DraftKings Main MLB Picks April 19: Can the Phillies get to Taillon?

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 6: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the second inning at Yankee Stadium on April 6, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Main MLB Picks April 19: Can the Phillies get to Taillon?

We have five games in the main tournament tonight . The Blue Jays-Yankees tilt that starts at 6:30 Eastern was once again exiled from the main slate and is only available in showdown or pick em modes. Unfortunately, that pulls CC and Aaron Sanchez out of the main slate. Both are good pitching options.

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No rain is forecast this evening, but wind could be a factor. We have stern winds blowing in in Philly, and a stiff wind blowing out to right in Hotlanta.

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 25% of your first deposit as a bonus, 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 – APRIL 13: Zack Greinke #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks on the mound in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on April 13, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Jameson Taillon ($11,100): The Phillies are a solid 6-18 against Taillon, but they only have two runs. Taillon has been brilliant so far this year, going 2-0 with a 0.89 ERA and 0.69 WHIP with 18 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. This is a hitter’s park, but his only start in Philly was five shutout innings. There is still good potential here.

Zack Greinke ($10,600): Greinke has held the Giants to a .240 average in 308 at bats with only seven homers, 26 runs, and 64 strikeouts. Greinke’s numbers against the Giants are not terrific, but he is 24-8 wtih a 3.53 ERA in 42 career starts at Chase Field. Greinke is one of the few pitchers that has figured out Chase Field thus far.

Middle Tier:

Chase Anderson ($9,500): I’m not a huge fan of the middle tier. Only four current Marlins have faced Anderson, and they have demolished him to the tune of a .435 average with two homers and five runs. The Marlins have been hot and cold all year, so you never know exactly what you are going to get from that offense. Now the worse news: Anderson has a 5.40 home ERA compared to 0.73 on the road.

Eduardo Rodriguez ($7,300): The Angels are hitting just .176 against Rodriguez in 34 at bats, but they do have tow homers. The seven strikeouts are nice as well. Rodriguez looked a little rough in his first start off the DL, but he did pretty well against Baltimore in his last outing. The Red Sox shut down the Angels last night. Can Eduardo do it again? Against Nick Tropeano, there is a good chance of it.

Bargain Pitchers:

Matt Harvey ($6,300): Harvey has yet to make it more than five innings in a start this year, so that caps his upside. However, he has a few things going for him. First off, Matt Wisler, he of the 8.35 ERA in 32.1 major league innings last year, is making his first start of the year. That gives Harvey the win potential. Next, the Braves are only hitting .220 in 91 at bats with two homers and 17 strikeouts. The 12 runs are a little ominous, especially with the wind blowing out to right, but the win potential and decent strikeout totals are enough to take a chance with Harvey on a short slate.

Nick Tropeano ($5,400): Tropeano has only allowed one hit to the Red Sox in 11 at bats, but that encompasses only two hitters. Neither of which are the ones that did a bunch of damage last night. However, Tropeano looked outstanding in his season debut against the Royals. However, that’s the Royals. The Red Sox are an entirely different animal.

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 14: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a two-run home run in the third inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Paul Goldschmidt is 2-4 with a homer and three RBI in his career against Ty Blach. Oh, and Blach has a 9.45 career ERA at Chase Field. Arizona right handers are looking really good right now.

I like Hanley Ramirez and Rafael Devers against Nick Tropeano. They both did a lot of damage last night, including a grand slam by Devers.

Middle Tier:

The Pirates are very familiar with Jake Arrieta from his days with the Cubs, and they were not very nice to him. Josh Bell is 7-14 with four walks, two doubles, two homers, five runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Arrieta. If Sean Rodriguez starts, he is worth a look because he is so cheap. Rodriguez is 4-10 with a double, a homer, four runs scored, and two RBI against Arrieta.

Albert Pujols has a homer in two tries against Eduardo Rodriguez, and he is still priced at just $3,700.

