MLB DFS: DraftKings, FanDuel Expert Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks For Today (3/27/24)

Opening Day has finally arrived! This Thursday, 28 of the 30 MLB teams will take to the diamonds and get the "normal" regular season underway after the Tokyo Series got the season started officially for the Cubs and Dodgers. The nine games that start between 4:00 p.m. ET and 4:30 p.m. ET are the DraftKings main slate, while FanDuel's main slate includes the two games that start just after 3:00 p.m. ET. Both sites also offer a late slate that includes the two games that start after 10:00 p.m. ET, but for this post, we'll focus on the main slates that begin in the afternoon.

This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/27/2024, with the slate starting at 3:05 p.m. EDT. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is always essential.

Just a note: I'll focus on the bulk of the games on both slates in the 4:00 p.m. ET window, but if you're playing on FanDuel, I'll include a couple of picks from the early games as well. DraftKings only offers those two games as part of the early slate and does have an 11-game slate with all the afternoon contests.

DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Paul Skenes at Marlins ($10,000 DraftKings; $11,000 FanDuel)

Normally, I don't pay all the way up for the pitchers at the very top of the salary structure, but for Skenes against the Marlins, I'm ready to start the season with an exception on day one. Skenes was as good as advertised last season, going 11-3 in 23 starts and racking up 170 strikeouts in 133 innings with a 1.96 ERA, 2.44 FIP, and 11.5 K/9.

This spring, Skenes went 2-0 in five games and allowed just five runs in 18 innings with 23 strikeouts. He'll take on the Marlins, who won't have their full lineup available (minus Connor Norby) and scored the fourth-fewest runs last season. Over the last month of 2024, the Marlins ranked eighth in strikeout rate and also ranked in the top 10 in Spring Training.

Welcome back baseball, we missed you and all the glory that is a Paul Skekes strikeout!

Paul Skenes said good morning, good afternoon, good night to Mookie Betts 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BODielRNtV

— Baseball’s Greatest Moments (@BBGreatMoments) March 21, 2025

Framber Valdez vs. Mets ($8,300 DraftKings; $10,100 FanDuel)

Framber Valdez will make his fourth straight Opening Day start for the Astros. He allowed just three earned runs over 16 1/3 innings in his last three. He was also much better at home than on the road last season, posting a 2.53 home ERA and picking up 9.2 K/9 at home compared to road marks of a 3.36 ERA and 7.9 K/9. He has faced the Mets three times in his career, going 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.

Yusei Kikuchi at White Sox ($6,900 DraftKings; $8,400 FanDuel)

Rolling out starting pitchers against the White Sox was a great strategy last season since Chicago had one of the worst offenses in baseball history by most metrics and the worst in the MLB. Even if they have a little positive regression this season, Kikuchi is a great value option on the mound as he makes his Angels' debut in Chicago. He split last year between Toronto and Houston and was very good in 10 starts with the Astros, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and an 11.4 K/9. He looked ready to keep rolling this spring with four earned runs and 16 strikeouts over 12 innings.

Also consider: Zack Wheeler at WAS, Michael King vs. ATL

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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Trea Turner - SS, PHI vs. MacKenzie Gore ($5,300 DK; $3,700 FD)

Turner and the Phillies open in Washington against Gore and the Nats in an NL East matchup. Last season, Turner hit .295 with 21 home runs and 19 stolen bases in 121 games. The Phillies are expected to move Turner into the leadoff spot this season against lefties, which would be a major shift since Kyle Schwarber led off in all 149 of his starts last season. Without Schwarber in front of him, Turner's speed could be even more of a weapon this season. He is 6-for-17 in his career against Gore with three doubles.

Alex Bregman – 2B/3B, BOS vs. Nathan Eovaldi ($4,800 DK; $3,300 FD)

Bregman was excellent in spring training and will make his official Red Sox debut in Arlington.  He hit .250 with four home runs in his 36 games at Globe Life Field and is 4-for-15 in his career against Eovaldi with a home run. He seemed very comfortable with the Red Sox this spring, hitting .279 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and a .433 wOBA in his 17 Grapefruit League games.

Alex Bregman's 3rd home run of spring training was a BEAUT! 💫pic.twitter.com/wAoNydVfMX

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) March 15, 2025

Rhys Hoskins – 1B, MIL vs. Carlos Rodon ($3,900 DK; $2,900 FD)

Especially on the main slate on FanDuel, Hoskins is a great value at 1B in Yankee Stadium for Opening Day. He had a down year last year, hitting just .214 with a .313 wOBA, but still hit 26 home runs. This spring, he looked better at the plate on his way to a .262 batting average and .449 wOBA while still smashing six home runs in 16 games. He has a .382 career wOBA with a 141 wRC+ against lefties, so the matchup against Rodon puts him on the strong side of his splits.

Also consider: Bobby Witt, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Willson Contreras

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Mike Trout - OF, LAA vs. Sean Burke ($5,100 DK; $3,800 FD)

we are literally so back 🐟 pic.twitter.com/cLiULPhWGy

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) March 25, 2025

Trout and the Angels take on Burke, who had a sparkling 1.42 ERA last season. Since his ERA in the minors last year was 4.77 and his ERA this spring was 6.75, I'm not buying Burke staying so effective in a larger sample size. Trout and the Angels will look to stay hot after a strong spring. He looked healthy and productive with three home runs and a .450 wOBA in his 17 games.

Jorge Soler - OF, LAA vs. Sean Burke ($4,200 DK; $2,900 FD)

Soler outslugged his new teammate this spring, smashing five home runs and posting a .296 average with a .425 wOBA. He tends to be a streaky producer, but when he's hot, he can be one of the best home run hitters in baseball. He's extremely affordable for the upside he brings while hitting behind Trout in a favorable matchup in Chicago.

Byron Buxton - OF, MIN vs. Sonny Gray ($4,000 DK; $3,400 FD)

Like Trout, Buxton is an oft-injured outfielder who looks ready to start the season healthy. He and the Twins are in a favorable matchup against Sonny Gray, who struggled with his velocity this spring and gave up 20 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings, including eight home runs allowed. Buxton played over 100 games for the first time in his career last year and had 18 home runs and a .366 wOBA. In spring training, he hit three home runs with a .431 wOBA and stole a couple of bases, showing how good he feels coming into the season.

Also consider: TJ Friedl, Matt Wallner, Jackson Chourio, Jhonkensy Noel

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

1. Angels vs. Sean Burke

• Favorite Plays: Mike Trout, Jorge Soler, Nolan Schanuel

2. Twins vs. Sonny Gray

• Favorite Plays: Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Ty France

3. Red Sox vs. Nathan Eovaldi

• Favorite Plays: Triston Casas, Alex Bregman, Kristian Campbell