DraftKings Main MLB Picks April 18: Will Berrios put on a show?

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – APRIL 17: Two men stand in front of the main entrance prior to the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Minnesota Twins at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on April 17, 2018 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Ricardo Arduengo/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Main MLB Picks April 18: Will Berrios put on a show?

Two teams get the day off, and the Rockies-Pirates tilt starts at 12:35 Eastern. DraftKings split the other 13 games almost evenly. We have seven games in the main tournament, and far better pitching options than the early slate. Where is the value to pay for them? Let’s check it out!

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No rain is forecast this evening, but wind could be a factor. It is blowing out to right in New York, and blowing in from left in Atlanta, which could neutralize that 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

FanDuel MLB: ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 01: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros throws in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 1, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/GettyImages) /

Top Tier:

Gerrit Cole ($11,900): The Mariners are hitting a cool .300 off of Cole in 60 at bats, but they have just four runs and five strikeouts. We would like the strikeout total to be higher to spend this kind of money, but Cole is off to a great start. I think he has no issues outperforming these past stats tonight.

Jose Berrios ($11,000): This is a huge moment for Berrios, starting a game in his native Puerto Rico. The only question here is whether Berrios will be so excited that he struggles, or he will be just the right amount of amped and dominate. The Indians are hitting just .188 against Berrios in 48 at bats with only four runs and eight strikeouts. Carrasco doesn’t have great numbers in his career agianst the Twins, but he may be worth if you think Berrios is going to struggle.

Robbie Ray ($10,000): The Giants are hitting a really solid .274 against Ray in 135 at bats, but he has held them to three homers and 12 runs with a whopping 41 strikeouts. The issue here is that Ray has a 4.92 ERA in 40 career Chase Field starts. Ray will rack up enough strikeouts to mitigate the damage, but with enough decent options out there at lower prices, Ray is best left for tournament play, and is still a risky play there.

Middle Tier:

Tanner Roark ($7,300): The Mets are only hitting .228 in 114 at bats against Roark with five homers, but only 11 runs. The 28 strikeouts are a solid total for someone in this price range as well. It doesn’t hurt that Roark is 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA in 41.1 career innings at Citi Field. There is really good potential here.

Bargain Pitchers:

Steven Matz ($6,400): Matz has actually dominated the Nationals so far. The Nats are only hitting .188 in 80 at bats with three homers and just five runs. Matz has also rung up 20 Nationals hitters on strikes as well. Matz is off to a good start, and the past stats say that Matz is a great bargain play tonight.

Mike Leake ($5,600): The Astros are hitting only .238 against Leake in 42 at bats with one homer, three runs, and eight strikeouts. There is inherent risk using any pitcher against Houston, but Leake is 3-2 with a 3.59 ERA in seven career starts at Safeco. There is decent potential here.

Chris Stratton ($4,800): Feeling brave? May I present Chris Stratton. Stratton has held the Diamondbacks to a .194 average with seven strikeouts in 31 at bats with just one run. Worried about Chase Field? Well, Stratton started a game there last year and gave up just two runs through six innings. If you are need of a big bargain, Stratton is a contrarian dart throw.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 14: Hanley Ramirez #13 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on April 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Paul Goldschmidt is 2-6 with two walks, a run scored, and a RBI so far against Chris Stratton. Stratton has avoided being hit hard by Arizona so far. Can he do it again? Either way, Goldy is a solid option.

Hanley Ramirez is 3-5 with two walks, a double, a homer, two runs scored, and three RBI off of Tyler Skaggs.

Cody Bellinger is definitely worth a look with a struggling Tyson Ross on the mound. This park works to depress homers, especially to lefties, but Bellinger can get them out of there still.

Middle Tier:

The Phillies have hit Brandon McCarthy hard, but Carlos Santana is the only guy to hit a home run off of him. Santana is 4-15 with three walks, a double, a homer, three runs scored, and two RBI in his career against McCarthy. Maikel Franco is 3-5 with a double and a run off of McCarthy.

Todd Frazier is off to a great start, and is 2-8 with four walks, a solo homer, a steal, and two runs scored against Tanner Roark. Adrian Gonzalez is 2-6 with a double, a homer, and four RBI off of Roark.

Miguel Sano is 5-14(.357) with two walks, a double, a steal, two runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Carlos Carrasco. Once again, Joe Mauer looks like a great cheaper option. Mauer is 12-27(.444) with two walks, four doubles, a homer, eight runs scored, and three RBI off of Carrasco.

Predictably, it has been the right handers that have hit Steven Matz better. Anthony Rendon is only 3-14(.214) with a homer and two RBI off of Matz.

