DraftKings MLB Picks April 13: Cole could dominate again tonight

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 5: Snow is piled up before of the home opening game between the Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners on April 5, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB Picks April 13: Cole could dominate again tonight

We have a full slate of games today, but the matinee in Wrigley is only available in showdown mode. The 6:40 Eastern first pitch of Cardinals-Reds is also banished from the main slate. That game is only available in pick em mode. The other 13 games are in the main tournament though, so this crazy Friday the 13th promises to give us plenty of separation. Where should we build?

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Weather could be a factor today. A mid-April blizzard is nothing for Minnesotans, but it doesn’t mean that they want to watch baseball in it. Using anyone from the Twins-White Sox game is a huge risk. The rain is supposed to turn to snow around 4pm and continue until well after midnight. There is also a chance of rain in Seattle, Kansas City, Houston, and Detroit.

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

DFS MLB: PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 02: Pitcher Zack Greinke #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks walks out to warm up before the MLB opening day game against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on April 2, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Gerrit Cole ($12,100): Cole is easily the best option out there today. The current Rangers are just 2-25(.080) against Cole with just a solo homer to show for it along with 11 strikeouts. Cole is off to a great start in Houston. It should continue here against a Texas team that can’t figure him out.

Zack Greinke ($11,300): Greinke’s former team has actually hit him pretty well. The Dodgers are hitting .250 in 140 at bats with eight homers and 17 runs, but they have struck out 33 times. The thing that has me considering Greinke is his career numbers at Dodger Stadium. Greinke is 29-7 with a 2.27 ERA in 50 career Dodger Stadium starts. How can you argue with that?

Middle Tier:

Mike Clevinger ($9,500): Those of you that invested in Clevinger in season long leagues have to be pretty happy right now. Clevinger has never faced the Blue Jays, but he has pitched very well against the Royals and Angels so far this year. Those are pretty good teams. Toronto may get a hold of a couple, but overall, Clevinger has decent upside if you don’t trust the top tier.

Marcus Stroman ($9,300): Stroman has held the Indians to a .232 average in 82 at bats with just one extra base hit, four runs, and 16 strikeouts. Those numbers border on dominant. If the strikeout total were more towards the elite range, they would be. There is solid potential here with Stroman, especially when you consider his 1.20 ERA in two career starts at Progressive Field.

Vince Velasquez ($7,900): Velasquez is worth a look just based on his opponent because the Rays strike out so much. He struggled against Atlanta in his first start, but was much better against the Marlins the last time out. The Rays offense is similar to that of the Marlins right now. There is very good potential for the price tonight.

Bargain Pitchers:

Steven Matz ($6,900): Matz struggled a bit in the opener, but was superb against a heavy hitting Nationals team in Washington, striking out eight in five innings while allowing only one unearned run. There is serious potential here against a struggling offense, struggling pitcher, and his team hitting for him. I expect high ownership here, but I don’t care. Matz is my go-to SP2 tonight.

Ty Blach ($6,100): There is a lot of potential with Blach here tonight. The Padres are only hitting .216 against him in 37 at bats with one homer and two runs. Blach doesn’t rack up the strikeouts, but his ability to get outs will earn him a respectable total.

Andrew Heaney ($5,900): Heaney has a lot of talent, but this is his first start off of yet another lengthy DL stint. I like him against a struggling Royals offense, but the chances of him lasting five innings are maybe 50/50. The chances of him getting through that with double digit points are less. You would be chasing strikeouts and wins against a team that doesn’t strike out much and has a veteran pitcher taking the mound.

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:

Kenta Maeda looks a little overpriced today, and Goldy is a big reason why. Goldschmidt is only 6-25(.240) against Maeda, but he has two walks, two doubles, three runs scored, and three RBI off of him.

Jordan Montgomery has never faced the Tigers before, but I like all of the right handed power here. Miguel Cabrera heads up that list, but Jeimer Candelario and V-Mart are worth a look if you need to go really cheap. Nick Castellanos is a nice power option as well.

Middle Tier:

Ryan Zimmerman is 2-3 with a three run homer in his career against Kyle Freeland. Freeland’s first start against the Nats didn’t go so well, and the wind is supposed to be blowing out tonight. The right handed power of the Nats should play very well here.

Gary Sanchez. Do I need a reason? He is perfect against Mike Fiers so far with a walk and a single. Other stats should follow soon enough.

Jake Faria was hammered by Boston his last time out. Now he is facing a team that scored 20 runs in a game this season. Carlos Santana and Maikel Franco are definitely worth a look here. So is Jorge Alfaro.

Cody Bellinger is very affordable, and he is 3-9 with a double, a solo homer, and two runs scored against Greinke. Yasmani Grandal is 7-28 with a walk, a double, two solo homers, and four runs scored against his former battery mate.

Joey Gallo has done the only damage against Gerrit Cole. Gallo is 1-3 with a solo homer off of him. He struck out the other two times.

Bargain Shoppers:

If Mitch Moreland is out there, he is 4-12 with a walk, a double, two runs scored, and three RBI against Chris Tillman. I’m guessing that Hanley will be out for a while, so we could see a lot more of Moreland in the short term.

Justin Bour is really cheap, and seems to be out of his first week funk. Bour is perfect with a single and a double and two RBI against Chad Kuhl. Stacking Marlins is a risky proposition, but doing so against Chad Kuhl may not be a bad idea. It is also one of the cheaper stack options out there.

Adrian Gonzalez is a healthy 4-10 off of Zach Davies, but he has no counting stats. That said, he is priced to buy against a pretty weak pitcher.

