doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI against Taillon.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 25: Outfielders (from left to right) Brock Holt #12, Jackie Bradley, Jr. #25 and Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after the last out in the ninth inning during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on April 25, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

I’m all over Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, and Jackie Bradley with the Rays essentially throwing a bullpen game and taking the loss. Any Boston bat is in play here.

Aaron Judge is 3-5 with two double, a homer, two runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Mike Wright. Brett Gardner is 3-4 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Wright.

The only Pirate with any kind of success against Tyler Mahle is Starling Marte. Marte is 4-6 against Mahle, but has not counting stats besides a run scored.

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Middle Tier:

Add Ian Happ to the guys that have hit Anderson hard. He is 1-2 with a double and a RBI off of him.

Dee Gordon is 4-16 with two walks, two doubles, a steal, a run scored, and a RBI off of Lance Lynn.

Avisail Garcia is 2-5 with a double off of Mike Fiers. He is about the only White Sox player that has anything on Fiers.

Lorenzo Cain is 17-63(.270) with a walk, seven doubles, eight runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Jose Quintana.

Bargain Shoppers:

The whole Reds outfield may be in play today. Billy Hamilton is 7-17(.412) with a walk, a double, a triple, two homers, three steals, three runs scored, and six RBI in his career against Jameson Taillon. Adam Duvall is 6-19(.316) with a walk, two doubles, two homers, three runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Taillon. Jesse Winker is 1-2 with a walk and a solo homer off of Taillon. That’s a whole lot of crooked numbers!

Trey Mancini is a solid punt with a lefty on the mound. He is 3-11 with a run scored so far against Jordan Montgomery.

Bradley Zimmer is 4-7 with a homer, two steals, three runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Jason Hammel. Maybe this is what Zimmer needs to get going. Rajai Davis is 3-10 with a double, a homer, and two RBI against Hammel.

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 the NBA still winding out the season, but DFS is still going strong!