Major League Baseball finally kicks off its shortened season tonight with two games as the Yankees travel to the Nationals, and the Giants head downstate to face the Dodgers. That will narrow our focus in DFS tonight, and we must keep an eye on the weather. Consider these players for your Opening Day DFS rosters.
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers P ($7,700 on DraftKings, $10,300 on FanDuel)
Due to the good chance of rain tonight in Washington, D.C., I may fade the pitchers in that matchup. Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer won’t be worth paying up for given the chance they may not pitch for very long – or at all. So keep a close eye on the Opening Day weather. Although Kershaw’s fastball has lost some speed and he doesn’t seem to feel too confident in the changeup he has been developing, he’s worth a flyer at a lower salary against a weak-hitting Giants team.
Cody Bellinger, Dodgers OF ($5,100 on DK, $4,500 on FD)
Bellinger smashed the ball in 2019, with 47 home runs and 115 RBIs while batting .305, almost capturing the National League MVP award. One concern with Bellinger is reporting that he tinkered with his swing in the off-season after slumping a bit in the second half of 2019. Still, he’s worth paying up for on Opening Day with the salary savings we’ll get if we don’t roster Cole or Scherzer.
Justin Turner, Dodgers 3B ($4,100 on DK, $3,100 on FD)
Let’s grab another Dodger for the list. The late-night starting lineups haven’t been announced as we publish this, but Turner is likely to get the third spot in the order, increasing his chances of an extra at-bat compared to those further down. Plus, he’s hit well against Giants starter Johnny Cueto in his career, going 11 for 31 (.355) with four extra-base hits.
Adam Eaton, Nationals OF ($3,800 on DK, $2,600 on FD)
That’s a nice price for Eaton, an all-around player who can earn DFS points both at the plate and on the base paths. He stole 15 bases in 2019 while hitting .276 with 17 home runs and 59 RBIs, averaging eight DFS points per game. Opening Day could be a bellwether on the type of season he’ll have in 2020.
Mike Yastremski, Giants OF ($4,000 on DK, $2,500 on FD)
Even taking Kershaw, you can pair him with an opposing hitter in cash games. If you choose to not use Kershaw in tournaments, you can slot in Yastremski, grandson of Carl. After finally making it to the majors last season, he took advantage of his opportunity, racking up 21 home runs and 55 RBIs in 107 games, scoring an average of 7.7 DFS points per game. He can provide good value at this price.
