DraftKings Sportsbook hosts the third “King of the Diamond” promotion tonight. Previous winners received bonus bets of $1,414 and $249.
What is the “King of the Diamond”? For an in-depth breakdown of this promotion, you can read our How to Play King of the Diamond article on DraftKings Network. Below is a quick summary:
- Opt into the promotion on DraftKings Sportsbook
- Choose between 2-5 players to place in any type of parlay (Same Game Parlay, SGPx) with a “To Hit a Home Run” bet. (Examples: Aaron Judge 1+ Home Run, Shohei Ohtani 2+ home runs, etc.)
- King of the Diamond is awarded to all MLB players who hit 1 or more home runs as part of the highest-scoring MLB team (from eligible games) of the day.
When this promotion last ran, the Cubs led the evening’s scoring with home runs by Carson Kelly and Ian Happ. Anyone who bet on either player shared in the $1 million bonus bet pool, receiving $1,414.
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DraftKings King of the Diamond Strategy
Essentially, two conditions must be met to be eligible to win part of the King of the Diamond jackpot: one or more players must hit a home run and play for the team with the highest score that night. One way to determine which players to pick is to identify the teams with the highest projected totals for that night. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, these are currently the highest projected team totals as of 10 a.m. Friday morning.
Highest MLB team totals for Friday, May 9th
- San Diego Padres 6.5 runs -105
- New York Yankees 5.5 runs -105
- Baltimore Orioles 5.5 runs +105
- Colorado Rockies 4.5 runs -135
- Seattle Mariners 4.5 runs -130
MLB Starting Pitchers: Most home runs allowed
Among the starting pitchers scheduled for today, here is a list of those who have allowed the most home runs thus far. In parentheses, I have broken down the splits of how many they have allowed to right-handed and left-handed batters:
- Zack Littell (TB) vs. Milwaukee Brewers: 10 home runs allowed; 2.2 HR/9 (6 vs. RHB, 4 vs. LHB)
- Antonio Senzatela (COL) vs. San Diego Padres: 8 home runs allowed; 2.1 HR/9 (7 vs. RHB, 1 vs. LHB)
- Michael Lorenzen (KCR) vs. Boston Red Sox: 8 home runs allowed; 1.88 HR/9 (4 vs. RHB, 4 vs. LHB)
- Four pitchers tied with 7 home runs allowed
DraftKings King of the Diamond Home Run Picks for Friday, May 9
Jackson Merrill to hit a home run +390 at Colorado Rockies
The Padres will be a popular pick tonight at Coors Field, with a 6.5 team total. As shown in the splits, Antonio Senzatela has allowed seven home runs to right-handed batters but only one to a left-hander. Merrill, a lefty, stands out because five of Senzatela’s eight home runs allowed have come off his slider, a pitch Merrill hits effectively, posting a .300 ISO (isolated power, measuring raw power through extra-base hits) against sliders last season. Even if Merrill doesn’t homer off Senzatela, the Rockies’ bullpen has surrendered 1.2 home runs per nine innings to left-handed batters, tied for the ninth-highest in the league.
Ben Rice to hit a home run +320 at Athletics
The Yankees, with a high run total tonight, face the Athletics and Osvaldo Bido, who has allowed seven home runs and a 1.73 HR/9. Ben Rice, a left-handed batter, is a strong pick at Sutter Health Park, where the right-field wall stands just five feet high. Five of Bido’s seven home runs allowed have occurred at home. Rice, with eight home runs this season, has split them evenly between home and road games. With Bido’s stuggles at home, I like Rice a lot to hit a home run.
William Contreras to hit a home run +425 at Tampa Bay Rays
Though played in Tampa, this game feels like Yankee Stadium for hitters. William Contreras may not be a popular pick tonight, with only three home runs this season, but the Brewers could rank among the highest-scoring teams against Zack Littell. Littell has allowed the most home runs on the slate, 10, with six to right-handed batters. All three of Contreras’ home runs have occurred on the road, and this ballpark favors power hitting. While Littell has allowed no more than three runs in his last four starts, his advanced stats—4.61 ERA, 5.21 xERA, and 5.64 FIP—suggest vulnerability.
Jorge Soler to hit a home run +340 vs. Baltimore Orioles
The Angels are a long-shot pick to lead scoring tonight, but key factors support their potential. Tomoyuki Sugano has allowed a 1.64 HR/9 across seven starts, surrendering seven home runs. Once he exits, the Giants’ bullpen, with a 9.53 ERA, 9.81 FIP, and 5.2 HR/9 over 17 innings in the past week, has been vulnerable, allowing 10 home runs. Though not an offensive powerhouse, the Angels could surprise, with power hitters like Jorge Soler poised to capitalize. He’s someone I’m taking as one of my home run bets.
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Good luck with your King of the Diamond picks for tonight! Whenever this promotion is happening, I’ll be doing these strategy articles exclusively on DraftKings Network.
For a more in-depth breakdown of how the King of the Diamond promo works, check out our How to Play King of the Diamond article on DraftKings Network.
