Tonight is a 13-game featured slate on DraftKings — one of the largest we’ve had in the first month of the MLB regular season. With that many teams comes a plethora of viable options at each position. How do you parse through and find the best assets? Just keep reading.
Let’s dive in and find some studs and values on the diamond.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $222K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Network app. You also can follow DK Network on Twitter @dknetwork.
PITCHER
Stud
Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics, $9,800 – Burnes has pitched well for the Orioles, managing an identical 2.76 ERA and 2.76 xERA across 29.1 innings of work. However, Burnes’ strikeout indicators continue to fall, the continuation of a trend we saw begin in 2023. To wit, Burnes is striking out fewer than a batter per inning for the first time since his rookie campaign and his 10.0% swinging strike rate is easily a career-low. It shouldn’t matter too much on Friday — Oakland sports the league’s second-highest strikeout rate as a team (27.4%) — but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.
Value
Jose Butto, New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals, $7,100 – As a quick glance at his walk rate will tell you, Butto is far from a perfect pitcher. Yet, through three starts with the Mets in 2024, the RHP owns a 1.65 ERA and a 31.8% strikeout rate. When dealing with pitching assets priced around $7K, that’s about as much upside as you can reasonably ask for. Butto’s matchup on Friday is pristine, too. The Cardinals have been unable to do much with the bats so far this season, ranking 27th in both ISO (.117) and wRC+ (83). The only other teams to sit in the bottom-five of both categories? The Marlins and the White Sox. Rough company, to be sure.
INFIELD
Stud
Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics, $6,000 – Is Henderson already one of the best hitters in baseball? It’s certainly starting to look that way. Over his first 110 plate appearances of 2024, the former top prospect is slashing .309/.373/.649 with a .340 ISO. Heck, after struggling with LHPs in his rookie campaign, Henderson now owns at least a 190 wRC+ against both right-handed and left-handed pitching. He simply does not have a weakness and he should have little issue with the journeyman Ross Stripling ($5,700) on Friday evening.
Stud
Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays, $4,400 – There’s a clear way to attack Chris Bassitt ($8,100) and that’s with left-handed bats. After struggling within the split in 2023, Bassitt has faced 56 LHBs in 2024 and has allowed them to slash a ridiculous .370/.482/.587 with a .470 wOBA. That obviously means targeting the likes of Shohei Ohtani ($6,400) and Freddie Freeman ($5,600), but also the more cost-effective Muncy. The veteran owns a 135 wRC+ against RHPs this season. He just keeps doing his thing.
Value
LaMonte Wade, San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, $3,400 – Death, taxes and Wade Jr. being an absolute force against RHPs at a bargain price. These are the constants in life. The 30-year-old platoon bat is off the another great start in 2024, with a .405 expected wOBA and a 176 wRC+ in his 70 plate appearances. Tonight’s opponent is Quinn Priester ($5,200), who just can not retire a left-handed bat at the MLB level. To wit, LHBs have combined for a .701 slugging percentage off of Priester in his brief career. Woof.
Value
Luis Garcia Jr., Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins, $3,400 – The Marlins’ pitching plan is going to be a mess on Friday. Jesus Luzardo (elbow) was scratched this morning, so now Miami will go to war with the anonymous combination of Anthony Maldonado ($4,000) and Kyle Tyler ($6,300). I guess the point is this: Washington might score some runs tonight. Garcia is the Nationals’ clean-up hitter and he’s currently batting .311 with a .366 expected wOBA. He’s good and cheap. Everyone’s favorite duo in DFS.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels vs. Minnesota Twins, $6,300 – There’s something comforting about Trout currently leading baseball in home runs (10) and ISO (.361). It’s like everything makes sense again. The veteran looks healthy and still very much in his prime, and all his offensive stats are backed up by a gargantuan .416 expected wOBA. Trout will get an opportunity to add to that long ball total on Friday in a matchup with Bailey Ober ($6,800). Ober is surrendering a barrel to 10.7% of the batters he’s faced in 2024 — the highest qualified rate in all of baseball.
Stud
Michael Conforto, San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, $4,600 – Conforto is swinging the bat well at the moment, entering Friday’s action with seven hits in his last five games. For the season, in 99 plate appearances, the veteran OF has registered a .223 ISO and a 128 wRC+. He can supply some damage — particularly in a matchup with a floundering RHP like the aforementioned Priester. Really, the only negative in this spot is location. The Giants have been a far better offensive squad on the road in 2024.
Value
Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, $3,800 – It’s hard to find a hitter hotter than Varsho at the moment. In his last 12 games, Varsho is slashing .368/.455/.947 with six home runs and a 295 wRC+. He’s also cemented in the middle of the Jays’ lineup. Considering how much Gavin Stone ($7,500) has struggled with LHBs this season — lefties are hitting .412 off the RHP — you need some exposure to Varsho on this slate. Keep an eye on Addison Barger ($2,000), as well.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $222K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is theglt13) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
