FanDuel MLB DFS Picks: Opening Day

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Let's check out the top options on today's main slate.

Note: All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook. All stats come from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant unless noted otherwise.

Top MLB DFS Picks

Pitcher Breakdown

On Opening Day, Paul Skenes ($11,000) figures to be the most popular high-salary option at pitcher, and it's hard to argue against using him versus a Miami Marlins team that posted the 6th-worst wRC+ (91) and 14th-highest strikeout rate (23.4%) against right-handed pitchers last season. While teams tend to limit pitcher's workloads to begin the season, Skenes is capable of racking up Ks quickly after residing in the 95th percentile in strikeout rate (33.1%) and 78th percentile in walk rate (6.2%) in 2024.

Despite also liking Zack Wheeler ($10,800) as an option to be different from those who use Skenes, I'm intrigued with Garrett Crochet ($9,600) at a sub-$10,000 salary following a 2024 campaign that saw him rank in the 98th percentile in strikeout rate and 91st percentile in xERA (2.85). Although Spring Training numbers aren't always reliable, Crochet produced a stellar 45.5% strikeout rate across 15.2 innings pitched ahead of his regular season debut with the Boston Red Sox.

With a matchup against the Chicago White Sox, Yusei Kikuchi ($8,400) could draw some interest in DFS, especially after the White Sox did nothing to improve a roster that notched the ninth-worst strikeout rate (24.2%) and worst wRC+ (74) versus southpaws last season. Kikuchi was in the 84th percentile in strikeout rate (28.0%) and 81st percentile in walk rate (6.0%) a season ago, and he's impressed in Spring Training with the Los Angeles Angels to the tune of a 29.1% strikeout rate.

Similar to what we saw from Michael King ($9,100) last season, could we see Clay Holmes ($8,000) become the next former reliever who excels as a starter? Aside from the Houston Astros losing Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman in the offseason, Holmes dominated in Spring Training, notching a 31.9% strikeout rate and 0.78 WHIP in 19.1 innings pitched.

Stacks to Target

• Baltimore Orioles - Colton Cowser ($2,700), Adley Rutschman ($3,000), Jordan Westburg ($3,200), and Jackson Holliday ($2,500)
  • Jose Berrios couldn't miss bats a season ago for the Toronto Blue Jays, ranking in the 22nd percentile in strikeout rate (19.5%) and 13th percentile in whiff rate (21.1%), which led to him being in the 17th percentile in xERA (4.74) and 24th percentile in hard-hit rate (41.8%). Along with Baltimore playing in a game where weather won't be a factor since Toronto plays in a dome, the Orioles tallied the fifth-best wOBA (.324), fourth-best wRC+ (115), and third-best ISO (.188) versus righties last season.
• New York Yankees - Austin Wells ($2,800), Aaron Judge ($4,500), Cody Bellinger ($3,300), and Paul Goldschmidt ($2,900)
  • Even though I prefer the left-handed hitters from the Yankees, it should be noted that Freddy Peralta sported massive reverse splits in 2024, tallying a 43.7% fly-ball rate and 0.88 HR/9 against lefties (compared to a 46.0% fly-ball rate and 1.87 HR/9 to righties). While losing Juan Soto certainly hurts, New York had the best wOBA (.336), wRC+ (120), and ISO (.192) when facing right-handed pitchers last year.
• Boston Red Sox - Jarren Duran ($3,700), Rafael Devers ($3,800), Alex Bregman ($3,300), and Kristian Campbell ($2,000)
  • Nathan Eovaldi was in the 17th percentile in hard-hit rate (42.6%) and 35th percentile in average exit velocity (89.3 MPH) last season, and he's seen his strikeout rate drop all the way to 16.4% during Spring Training. Once again, this is another game where weather shouldn't be much of a factor, and the addition of Bregman should help the Red Sox improve upon having the sixth-best wOBA (.323) and fifth-best ISO (.174) versus right-handed pitching a season ago.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.