There are seven games taking place tonight across the MLB slate, with each team having about 22 games under their belts. It is still very early in the season, with less than 15% of games played to this point. However, some clear strengths and concerns within teams are beginning to become evident, and all 14 teams playing tonight will have another chance to play their best baseball.
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 21st. 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 seven-game slate.
Elly De La Cruz More Than 0.5 Runs Batted In
After a bit of a slow start to the season relative to expectations, Elly De La Cruz has found his stride with this Reds team. He has hit a home run in two of his past three games and has produced an OPS of .879 with five RBIs over the past week. He will now shift his attention to the Miami Marlins with Max Meyer on the mound. This has been a favorable matchup for De La Cruz so far in his career, and he will look to build off of it tonight.
Last season against the Marlins, De La Cruz had 19 at-bats and produced some eye-popping numbers. He had a .579 batting average, a 1.74 OPS and tallied four doubles, two home runs and five RBIs. The 23-year-old will be batting third today, and the top of the lineup has been performing for Cincinnati. De La Cruz is a home run threat himself, but he should see some opportunities to drive runners in outside of this. With him performing at a high level and facing a matchup he has had success against, count on De La Cruz to add to the 22 RBIs he has already produced this season.
Keider Montero Less Than 15.5 Outs Recorded
This is a tough spot for Keider Montero. The 24-year-old was recently called up by the Tigers after he logged 16 starts a season ago. Looking at his numbers as a rookie, Montero posted a 4.76 ERA and 4.33 FIP. He has made just one start this season, going 5.0 innings and allowing three home runs and five earned runs in the loss. Montero currently holds an ERA of 9.00.
In addition to being held to less than 15.5 outs in his opening game, he only pitched into the sixth inning in six of his 16 starts last year. Montero mostly throws a four-seam fastball and slider, which could be a problem against this Padres team. San Diego has produced the sixth-most runs above average against fastballs and the fourth-most against sliders. It also has produced the fourth-highest wOBA thus far. Montero has plenty of questions about his outlook and the Padres are the type of team capable of exploiting this. Expect him to get chased from the matchup before recording more than 15.5 outs today.
Brett Baty Less Than 0.5 Hits
It has been an ugly start to the season for Brett Baty. Across his first 50 at-bats, he has tallied 10 total hits and is producing hitting splits of .200/.231/.300. Baty has struck out 18 times and is near the bottom of the MLB in whiff rate, chase rate and strikeout rate. While it has been an ugly start, this is not super uncharacteristic as Baty has seen his strikeout rate grow throughout his career, including being fanned 109 times in 353 at-bats in 2023.
Aaron Nola will be on the mound today for the Phillies, who has also had a rough start to the season. He enters this game with an 0-4 record and 6.65 ERA while allowing 16 earned runs in 21.0 innings pitched. Even still, Nola is one of the more consistent arms in all of baseball and will find his stride with a larger sample size. He is still ranking in the top 30% of the league in chase rate and strikeouts, which will be problematic for Baty. These two have faced off seven times in their careers, and Baty has yet to record a hit. With a right-hander on the mound, it is also worth noting he could be removed from the game for a pinch hitter depending on how the game script plays out. Baty’s free-swinging approach is a brutal matchup against Nola, so expect his poor start to the season to continue by being held hitless today.
Nick Castellanos More Than 1.5 Total Bases
The most commonly bet prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook today is for Nick Castellanos to hit a home run. In addition to the ongoing joke connecting Castellanos’ success to unfortunate world events, the two-time All-Star is off to an excellent start to the season. Through his first 79 at-bats, he has tallied 24 hits and is producing hitting splits of .304/.364/.494.
Plate approach has been a consistent critique of Castellanos, but he has done a better job laying off the offspeed pitches in the dirt and using the whole field as a hitter. He has tallied three home runs and six doubles this season, producing 14 RBIs. Tylor Megill will get the start in this game for the Mets, and the Phillies’ standout has had success in this matchup. Castellanos is 3-for-9 against Megill in their careers, including a game-winning single during last year’s playoffs. Hitting behind Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, pitchers are forced to attack Castellanos, and he has made them pay. Look for him to deliver with an extra base today and record more than 1.5 total bases tonight as the Phillies look to get their revenge from last year’s playoff exit.
Kevin Gausman More Than 5.5 Strikeouts Thrown
Kevin Gausman will be on the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays as they take on the Houston Astros tonight. He is 2-1 on the season with a 2.49 ERA with 20 strikeouts tallied across his 25.1 innings pitched. Gausman led the American League with 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings two seasons ago, and Houston’s lineup should present him an opportunity to add to his already impressive output.
In his career, Gausman has pitched 41.1 innings against the Astros and struck out 54 batters during this time. In his previous start against Houston, he struck out 13 batters in 7.0 innings. Gausman has allowed just two earned runs and struck out 16 batters across his past two starts, going 14.0 total innings. In addition, the Astros are coming off an 11-strikeout performance yesterday against the Padres and rank in the top half of the league in strikeout rate. All of this points toward Gausman having a chance to build off his strong start to the season and adding to his long list of strikeouts. Look for him to deliver by striking out more than 5.5 for the third straight game.
Jackson Chourio More Than 1.5 Total Bases
It has been a really encouraging start to the young career of Jackson Chourio. The former top prospect has begun to translate his potential into production now in his second season in the MLB. One pattern to keep an eye on is Chourio’s hitting splits, with his struggles against right-handed pitchers becoming evident. He is hitting .220 against right-handed pitchers compared to .324 against left-handed pitchers this season.
This will not be a problem tonight with left-hander Robbie Ray taking the mound for the San Francisco Giants. Ray started just one game in 2023 and seven in 2024, with injuries derailing his MLB trajectory. Through his first four starts this season, he has produced a 4.19 ERA and 5.27 FIP. Chourio has faced a left-handed starter just once over his past five games and should be licking his chops at the opportunity. In the past matchup with a left-hander, he tallied two hits and three total bases. Look for him to take advantage of the matchup by recording more than 1.5 total bases tonight and continuing to look like one of the more exciting young talents in baseball.
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.
