The MLB season is almost 10% of the way through, with each team still finding its footing for the marathon of the regular season. Fifteen games are on the Sunday slate with several having already started and the last game beginning at 7:10 p.m. ET.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the action this evening. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Baseball!
This article will look at my top Pick6 plays for action on April 13th. You simply choose whether each set statistic will be more or less than the set number. With the stage set, here are my favorite picks on the remaining slate.
Leody Taveras Less Than 0.5 Hits
It has been a nightmare start to the season for Leody Taveras and he is not showing signs of getting out of it. The Texans’ outfielder has tallied nine hits in his first 42 plate appearances, posting hitting splits of .220/.238/.268. He ranks below the 10th percentile in xBA, exit velocity, chase rate, strikeout rate and xSLG.
Logan Gilbert will be on the mound for the Mariners and is off to a strong start to his season. Gilbert has thrown 17.2 innings so far this season striking out 25 batters and allowing five total earned runs. He holds a 2.55 ERA with just eight total hits allowed.
Taveras has faced Gilbert 16 times in their careers and tallied just two total hits. He was 1-for-7 at the plate last season against the standout pitcher and Taveras’ plate approach has been much worse out of the gates this season. He will eventually be getting back on track for the season but there is a real chance it gets worse before it gets better with him looking lost at the plate. Count on Taveras’ struggles to continue tonight and for him to be held without a hit for the third straight game and the eighth time already this season.
Michael King More Than 7.5 Strikeouts
The San Diego Padres will face the Colorado Rockies tonight with Michael King set to take to the mound. King is off to a strong start to the season and will be licking his chops at this matchup. The Rockies are striking out 10.86 times per game, more than any other team in the MLB, and have a 30.4% strikeout rate against righties- also the worst rate in the league.
King struck out 11 batters in his second start of the season but combined for just five in his first and third outings. He averaged over 10 strikeouts per nine innings in each of the last four seasons and struck out 200 batters in 173.2 innings last year.
While 7.5 strikeouts is a high bar to clear, the Rockies have struggled at the plate this season and have been especially disappointing on the road and against right-handers. Nick Pivetta also tallied 10 strikeouts against the Rockies on Friday. Colorado has not scored a run in this series thus far so expect its plate struggles to continue with King striking out at least eight hitters tonight.
Freddy Peralta More Than 15.5 Outs
Freddy Peralta is off to a strong start to the season. The Milwaukee Brewers standout has thrown 18.0 innings so far this year, allowing just nine total hits, four earned runs and striking out 22 hitters. He is posting a 32.8% strikeout rate and a 16.8% swinging-strike rate across his opening three starts.
This is a great matchup for Peralta with the Diamondbacks posting an 18.6% strikeout rate against righties so far this season. When he is at his best, Peralta can look like one of the best pitchers in baseball. Look for the strikeout opportunities to make him dangerous and for him to hit his stride in this game.
Across his opening three starts, Peralta has gone 5.0 innings twice and 8.0 innings once. He has yet to throw over 97 pitches in a game and has done a nice job limiting pitches overall. I like Peralta’s chances of getting past the fifth inning and recording more than 15.5 outs in his fourth start of the season.
Francisco Lindor More Than 1.5 Total Bases
It is easy to forget about Francisco Lindor following the addition of Juan Soto and a strong start to the year for Pete Alonso. The four-time All-Star has not hit his stride but has had success in this pitching matchup before. Luis Severino is on the mound for the Athletics. Lindor has faced Severino 16 times in their careers, producing five hits, including a double and a home run.
So far this season, Lindor has tallied just 10 hits in his first 49 at-bats. His .206/.263/.306 hitting splits are below his standard but he has not looked as bad as the numbers suggest. He has recorded more than 1.5 total bases in four of his past eight games.
Look for Lindor to begin getting fully back on track and record more than 1.5 total bases today. He has looked better at the plate than the numbers show and the Mets star has had success with this pitching matchup before. Count on him to drive one into the gap with a multi-base hit and tally more than 1.5 total bases today.
Shohei Ohtani More Than 0.5 Runs Batted In
Shohei Ohtani is a threat to break a game open on any given night but this is especially the case in tonight’s matchup with the Cubs. The Dodgers were blown out 16-0 by the Cubs yesterday and will be looking for a bounceback performance.
Colin Rea is expected to take the mound for Chicago, moving out of his long-relief role in the bullpen due to injuries to Justin Steele and Javier Assad. Last season with the Brewers, he ranked in the 11th percentile in average exit velocity and 21st in hard-hit rate. He has also posted a 1.32 WHIP and 4.89 FIP against left-handed hitters in his career. If Los Angeles can chase Rea out of this game, the Cubs’ bullpen has a collective 4.53 ERA, which does not inspire much confidence either.
Expect Ohtani to be at the heart of the production for the Dodgers and for him to make the most of his chances whenever he gets an opportunity to hit. Whether it is with a direct home run or driving in a teammate, look for Ohtani to record more than 0.5 RBIs as the Dodgers look to bounce back tonight.
Kyle Tucker More Than 1.5 Total Bases
He will not be confused for Shohei Ohtani, but Kyle Tucker is off to an impressive start to the season. He has produced five home runs and 18 RBIs across his first 17 games. Tucker ranks in the 95th percentile or better in xwOBA, xBA and xSLG. He is currently leading the MLB in hits, runs and total bases while posting an impressive 1.108 OPS.
Tyler Glasnow will be on the mound for the Dodgers and looking to bounce back after being chased from his most recent matchup with the Phillies after allowing five runs in two innings. Tucker has only faced Glasnow three times in his career and punched one hit in those opportunities.
Tucker is coming off a pair of hits yesterday during the 16-0 rout of the Dodgers and will look to pick up right where he left off. He is seeing the ball incredibly well at the plate and, with extension talks in the works, expect this strong effort to continue. Count on him to tally more than 1.5 bases for the 11th time in his first 18 games in Chicago.
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
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!
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be at least 18 years or older. Higher age limits may apply in some states. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid only in states where DraftKings Pick6 operates. Void where prohibited. For entertainment purposes only. Winning a contest on DraftKings depends on knowledge and exercise of skill. See terms at pick6.draftkings.com.