Albert Pujols is 9-26(.346) with three doubles, a homer, six runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Rick Porcello.

Bargain Shoppers:

Cory Spangenberg is 3-10 with a walk, a double, two homers, three runs scored, and three RBI against Kenta Maeda.

BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 01: Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins celebrataes with Joe Mauer #7 after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 1, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Brian Dozier is just 5-26(.192) against Carlos Carrasco, but he has slugged three homers against Carrasco and driven in seven. It’s all or nothing with Dozier, but he has a lot of power potential in a smaller stadium in San Juan.

Jose Altuve is 5-16(.312) with a double, a triple, two runs scored, and a RBI against Mike Leake. As for the Astros only homer against Leake, it is by Evan Gattis. It is also his only hit in eight at bats.

Francisco Lindor is about the only Cleveland player that has been able to hit Berrios. Lindor is 3-9 with a walk, a double, two runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Berrios.

Corey Seager is 1-3 with a double, a run, and a RBI against Tyson Ross so far. Chase Utley is very cheap, and he is 4-13 with two doubles, three runs scored, and a RBI off of Ross.

Middle Tier:

Asdrubal Cabrera has had a nice series so far, and is 3-10 with two walks, a double, a solo homer, and three RBI in his career against Tanner Roark.

Ian Kinsler has bludgeoned Rick Porcello in his career. Kinsler is 9-20 with a double, a triple, three steals, three runs, and seven RBI against Porcello. Andrelton Simmons is worth a look as well. Simmons is 5-15 with a homer and two RBI against Porcello. Zack Cozart is 3-5 with a double and three runs, so he is worth a look as well.

Surprisingly, no Braves have hit a home run against Vince Velasquez. It may not happen here either with the wind blowing in from left. Still, Ozzie Albies is off to a fast start, and has a triple and a run scored against Velasquez. Dansby Swanson is 2-5 with a double and a run scored. Freddie Freeman is actually just 3-13 against Velasquez, so there could be better options for cheaper.

Scott Kingery is 2-3 with two doubles against Brandon McCarthy. The rookie is worth using again at a pretty reasonable price.

Joe Panik is 7-17(.412) with a walk, a double, a steal, and two runs scored in his career against Robbie Ray.

Bargain Shoppers:

Jean Segura looks way too cheap here. Segura is 8-23(.348) with a walk, three doubles, five runs scored, and two RBI against Cole. However, Segura is the only Mariner that I would even think about tonight.

For whatever reason, the Padres have punished Kenta Maeda. They are hitting .370 off of Maeda with 12 runs in just 46 at bats. Freddy Galvis is 5-9 with a double, a homer, two steals, and three RBI against Maeda.

Brock Holt has no at bats against Tyler Skaggs, but he is cheap and hits lefties well. Holt is worth a look if you need to save some cash.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

MIAMI, FL – APRIL 10: Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets rounds third base during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on April 10, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Michael Conforto is 4-12 with three walks, two doubles, and a solo homer off of Tanner Roark. If you are looking for a cheaper option, Brandon Nimmo is 2-3 with a homer and two RBI against Roark.

Rhys Hoskins is 1-2 with a walk and a RBI against Brandon McCarthy. The rest of the Phillies outfield has struggled against McCarthy so far though.

There is no way that I’m touching Rick Porcello against the Angels. Mike Trout is only 7-29(.241), but he has two walks, two homers, two steals, five runs scored, and eight RBI in his career against Porcello. Kole Calhoun is 7-19(.368) with a walk, two homers, three runs scored, and three RBI off Porcello.

Mookie Betts is more right handed power that I want against Tyler Skaggs. Betts is 1-2 with a walk against Skaggs so far, but more should come, possibly as soon as tonight. I like J.D. Martinez here as well.

Yasiel Puig is only 4-18 against Tyson Ross, but he has a homer, four runs scored, and three RBI against Ross.

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Middle Tier:

Andrew McCutchen is 4-13 with two walks, a homer, and two RBI against Ray. Hunter Pence is very cheap, and he is 7-13(.538) with seven walks, two doubles, two runs, and a RBI against Ray.

Hunter Renfroe is 4-10 with a double, a homer, and three RBI off of Kenta Maeda. It isn’t just lefties that Renfroe hits hard.

Bargain Shoppers:

Eddie Rosario is 3-9 with two walks, a solo homer, a steal, and two runs scored against Carlos Carrasco.

Michael Taylor is 3-12 with two walks, a solo homer, a steal, and two runs scored against Steven Matz. Taylor could be a great cheap option tonight.

There is value to be had against Vince Velasquez, and Nick Markakis is a good place to find it. Markakis is 4-11 with two walks, a double, and two RBI against Velasquez.

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!