Todd Frazier and Adrian Gonzalez are very cheap ways to start a Mets stack against Matt Wisler. If you need a cheap option, Jose Lobaton is starting at catcher and is just $2,400.

Bargain Shoppers:

J.T. Realmuto has hit the ground running, and is 2-3 with a double, a run, and a RBI in his career against Chase Anderson. Justin Bour is 4-8 with a double, a homer, and two RBI off of Anderson.

Kurt Suzuki is just 2-12 against Matt Harvey, but he has a homer, four runs scored, and three RBI against him. Freddie Freeman is hard to spend on tonight. He has the other Braves homer against Harvey, but Freeman is just 5-26(.192) against Harvey overall.

Brandon Belt is 8-31(.258) with two walks, a double, a homer, and four RBI in his career against Zack Greinke. Nick Hundley is 6-20 with three walks, three doubles, two runs, and four RBI. if Hundley starts, he is a great punt option.

Jesus Aguilar usually gets the start against a lefty, and Dillon Peters has been bombarded away from home. Aguilar is a nice punt option.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 16: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the New York Mets follows through on a seventh inning two run home run against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on April 16, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Ozzie Albies is worth a look against Matt Harvey. Ian Kinsler could be worth a shot with a lefty on the mound. However, there is enough value there that you don’t have to pay up if you don’t want to.

Middle Tier:

Cesar Hernandez is cheap and leading off, and he is 2-3 with a triple, a run, and a RBI against Jameson Taillon.

Asdrubal Cabrera has started the season hot, and is now hitting leadoff. Cabrera is an essential part of any Mets stack against Matt Wisler tonight.

Bargain Shoppers:

Jonathan Villar and Orlando Arcia are both struggling to start the season, but they are worth a look against Dillon Peters.

I like Ketel Marte and Chris Owings against Ty Blach tonight. If you want to pay up for pitching, stack cheap righties against Blach.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

FanDuel MLB: CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 12: Gregory Polanco #25 of the Pittsburgh Pirates (R) is congratulated by Starling Marte #6 after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field on April 12, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

It may not be a bad idea to stack the Pirates outfield. Gregory Polanco is only 8-34(.235), but he has three walks, a double, three homers, four steals, six runs scored, and eight RBI in his career against Jake Arrieta. Corey Dickerson is 4-6 with a double, a triple, three runs scored, and a RBI against Arrieta. Starling Marte is 9-34(.265) with a homer, four runs scored, and two RBI. Nothing special, right? Well, Marte also has eight steals off of Arrieta!

If you fade the Pirates outfield, the Mets outfield is a very strong second choice. Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes are my favorites, but Jay Bruce is worth a look too due to his immense power.

A.J. Pollock is 2-4 with a double, two runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Ty Blach.

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Middle Tier:

Ah, the middle tier of the outfield. The place where Andrew Benintendi and Starling Marte roam free. And the place where Benintendi and Marte have good matchups.

Bargain Shoppers:

Odubel Herrera is a good place to save some money if you need to. Herrera is 3-5 with a homer and two RBI against Jameson Taillon. Herrera is the only Philly player to take Taillon deep so far.

Nick Markakis is once again a favorite value pick. His lack of power deters many, but Markakis gets on base a lot. He is 6-22(.273) with four walks, a double, four runs, and a RBI off of Matt Harvey.

Domingo Santana is perfect with a single, a double, and three RBI in his career against Dillon Peters. Lorenzo Cain is worth a look as well.

Andrew McCutchen is 8-30 with two walks, four doubles, a triple, a homer, five runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Zack Greinke. Hunter Pence is only 8-37(.216), but he has two homers and four RBI against Greinke.

Surprisingly, it is lefty Kole Calhoun carrying the torch for the Angels outfielders. Calhoun as a two run homer in his two tries against Eduardo Rodriguez. Mike Trout just walked. What a bum!

Derek Dietrich and Cameron Maybin both come super cheap, and they are a combined 4-12 with a homer and two RBI against Chase Anderson.

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!