The 2025 MLB season is finally here, and there are some great matchups for Opening Day. There are far more ways to get involved in the action than just via traditional betting. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Baseball!
MLB Opening Day Pick6 Plays
Here are my top Pick6 plays for the MLB Opening Day slate.
Tyler O’Neill More Than 0.5 Home Runs
A tradition unlike any other. Tyler O’Neill has remarkably hit a home run on five straight Opening Days. This will be a special Opening Day for O’Neill because it is his first as an Oriole, and he will be playing in his home country of Canada. Of course, there is some randomness to O’Neill’s incredible Opening Day history. However, hitting a baseball is so much about confidence and there is no reason O’Neill’s confidence shouldn’t be at an all-time high. O’Neill has three home runs in 22 career plate appearances at the Rogers Centre. He has two hits in eight career at bats against Jose Berrios so he should be ready to keep his streak going in this game.
Mike Trout More Than 0.5 Home Runs
Mike Trout has dealt with injuries over the last couple of seasons, but he is still one of the best players in baseball when he is healthy. The Angels have a bad team, so Trout will likely fly under the radar, but he could be in for a big season if he stays healthy. Trout hit a home run off of Corbin Burnes on Opening Day last season and will look to keep that run going. Sean Burke is the Opening Day starter for the White Sox. Burke is very young, with only three career starts last season. In just 19 career innings pitched in the MLB, Burke has already given up two home runs. Realistically, he is no match for Trout and the three-time MVP has a great shot to launch one on Opening Day.
Hunter Greene More Than 6.5 Strikeouts Thrown
Hunter Greene has become one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball. He had a career-best 169 strikeouts last season and gets the ball for the Reds on Opening Day this season. Last season, he threw significantly more strikeouts at home compared to on the road. Greene averaged 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings at the Great American Ball Park compared to 9.2 strikeouts per nine away from home. Greene faced this Giants team once last season and threw an incredible 11 strikeouts in seven innings of work. On Opening Day, in front of his home fans, Greene should be on his A-game and clear this number.
Clay Holmes More Than 4.5 Strikeouts Thrown
Clay Holmes has spent almost his entire career as a relief pitcher, but the Mets brought him in this offseason with the goal of making him a starter. Not only is he going to be a starter, but he has been given the ball for Opening Day. Holmes had a great tenure with the Yankees coming out of the bullpen. Over those four seasons on the other side of New York, Holmes had a 5.1 WAR, a 2.69 ERA and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings. As a starter, Holmes will need to approach the game with a different mentality. However, if he can come in and throw five solid innings for the Mets just like he would as a long reliever at times, then he should have a lot of success. Across his career, Holmes has always been a better pitcher at his home stadium, averaging 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings when pitching at home compared to 8.9 on the road. Holmes should rise to the occasion in his first start on his new team and clear this number.
Julio Rodriguez More Than 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs
Julio Rodriguez is one of the most exciting players in baseball, and he has the chance to lead his team to the postseason this year. The Mariners have a solid team, and they get to start the season off against the lowly Athletics. Rodriguez had a dip in production last season after an incredible first two years of his career. He will be looking to get back to form this season, starting with Opening Day. All it takes is one swing of the bat for Rodriguez to clear this number by getting an RBI and a hit in the same AB. Rodriguez is also speedy on the bases and always capable of scoring a run once he gets on base. Rodriguez has a career .971 OPS against the Athletics and should have success against Luis Severino in his first start on his new squad.
Juan Soto More Than 0.5 RBIs
Juan Soto was the biggest story of the MLB offseason, moving across town to join the Mets. He has already shown what he is capable of this Spring, but now it’s time for the real thing. It is a tough opening matchup against Framber Valdez, but Soto should be up to the task. Soto is 2/5 with an RBI in his career against Valdez, so he has shown the ability to match the great pitcher. He has a 1.100 OPS and 10 RBIs in 13 career games against Houston. Soto is the type of player who will want to make a statement in his first game for the Mets. He should be able to do so with Francisco Lindor expected to bat just ahead of him. Lindor had an incredible 2024 season and should get on base in this game for Soto to drive him in and go over this number.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of two or more players and select whether you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play DraftKings Pick6
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing two or more players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you cannot pick the same player twice and you must pick players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
