Opening Day is finally here! After being delayed slightly thanks to a new CBA, we’re now finally getting regular-season baseball. This also means that you’re finally getting regular-season MLB DFS and we’re giving you the lineup to take down the big prize.
(NOTE: This MLB DFS lineup was made early in the day. It is a best practice to keep an eye on starting lineups and pitching scratches as it nears game time. )
MLB DFS Picks for Opening Day
P – Max Fried ($9,000) – ATL
Until the World Series, Max Fried was quietly one of the very best pitchers in baseball. After the World Series, he’s still one of the very best, he just is no longer in the dark. He put together a sub 3.00 ERA over a two-season stretch that saw him strike out nearly a batter an inning – perfect for an MLB DFS lineup. With Cincinnati trading loads of their team away prior to opening day, this isn’t a squad that should give Fried too much trouble. Plus, he’s going to want to put on a show on ESPN for the champs’ home opener.
P – Adam Wainwright ($7,500) – STL
It seems like this guy simply doesn’t age. Last year, in the year he turned 40, Wain-o turned back the clock. He averaged 18.0 fantasy points a game and found the put-away stuff that he had seemingly been missing for years. Much like Fried, this is also an MLB DFS matchup that I really love. The Pirates lineup may be one of the very worst in baseball, especially given that they did not promote mega-prospect Oneil Cruz to the opening day roster.
C – Max Stassi ($3,400) – LAA
The Angels clearly are putting a lot of faith into Stassi, and I think you should too when putting your MLB DFS lineup together. He’s put together a pair of nice seasons, which netted him a fat three-year contract for the Angels. He’ll get a nice righty-lefty matchup with Framber Valdez taking the hill, who he is 3-for-6 off of in his career.
1B – Pete Alonso ($4,800) – NYM
If you’re going to take down a big MLB DFS prize on the first day, you’re going to need some dingers to do it. Who better to do that than the back-to-back home run derby champ? Not only is Alonso bringing the big lumber to opening day, but he’s facing a guy he’s already taken deep four times in his career in Patrick Corbin. Bring it on!
2B – Yu Chang ($3,400) – CLE
Let me first start off by saying that spring training doesn’t mean anything. However, if it did, we’d be giving a nice hard look at Yu Chang as a breakout pick for the Guardians and MLB DFS lineups. He led the team in RBI in the spring with nine and had six extra-base hits – hitting .302 overall. That continued a trend that started at the end of last year, where he reached base in nine straight games to close it out.
3B – Austin Riley ($5,400) – ATL
With nothing to build trends off of so far this season, which is usually my favorite way to compose an MLB DFS lineup, we can just rest on the fact that Riley had a wildly good year last year. Can he maintain that over a second season – who knows? But I’m riding the hot hand coming into 2022. It also doesn’t hurt that in a small sample size, Riley has already taken Thursday’s starter, Tyler Mahle, long.
SS – Ha-Seong Kim ($2,600) – SD
With Fernando Tatis out of the picture for a bit, Kim looks to take on a more important role with the Padres. Again, spring training might not mean anything, but he did hit for a 1.072 OPS during 13 games. I’ll take a chance at under 3k that he’s worth his weight in MLB DFS salary.
OF – Tyler O’Neill ($5,600) – STL
As I said with Pete Alonso, you’re going to need to take a ball or two deep to take down a big MLB DFS prize. I’m going to trust this man’s biceps to get the job done for two reasons. Firstly, he showed he could do it last year with 34 dingers – and I really think he could surpass that this season. Secondly, even some of the most diehard fans can’t name the opening day starter for the Pirates, let alone anyone in their pen.
OF – Andrew Benintendi ($4,100) – KC
There probably aren’t a lot of MLB DFS players out there searching for Royals who have to hit off of Shane Bieber on Thursday afternoon. However, maybe we should look closer at Benintendi. Not only did he have a lowkey year last year, but he also has phenomenal stats against Bieber. In 17 career plate appearances (and that’s a decent sample size), he’s hitting .563 with a 1.000 slugging percentage.
OF – Seth Beer ($3,500) – ARI
While a lot of people are out there talking about rookies like Bobby Witt, Spencer Torkelson, and Julio Rodriguez – let’s talk about Beer. The guy mashes and has since his college days. He’s going to benefit from having the DH in the NL as he’ll get tons more ABs. He’s got the handedness advantage this weekend and, like a lot of the other cheap options I’m going with, he had a hot spring (1.057 OBP).
Make sure to check out all the great MLB coverage we have to offer and be sure to listen to the MLB Gambling Podcast, which airs multiple times a week. This week the guys are breaking down all the best plays for the coming days, including some info that can help you on your MLB DFS plays.
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