Oakland isn’t really a team you look to stack when checking out a slate, but the current A’s are hitting .396 in 91 at bats against Mike Leake. Jonathan Lucroy has done a lot of that damage, going 19-38 with three walks, three doubles, two homers, five runs scored, and eight RBI against Leake from their days in the NL Central.

Tim Beckham is now only a 3B on DraftKings, which is a bit disappointing. However, his price is low, and he is 2-7 with a walk, a homer, and three RBI in his career against Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez didn’t look sharp in his first start, and may not for a little while yet. This is the time to attack him in DFS.

Nick Hundley and Brandon Belt come really cheap, and they are a combined 9-24 with three runs scored, four RBI, and a steal. Stacking in a pitcher’s park is always risky, but Tyson Ross is struggling and the Giants are super cheap.

If they end up playing in Minneapolis, Logan Morrison is worth a punt play. He is 2-3 with a homer and three RBI against Reynaldo Lopez in his career so far.

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers breaks his bat and grounds out during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros in game seven of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Jose Altuve is one of the few Astros that has had success against Mike Minor. Altuve is 3-5 with a walk, a double, three steals, and two runs scored against Minor.

I really like Cesar Hernandez leading off against Jake Faria. Faria wasn’t all that great in his first start, and was a disaster in the last one. A Phillie stack may be in order. Scott Kingery is worth a look as well.

Corey Seager is 6-11 with five walks, a double, two homers, six runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Zack Grienke. That stat line alone is maybe reason enough that Greinke shouldn’t have left L.A.

Robinson Cano is 2-4 with a walk, a homer, and two RBI against Andrew Triggs. Taylor Motter is scuffling yet again, but he is 1-4 with a grand slam against Andrew Triggs in his career.

Middle Tier:

Ian Kinsler led off last night’s game with a homer. He is 6-17(.353) with three walks, two solo homers, a steal, and six runs scored in his career against Jason Hammel. He may just do it again!

Trevor Story is only 1-4 in his career against Tanner Roark, but that hit is a two run homer. I’m not lining up Rockies to play on the road, but there are a couple of reasonably priced ones out there.

Dixon Machado is off to a good start for the Tigers. Jordan Montgomery is not for the Yankees. And Machado owns the platoon advantage. Jose Iglesias is worth a look too if punting shortstop.

I’m a pretty big fan of using Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer tonight against Dillon Peters. Peters was solid at home, but a disaster in Philly. Expect something in between here tonight, but the righty Pirates bats are in play.

Bargain Shoppers:

Asdrubal Cabrera is off to a fast start anyway, and he is 3-6 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI off of Zach Davies.

Eduardo Nunez is starting at SS now, and is 3-8 with a run scored and two RBI against Chris Tillman. Not to mention he has a pretty nice slot (6th) in a potent lineup, yet he still lands in this tier.

Jed Lowrie is 3-6 with two walks, two doubles, a run scored, and a RBI off of Mike Leake.

If you want to save for pitching, Ketel Marte and Nick Ahmed are great ways to do that if they are in the lineup. Marte is 5-6 with a run scored off of Maeda. Ahmed is 2-8 with a homer and four RBI.

Jonathan Villar is 2-7 with two steals and two runs scored in his career against Steven Matz.

Neil Walker is 9-19(.474) with three doubles, a solo homer, a steal and three runs scored against Mike Fiers.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 01: Justin Upton #8 and Mike Trout 27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrate defeating the Oakland Athletics 7-4 at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on April 1, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Aaron Judge is 2-5 with a double and a solo homer off of Mike Fiers. The rest of the Yankee outfield hasn’t fared so well against Fiers.

Mike Trout is 5-16(.312) with a walk, a homer, two steals, four runs scored, and two RBI against Jason Hammel. Justin Upton is even better, going 11-43(.256) with two walks, two doubles, two homers, two steals, five runs scored, and eight RBI against Hammel. You may want to go with Shohei Ohtani as well.

Yoenis Cespedes is 3-6 with a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Zach Davies. Michael Conforto is 2-7 with two walks, two doubles, and a run scored so far.

Rhys Hoskins is very expensive, but he may be worth it. I like Odubel Herrera, who seems to be coming around, against Jake Faria as well.

George Springer looks like a really good option against Mike Minor as well. Springer is only 1-4 with a double, but he has walked twice, driven in a run, and scored a run.

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Middle Tier:

Starling Marte is about the only Pirate outfielder I would pursue tonight. Dickerson, Frazier, and Polanco don’t have the platoon advantage here.

Ah, those Red Sox outfielders. I wont be rushing out to grab Mookie at his price and pedestrian production against Chris Tillman, but Andrew Benintendi is 1-3 with a walk, a solo homer, and two runs scored against Tillman. Jackie Bradley Jr. is 6-16(.375) with two walks, a double, a triple, a homer, four runs scored, and three RBI against Tillman.

The mid level in the outfield looks good tonight. Adam Jones is only 6-25 against Eduardo Rodriguez, but he has a walk, two doubles, two homers, and six RBI. If Trey Mancini is back in the lineup, he is worth a look against the lefty. Mancini is 3-11 with a double, a homer, and three runs scored off of Rodriguez.

Andrew McCutchen is only 2-8 against Tyson Ross, but he does have a walk, a homer, and two RBI.

Bargain Shoppers:

Jose Pirela is the only Padre with any kind of success against Ty Blach so far. Pirela is 1-3 with a solo homer so far against Blach.

If Joc Pederson is in the lineup, he may be worth a look. Pederson is 4-12 with a walk, three doubles, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Zack Greinke.

Gerardo Parra is in a starting job for now, and he is 5-14 with two doubles, a homer, four runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Tanner Roark. If Parra is in, I like him at this price.

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 Playoffs coming up, so DFS isn’t over for them yet either!