It’s a jam-packed Wednesday of MLB action, with 30 different teams taking the diamond. Today’s 15-game slate starts this afternoon, headlined by a showdown between the contending Giants and the American League-leading Tigers. Later, the rival Braves and Phillies will battle in a pitching duel between A.J. Smith-Shawver and Zack Wheeler. As a nightcap, the Yankees will look to sweep the Angels and increase their lead over the AL East.
There’s plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings MLB Pick6 fantasy baseball selections before tonight’s contests!
Fernando Tatis Jr. more than 1.5 total bases
Few hitters in baseball are more feared than Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego’s face of the franchise has gotten off to a great start, slashing .275/.342/.500 at the plate. In addition, the outfielder has powered 12 homers and 27 RBIs through 51 games played. That level of production is crucial for a Padres lineup that’s been carried by a select group of stars. However, Tatis Jr. has posted a lackluster .167 batting average since May 17th.
San Diego’s slugger has looked off recently, but Tuesday’s two-hit performance could be a sign of things to come. That’s especially true against tonight’s starter, Sandy Alcantara. The former Cy Young winner has struggled all season (more on that later), making it difficult to trust him under any circumstances. Assuming his Padres teammates can get on base, Tatis Jr. should have plenty of at-bats to do damage this afternoon.
Sandy Alcantara more than 2.5 earned runs allowed
As previously mentioned, it’s been a year to forget for Sandy Alcantara. The Dominican missed all of 2024 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. Through ten starts this season, the right-hander hasn’t been the same pitcher. Over 47.0 innings of work, he’s coughed up 42 earned runs (8.04 ERA). Those numbers, combined with a lack of run support, has made it tough on Miami’s ace.
To make things more difficult, Alcantara will have to navigate a dangerous Padres lineup on Wednesday. That includes All-Star bats such as Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill. The Marlins are hoping that the first few months of the season won’t be indicative of Alcantara’s entire 2025 campaign. As bad as things have been thus far, that’s a reasonable expectation. However, the hurler has surrendered less than three runs only once this season. There’s nothing to suggest things will be any different this afternoon.
Victor Scott II less than 0.5 total bases
Don’t look now, but the 31-24 Cardinals are firmly in contention for a playoff spot. While it’s still early, St. Louis has defied expectations in what many assumed would be a rebuilding year. The biggest factor behind the team’s success has been a lineup averaging the seventh-most runs per game (4.78). That’s been made possible thanks to several surprise contributors, including Victor Scott II. The second-year pro has hit .273/.346/.373 at the plate in addition to swiping 16 bags on the base paths.
Scott has notched a hit in three of his last five games, so he enters tonight’s contest with some momentum. It’s also a promising pitching matchup for the outfielder, at least on paper. Baltimore’s Cade Povich has posted a mediocre 4.86 ERA over 46.1 innings this season. However, the left-hander has looked better recently, giving up a combined three runs during his last two starts. Scott, while talented has only hit .208 against southpaws this season. Keeping that in mind, St. Louis’ speedster might have trouble reaching first base in this one.
Miles Mikolas more than 3.5 strikeouts
We’ll stay in Missouri, where the Cardinals are hoping to win their second straight game over the Orioles. They’ll hand the ball off to starter Miles Mikolas, a mainstay in St. Louis’ rotation for years. 2025 has been more of the same for the righty: weak contact, minimal strikeouts. Through ten starts, the 36-year-old has accounted for a 3.51 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and just 31 K’s.
Obviously, Mikolas doesn’t possess wipeout stuff at this stage of his career. However, four whiffs is a realistic target for almost any arm in baseball. The veteran has reached that total in each of his last three appearances. That trend should continue against a struggling Orioles lineup. Over the last two weeks, no team has struck out more than Baltimore (141). Expect that to continue on Wednesday against the Cardinals and their crafty starter.
Yusei Kikuchi more than 5.5 strikeouts
It’s no secret that the Angels have struggled on the mound in recent years. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Halos gave Yusei Kikuchi a three-year, $63-million contract last offseason. So far, so good for the Japanese hurler. Over 11 starts, Kikuchi owns a 3.17 ERA and 54 strikeouts. Right now, it’s fair to call the 33-year-old Los Angeles’ ace.
Despite entering Wednesday with solid numbers, Kikuchi faces a difficult challenge. The Yankees have scored the third-most runs per game in baseball (5.63), led by two-time MVP Aaron Judge. However, this lineup is prone to swings and misses. New York has struck out 9.06 times per game, the league’s fourth-highest rate. Even if Kikuchi gets hit hard, he should stay in the game long enough to reach tonight’s strikeout total.
George Kirby less than 5.5 strikeouts
After missing time due to right shoulder inflammation, George Kirby made his season debut last week against the Astros. The start wasn’t very impressive (3.2 IP, 5 ER), but it was still great to see the righty back in action. When healthy, few arms in baseball are as talented as Kirby. Last season, the 27-year-old allowed 75 earned runs over 191.0 innings (3.53 ERA).
The Mariners are hoping for a better showing from the All-Star tonight. That isn’t a guarantee against tonight’s opponent, the Nationals. This season, Washington has averaged 4.19 runs per game, 16th-most in the league. In addition, the Nats have only struck out 7.79 times per game on the road, fifth-lowest in baseball. There’s also a decent chance Seattle puts Kirby on an innings limit during his second game back from injury. All those factors combined make it difficult to trust the 27-year-old on Wednesday.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of 2+ players and select whether or not 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 2+ 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 can not 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!
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