DraftKings Early MLB Picks April 15: Sale or Ohtani?

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 12: The downtown skyline is seen from across Lake Calhoun after a snow storm December 12, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A blizzard dumped more than 20 inches of snow in parts of the Midwest forcing the NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings to be postponed till Monday and will be played in Detroit’s Ford Field. There were no injuries reported from the collapse of the dome. (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks April 15: Sale or Ohtani?

The early slate is the main slate once again. 11 games start at either 1 or 2 pm Eastern. Well, ten of them will. The whole Twins-White Sox series was lost to a mid-April blizzard. Target Field is beautiful, but we see why the Twins had a dome for so long. There are a lot of good options here still.

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Of the other ten games in action, weather can be a factor there too. Rain is possible in Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Detroit. The Tigers lost their game yesterday to rain as well. All of the winds seem to be blowing in today as well, and are strongest in Boston, New York, 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

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 10: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Fenway Park on April 10, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Chris Sale ($12,400): Sale has dominated the Orioles. I know, big surprise. The Orioles are only hitting .202 against Sale in 119 at bats with two homers, eight runs, and a whopping 42 strikeouts. Sale is worth the premium today, and based on Scherzer’s price yesterday, Sale is indeed on sale.

Shohei Ohtani ($11,000): Ohtani was nothing short of brilliant in his last start. The Royals are a pretty weak team, so there is a lot of potential here. The weather in KC could have an impact on this, but we really don’t have any reason to doubt Ohtani here. He is facing a weak team with an even weaker pitcher opposing him.

Luis Severino ($10,700): Severino has only allowed three runs to the Tigers in 39 at bats, but they are hitting .256 off of him. If this game gets played today, Severino is a very good option with the wind blowing in in a park that is great for pitchers anyway.

Noah Syndergaard ($10,500): Thor is rather cheap compared to Sale, especially when you consider the competition. The Brewers offense has yet to really get going, and the wind is blowing in at Citi Field. The current Brewers are only 4-18 against Thor with one run and five strikeouts. The small sample size doesn’t bother me. We know what Thor is capable of.

Middle Tier:

Ivan Nova ($8,800): Nova gets the huge benefit of playing the Marlins. The current squad is only 4-14 against Nova with one run and five strikeouts.Â Nova has righted the ship after a couple of ugly starts to begin the season. He is worth a look in a pitcher’s park for this price.

Bargain Pitchers:

Jaime Garcia ($6,500): The Indians are only hitting .256 off of Garcia in 43 at bats with no homers, just two runs, and eight strikeouts. Those are really good numbers, but this is still a pretty potent Cleveland lineup. Garcia does have some things working against him. The most obvious is a matchup against Kluber. However, there could be some value here.

Julio Teheran ($6,400): Teheran has had a pretty miserable start to the season, but there is potential here. Why? Teheran has a 2.25 career ERA in three Wrigley Field starts. On top of that, the current Cubs are hitting only .171 against Teheran in 41 at bats with only two runs and 12 strikeouts.

Ben Lively ($6,000): Lively becomes a decent option when you take a look at the opponent. The Rays strike out a lot. However, there is risk involved here. The Reds hit Lively hard last week after he made a solid effort against the Mets in his first start of the year. However, there isn’t much in the lower tier today. If you are comfortable starting based on the opponent, this is one of the better ones.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 03: Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees takes the field to start the game against the Tampa Bay Rays during Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on April 3, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

How young are the Yankees? Young enough that they only have a combined 48 at bats against Francisco Liriano, and he was in the A.L. for seven years prior to his stint in Pittsburgh. Gary Sanchez is already 3-7 with a double and a RBI off of Liriano. Oh, and Liriano has a 5.37 ERA in Comerica Park in 70 career innings.

Freddie Freeman is 7-13(.538) with two walks, two doubles, five runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Tyler Chatwood. If Kurt Suzuki is in the lineup, he may be worth a look as well. Suzuki is 3-8 with a walk, a double, and a RBI off of Chatwood.

Middle Tier:

It looks like a day to stack Red Sox. Boston is hitting .288 with six homers and 17 RBI. Rafael Devers is perfect with two singles and a run against Bundy. Hanley had a triumphant return to the lineup yesterday, and he does have a homer and two RBI against Bundy, but is only hitting .222 lifetime against him. Whoever starts at catcher is worth a look too. Both Vazquez and Leon are hitting Bundy well.

Joey Votto is just 3-19(.158) against Carlos Martinez, but he has walked eight times, homered, and driven in three.

Young lefty Ryan Yarbrough will make the start for the Rays, but this is a bullpen game for them once again. That makes Carlos Santana a really good option since he goes from both sides of the plate. Maikel France is a good option as well.

Homer Bailey has been destroyed by the Cardinals. Jose Martinez is 3-4 with a walk, a double, a homer, two runs scored, and five RBI in his career against Homer. Matt Carpenter is 18-33(.545) with two walks, three doubles, a steal, six runs scored, and four RBI against Bailey. Yadier Molina is 15-39(.385) with two walks, three doubles, three homers, five runs scored, and six RBI against Bailey. If Molina starts, use him!

The Pirates don’t have much for experience against Jose Urena, but what they do have is really good. Josh Bell is 2-4 with a walk and a RBI, but is a serious threat for more.

Ryan Zimmerman is 1-3 with a two run homer in his career against Tyler Anderson. Anthony Rendon is also in play since he is 2-3 with a run scored and a RBI off of Anderson.

