DraftKings’ “King of the Diamond” promotion continues Friday, June 27th. You may be asking, 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.
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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 9:30 a.m. Friday morning.
Highest MLB team totals for Friday, June 27th
- Los Angeles Dodgers 5.5 runs at Kansas City Royals (over +105 under -135)
- San Francisco Giants 4.5 runs at Chicago White Sox (over -140, under +110)
- New York Yankees 4.5 runs vs. Athletics (over -135, under +105)
- San Diego Padres 4.5 runs at Cincinnati Reds (over -135, under +105)
- Atlanta Braves 4.5 runs vs. Philadelphia Phillies (over -130, under +100)
MLB Starting Pitchers: Most home runs allowed
Of tonight’s starting pitchers, here is a list of those who have allowed the most home runs this season. In parentheses, the breakdown shows home runs allowed to right-handed and left-handed batters.
- Jake Irvin (WAS) at Los Angeles Angels: 16 home runs allowed; 1.5 HR/9 (6 vs. RHB, 10 vs. LHB)
- Tomoyuki Sugano (BAL) vs. Tampa Bay Rays: 14 home runs allowed; 1.5 HR/9 (6 vs. RHB, 8 vs. LHB)
- Ryan Pepiot (TB) at Baltimore Orioles: 14 home runs allowed; 1.3 HR/9 (8 vs. RHB, 6 vs. LHB)
- Nick Martinez (CIN) vs. Cincinnati Reds: 13 home runs allowed; 1.3 HR/9 (8 vs. RHB, 5 vs. LHB)
MLB Weather Notes for tonight:
-New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates – potential in-game delay, PPD unlikely
-Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers – potential late start, no issues after
-St. Louis Cardinals at Cleveland Guardians – winds blowing out toward center between 10-12 mph
-Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves – potential for late start or in-game delay
-Los Angeles Dodgers at Kansas City Royals – potential for late start or in-game delay, delays could be lengthy
DraftKings King of the Diamond Home Run Picks for Friday, June 27
Rafael Devers to hit a home run +190 vs. Chicago White Sox
White Sox starter Aaron Civale has been prone to giving up home runs in his limited starts this season. Despite making only seven appearances, he has surrendered seven long balls across 34.1 innings, resulting in a 1.8 HR/9 rate. In 2024, when he pitched a near-full season, Civale yielded 29 home runs, with 15 to left-handed batters. Tonight’s conditions at the ballpark favor hitters, with winds blowing out to center field at approximately 12 mph. The Giants hold one of the highest team run totals at 4.5 runs (-140 to the over), which could climb to 5.5 by first pitch, matching the Dodgers for the slate’s highest.
Jackson Merrill to hit a home run +255 vs. Cincinnati Reds
The Padres are poised to hit home runs tonight at Great American Ball Park, where conditions favor power hitting. Nick Martinez, starting for the Reds, has surrendered 13 home runs this season, one of the highest totals among today’s pitchers. Seven of those long balls came at home. Martinez primarily throws three pitches, but his cutter has been his Achilles’ heel, with opposing batters hitting five home runs off it. Padres’ outfielder Jackson Merrill, who has five home runs this season, has launched two of them against cutters. Given the hitter-friendly environment and Martinez’s struggles with the long ball, Merrill is a strong candidate to go deep tonight.
Jo Adell to hit a home run +360 vs. Washington Nationals
The Angels’ offense has been surging, averaging 6.6 runs per game over their past five contests. This hot streak positions them as a potential top-scoring team today, especially against Nationals pitcher Jake Irvin, who has surrendered a slate-high 16 home runs this season. Angels outfielder Jo Adell has been locked in at the plate in June, launching 10 long balls in 23 games. With 17 home runs in 2025, he’s just three shy of his career-high 20 set last year. Irvin has struggled most with his four-seam fastball and curveball, allowing six home runs apiece on those pitches. Adell has capitalized on these offerings, hitting seven of his 17 home runs off four-seamers and curveballs this season.
Drake Baldwin to hit a home run +475 vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Braves are likely to fly under the radar tonight as they face Phillies’ top prospect Mick Abel. Abel has posted a solid 3.47 ERA so far, but his 5.99 xERA suggests he’s due for regression. His biggest vulnerability is to left-handed hitters, having allowed seven home runs this season, six of them to lefties. While Matt Olson might be the obvious choice to exploit this matchup, Braves catcher Drake Baldwin is another strong option. Baldwin has hit nine home runs this year, as noted in the sports card above, making him a compelling low-owned target for those seeking a differential play in tonight’s slate.
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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.
