MLB DFS Expert Survey: Opening Day
Our panel of experts is here to give you their MLB DFS advice for today’s main slate contests by answering a handful of questions to help you make crucial lineup-building decisions. Want to know CheeseIsGood’s favorite sneaky stack? Or headChopper’s top overall pitcher? Find out below!
MLB DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Expert Survey for Opening Day
Who is your favorite hitter to spend up for in cash games?
CheeseIsGood: Mookie Betts
headChopper: Mookie Betts
Dean78904: Mookie Betts
eys819: Mookie Betts
Who is your top overall hitter (when considering price, matchup, projected ownership, etc.) on the board and why?
CheeseIsGood: Spencer Torkelson – The main reason I don’t have one of the Dodgers here is less about salary and projected ownership and more about having no real way to choose which Dodgers bat to use. This is going to be a running problem all season with too many elite hitters for their own DFS good (it will probably work out more than OK in real life for them!). Enter Torkelson, who gives us a clear top choice on his team. While his team, the Detroit Tigers, is a bottom-of-the-league option, they are facing the weakest Opening Day starter and one of the worst bullpens in the league. Torkelson broke out with 31 HRs on 47% fly balls last season, and there could be even more power coming.
headChopper: Will Smith – This Dodgers lineup is obviously going to be nasty, and it could have the same impact as last year’s Braves. So, I am looking for hitters from this lineup who are hitting in the middle or top of the order while also staying within a reasonable price range. Smith meets those criteria. On a day where there are aces galore, the Dodgers face a very average pitcher (Miles Mikolas). A pitcher that recorded a lowly 15.9% K rate last season and a not so great 4.72 xFIP.
Dean78904: Jonathan India – Coming into the season, the issue with the Reds was having too many players for not enough spots. Injuries to TJ Friedl and Matt McLain (and a Noelvi Marte suspension) have thinned out the Cincinnati depth, leading to the presumption of India leading off on Opening Day. He is coming off what was basically a lost season, but he is healthy, cheap, and has the ability to both bang one out or swipe a bag. Josiah Gray somewhat harnessed his previous homer issues last season, but he still served up 1.25 HR/9, and Cincy’s Great American Ballpark is not forgiving to fly balls. Additionally, Gray allowed 21 stolen bases. This Reds lineup is peppered with speed/power dudes (hello Elly De La Cruz), and despite their presumed popularity, I’m leaning in on them.
eys819: Jake Fraley – Not the name I envisioned writing up on Opening Day, but the matchup is excellent against a fly ball pitcher (Josiah Gray) who has been torched by lefties in his career. Factor in the home run boost from Great American Ballpark, and the spot is too good to ignore. Fraley posted a .201 ISO and .361 wOBA against RHP last season and projects to hit in the middle of a strong Reds offense. He also added 21 stolen bases last season, giving him further upside. Gray allowed a .174 ISO and 30.8% fly ball rate to lefties last season, and that was a substantial improvement over his career numbers.
Who is your favorite sneaky stack on the board and why?
Want to read more? Sign up for Premium!
