While there’s a couple home openers sprinkled in during Friday afternoon, we’ve still got a large, eight-game featured MLB slate this evening on DraftKings.
Below, I’m going to list some players you’ll need to have in your lineups. This is not up for debate. Well, I guess you could hit me up on Twitter and yell at me. We’re all about engagement, after all.
Let’s dive in.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $175K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]
SP Spencer Schwellenbach, Atlanta Braves vs. Miami Marlins, $9,800
There are many people to blame for the Braves’ 0-7 start to the season. Spencer Schwellenbach is not one of those people. In his lone appearance so far in 2025, the sophomore RHP looked amazing, tossing six scoreless innings against the Padres at Petco Park. That outing lowered Schwellenbach’s career ERA to a nice and tidy 3.19. Heck, in Schwellenbach’s last 13 regular season starts — a span that dates back to July 27 — the 24-year-old owns a 2.28 ERA and a 2.86 FIP to go along with a 26.6% strikeout rate. In summation, Atlanta did it again. It has yet another ace.
Expect the good times to keep on rolling Friday night. The Marlins have exceeded expectations to begin the season, but the team’s lineup still leaves a lot to be desired. Miami is currently sporting a 90 wRC+ through seven contests, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that ends up being a high water mark in 2025. Remember, the Marlins were projected by PECOTA to have the league’s lowest run output. I still believe in that projection.
OF Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals, $5,500
His surface numbers might not show it, but Carroll is off to a fantastic start in his third-career MLB campaign. In 32 plate appearances, Carroll has managed a massive 21.1% barrel rate which has translated into a 92nd percentile expected slugging percentage (.645) and a 91st percentile expected wOBA (.440). If he keeps swinging the bat like that, he should be able to put a massive performance together against Jake Irvin ($6,500). Irvin struggled a great deal with opposing LHBs in 2024, surrendering 1.61 home runs per nine within the split. In Irvin’s first outing in 2025, the right-hander faced 12 left-handed opponents. In those PAs, Irvin allowed a slash line of .455/.500/.818. Needless to say, I think platoon splits are still an issue for the 28-year-old hurler.
1B/2B Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers, $3,400
Aranda seems like he’s destined to be a platoon bat for Kevin Cash and the Rays, but that’s not really an issue when you hit right-handed pitching as well as the 26-year-old has to begin the season. In his first 12 plate appearances within the split in 2025, Aranda is slashing .500/.900/1.400 with a 285 wRC+. It’s obviously a small sample, but it is somewhat validated by Aranda’s performance in 2024, where he managed a .207 ISO and a 120 wRC+ against RHPs. Tyler Mahle ($7,000) is a righty. Tyler Mahle also only lasted 11 batters in his opening start of the season thanks to four walks and a pair of hits. That’s not an ideal first impression to say the least.
