DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Thursday 4/13/23

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Pitchers

Jordan Montgomery FD 9400 DK 8500
Opponent - PIT (Vince Velasquez) Park - PIT
FD - 32.95 DK - 17.27

The main slate provides us an excellent path to a very balanced approach at starting pitching and it starts with Jordan Montgomery who checks all the boxes. After an average-at-best start to the season(5 IP, 3 ER, 3 K's), Monty bounced back in his last start in Milwaukee striking out nine Brewers over seven innings while allowing just three hits and no earned runs. He is now a huge -220 home favourite against a Pirates team that has started the season in the bottom half of hitting and will now be without O'Neill Cruz for the next 4-5 months. All things considered, Montgomery is my favourite pitcher on this slate.

Chris Bassitt FD 7300 DK 8200
Opponent - DET (Spencer Turnbull) Park - DET
FD - 33.91 DK - 17.79

We have another heavy favourite(-230) in Chris Bassitt who has had a very similar start to the season as Montgomery. After an atrocious start to his Bue Jays career against the Cardinals(9ER), he bounced back against an improved Angels team led by two future Hall of Famers striking out five and allowing just two hits. Even better news as he continues to trend up is the matchup against a Tigers team that sits dead last in wOBA and wRC+ and is striking out nearly 27% of the time. I love stacking Monty and Bassitt together on DraftKings and on FanDuel we are getting Bassitt at a huge discount and is easily our top PTS/$ option tonight.

Catcher/First Base

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. FD 3900 DK 5700
Opponent - DET (Spencer Turnbull) Park - DET
FD - 14.5 DK - 10.91
Paul Goldschmidt FD 3800 DK 5900
Opponent - PIT (Vince Velasquez) Park - PIT
FD - 13.26 DK - 10

There isn't a whole lot going on at first base tonight which likely leads us to a decision between the two elite options in Vladdy and Goldy and in the end, it really comes down to the rest of your lineup. Both hitters have been red-hot to start the season with identical .491 on-base percentages and while they are both lacking power at the moment they have 19 RBI combined and both have crushed right-handed pitching to over a .445 wOBA. To top it off, both also get the best two matchups on the board making them elite plays in all formats.

Jake Cronenworth FD 2600 DK 4300
Opponent - MIL (Bryse Wilson) Park - MIL
FD - 8.57 DK - 7.19

If you are looking for some value at the position, especially on FanDuel, consider Jake Croneneworth. The average(.214) isn't where he would like it to be right now but he does have hits in six of his last eight games with three doubles and a home run and gets to hit in the middle of the Padres lineup which presents a ton of RBI opportunities. With the popularity of the Jays and Cardinals on this slate, the Padres could make a terrific low-owned leverage stack tonight.

Second Base

Brendan Donovan FD 3100 DK 4600
Opponent - PIT (Vince Velasquez) Park - PIT
FD - 11.29 DK - 8.65
Nolan Gorman FD 3300 DK 3800
Opponent - PIT (Vince Velasquez) Park - PIT
FD - 10.41 DK - 7.9

While the pitching has been shaky to start the season, it has been the offence carrying the Cards through the first two weeks. The top of their order changes depending on opponent pitcher and against right-handers, it has been Donovan in the leadoff spot. He hasn't been great with a .214 average but he has gotten on base in nine of 11 games, scored nine runs, and also shown some power with two long balls. For Gorman, he hits down in the bottom half of the lineup but that can't continue if he remains red-hot as he comes in wit hits in eight of 10 games while posting an impressive .484 wOBA and 203 wRC+. The best part is that he comes much cheaper on DraftKings and should also be lower-owned. I will have exposure to both Cards' second basemen in all formats.

Also Consider: Bryson Stott(PHI) who has hits in all 12 games to start the season including nine multi-hit efforts

Shortstop

Xander Bogaerts FD 3800 DK 5300
Opponent - MIL (Undecided) Park - MIL
FD - 12.66 DK - 10.26

During the offseason the Padres added to their already dangerous offence in signing Xander Bogaerts and to say he is off to a great start would be an understatement. While he has just three multi-hit games he does have at least one hit in 12 of 13 games, is hitting .327 and has added four home runs, 10 RBI, and 10 runs scored. Like I mentioned above with Cronenworth, the Padres could be a terrific low-owned option if wanting to pivot off the chalky Cardinals and Blue Jays.

Also Consider: Donovan Solano(MIN) who has hits in seven straight games and has hit in the leadoff spot in each of the last two

Third Base

Matt Chapman FD 4500 DK 5000
Opponent - DET (Spencer Turnbull) Park - DET
FD - 10.88 DK - 8.12

The Blue Jays offence picked up where it left off and might actually have gotten deeper in 2023. While Matt Chapman showed off his power in his first season with Toronto, he struggled with consistency and ended up hitting just .229 overall. That appears to have changed in 2023 as he is arguably the hottest hitter in baseball through two weeks leading the league in wOBA(.584) and wRC+(288) and tied for the lead in extra-base hits(11) and he is also top 5 in RBI(15). He has worked his up the lineup and now faces a struggling Spencer Turnbull who has given up 13 hits and 12 earned runs through his first two starts. Fire up Chapman in all formats today.

Also Consider: Alec Bohm(PHI) who comes in with hits in six straight games is hitting .333 on the season with an elite .415 wOBA and 154 wRC+

Outfield

Daulton Varsho FD 3200 DK 4100
Opponent - DET (Spencer Turnbull) Park - DET
FD - 11.91 DK - 9.04

The Jays traded for Varsho to add a power-hitting lefty to the middle of their already stacked and deep lineup. That move is already paying dividends as Varsho is hitting g.317 with a .390 wOBA and 152 wRC+ through the team's first 12 games and while he has just one long ball he does have a 43% hard contact rate so my bet is that the home runs are coming. He checks all the boxes as he gets an elite matchup, hits in the middle of a loaded lineup, and remains at a buy-low price point, especially on DraftKings.

Alec Burleson FD 3000 DK 3200
Opponent - PIT (Vince Velasquez) Park - PIT
FD - 11.32 DK - 8.73

After getting a taste of the big leagues down the stretch in 2022, Burleson made the club out of spring training this year and has been a key contributor. He has hit second in all of his starts(8) and comes in red-hot with hits in seven straight with three doubles, a triple, and a home run. He now gets a terrific matchup against Velazquez and from a PTS/$ value perspective, is an elite two-man stacking option with Brendan Donovan.

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