Bargain Shoppers:

I sure hope that the Blue Jays DH Russell Martin today. Martin is only 2-10 off of Kluber, but both hits are homers and he has four RBI. In all, the Jays are hitting .270 with three homers and five RBI in only 37 at bats against Kluber. Using Jays and fading Kluber could pay off.

Trey Mancini is 4-9 with two doubles and a RBI in his career Chris Sale. That makes him a decent punt option.

Albert Pujols is definitely in play against a weak lefty. I don’t care if the wind is blowing in. Zack Cozart is a more expensive option, but is also worth a look if you can afford him.

Adrian Gonzalez could be a good option against Jhoulys Chacin. Gonzalez is 8-22(.364) with three walks, a double, a homer, three runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Chacin.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 6: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the third inning at Yankee Stadium on April 6, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Manny Machado is 5-14 with three walks, a double, a solo homer, two steals, and three runs scored in his career against Chris Sale. I was really hoping that Machado would be cheaper against Sale, but that was not to be.

Trea Turner against a lefty that is worse away from Coors Field than in there? I’ll take that!

DJ LeMahieu is 5-16 with a homer, a steal, two runs scored, and two RBI against Stephen Strasburg. The Rockies have actually hit Strasburg pretty hard, but the Rockies are weaker on the road and Strasburg has struck out almost 40% of the Rockies he has faced.

Middle Tier:

Josh Harrison is 4-9 with a walk, two runs scored, and a RBI in his career against Jose Urena. And he usually hits near the top of the order.

I’m really liking both Ian Kinsler and Andrelton Simmons in this one. They are both nice mid range options facing a pitcher with a 9.64 ERA this season.

I like Cesar Hernandez leading off against the Rays on a bullpen day. He is pretty reasonably priced as well. Rookie Scott Kingery is in play as well.

Bargain Shoppers:

Wilmer Flores doesn’t just hit lefties. Flores is 4-8 with two walks, a double, three runs scored, and two RBI against Chacin.

Brock Holt is 5-8 with two doubles, a run scored, and two RBI in his career against Dylan Bundy. If Holt is in the lineup, I’m using him.

Devon Travis is 3-6 with a walk, a double, and three runs scored in his career against Corey Kluber. I don’t know that I would trust anyone else against Kluber, but Travis has looked good so far.

Scooter Gennett is only 7-28 against Carlos Martinez, but he has two walks, three doubles, a homer, three runs scored, and five RBI in his career.

Kolten Wong is 6-12 with four walks, two doubles, a triple, a steal, three runs scored, and three RBI against Bailey.

Joey Wendle is off to a fast start, and he is just $2,600 against an iffy pitcher.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 10: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates a homerun in the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 10, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

If Mookie Betts is able to play, this is a solid play. Betts is 6-22(.273) with three walks, two homers, two steals, four runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Dylan Bundy. J.D. Martinez is only 1-3 with two walks off of Bundy, but that hit is a three run homer. Jackie Bradley Jr. comes pretty cheap, and is 6-17(.353) with a walk, a homer, a steal, three runs scored, and three RBI against Bundy.

Honestly, Mike Trout should probably be more expensive than he is against a lefty that is basically throwing batting practice. Justin Upton is definitely in play too.

Tommy Pham is expensive, but he just may be worth it. Pham is 3-5 with a walk, two runs, and a RBI against Homer Bailey. Dexter Fowler is 4-11 with two walks, two runs scored, and three RBI against Bailey.

There is potential here even though the Cubs have struggled against Teheran. Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ both have a ton of power.

Aaron Judge is only 1-3 with a walk against Francisco Liriano, but the hit is a two run homer. Brett Gardner is 6-18 with three walks, a double, a triple, two steals, a run scored, and five RBI against Liriano. Even former teammate Aaron Hicks is 4-7 with a walk, a double, a run scored, and a RBI against the veteran lefty.

I’m a big fan of Gregory Polanco here. Polanco is off to a hot start anyway, and he is 3-6 with a double, a homer, two runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Jose Urena. Corey Dickerson is only 1-4 with no counting stats yet, but he seems to fit well in this offense.

Michael Conforto is 4-10 with a walk, a homer, a steal, two runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Jhoulys Chacin. Jay Bruce is 3-10 with two walks, a double, three runs scored, and a RBI against Chacin.

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Middle Tier:

Adam Jones is 6-23(.261) with two walks, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI off of Chris Sale.

Curtis Granderson is 3-10 with two walks, a homer, three runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Josh Tomlin.

Michael Brantley could get on track here. He is 2-3 with a run and a RBI in his career against Jaime Garcia. Brandon Guyer is always a popular choice against left handed pitching. Unlike other righties that hit lefties hard, Guyer’s price has stayed pretty low.

Nick Castellanos is 4-8 with a walk and a run scored against Severino, but he still isn’t as cheap as I would like.

Bargain Shoppers:

The Reds outfield could be a nice place to look for cheap options. Jesse Winker is 2-3 with a double and two runs scored against Martinez. Adam Duvall is 4-9 with a homer and two RBI. If Phillip Ervin is in there, he is worth a look. Ervin is 1-3 against Carlos Martinez, but that his is a two run homer.

Gerardo Parra is very cheap, and he is 5-15 with a double, a triple, two runs scored, and six RBI in his career against Stephen Strasburg.

Nick Markakis is off to a nice start this year. He is also 2-5 with walks, a double, and a run scored against Chatwood.

Next: MLB DFS Picks and Pivots

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our PGA picks. Still in NBA mode? No worries, we have the NBA DFS covered for the playoffs as well!