The 3 Best DFS Picks for Yankees vs Giants: Judge Hot Start?

• Yankees vs. Giants kicks off 2026 MLB Opening Night
• DFS players target key props on Underdog
• Stats and matchup trends highlight top picks for Judge, Webb, and Bellinger

---

Opening Night is here, and the 2026 MLB season is officially underway, highlighted by the standalone matchup between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants. With all eyes on this primetime clash, it presents one of the best early opportunities to find value on Underdog.

For pick’em contests at DFS sites, that spotlight game creates a unique edge. Targeting high-usage hitters and pitchers in a featured, competitive matchup is key to building strong entries, especially when the slate is focused on a single game. If you’re building entries on Underdog for Opening Night, leaning into volume, matchup context, and star power is the foundation for success. Before I share my picks, Chalkboard has a promotion you won’t want to miss. For tonight only, Max Fried’s line of over 0.5 outs is boosted—an offer that’s too good to pass up. Here are some of the top Underdog lines to consider for the Yankees vs. Giants showdown.

My Picks for MLB Opening Night

Aaron Judge (NYY) Higher 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs

Backing Aaron Judge here comes down to volume and elite production in a featured spot. As the centerpiece of the Yankees lineup, Judge consistently finds himself in run-producing situations, whether it’s driving in runs or getting on base and scoring. In a standalone game environment, you can expect maximum plate appearances and high-leverage at-bats, giving him plenty of chances to stack hits, runs, and RBIs.

What really strengthens this play is his success in this specific matchup. Aaron Judge is 3-for-7 with 2 home runs and 3 RBIs in 9 career plate appearances against Logan Webb, showing he’s already seen the ball well against him. That kind of track record, paired with Judge’s elite power and ability to impact the game in multiple ways, gives him several paths to clear this line. If the Yankees generate offense, there’s a strong likelihood Judge is right in the middle of it.

Logan Webb (SFG) Lower 5.5 Strikeouts

Logan Webb is one of the National League’s most dependable starters, but this matchup makes him a perfect candidate for the under on strikeouts. Webb is more of a pitch-to-contact pitcher than a pure strikeout artist. In 2025, he averaged 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings, while keeping his home runs allowed per nine innings at just 0.70. This shows that Webb’s strength comes from inducing weak contact and pitching efficiently, rather than overpowering hitters to reach high strikeout totals.

The New York Yankees lineup plays directly into this strategy. Last season, the team ranked 10th in MLB in contact rate and 8th in pitches per plate appearance, which means they work deep counts and put the ball in play rather than striking out. Webb’s career history against New York reinforces this trend: he has faced the Yankees three times, posting a 1–2 record with a 5.50 ERA and 23 strikeouts. These numbers indicate that while Webb can miss bats, he hasn’t consistently dominated this lineup, especially in high-leverage situations.

For DFS players, targeting the under 5.5 strikeouts provides a sharp, data-backed angle. With a combination of pitch-to-contact tendencies and a disciplined opponent, Webb’s strikeout upside is capped, making the under a smart play for those looking to hedge risk on Opening Night.

Cody Bellinger (NYY) Higher 1.5 Total Bases

Cody Bellinger is a versatile hitter who provides DFS value in the total bases market thanks to his combination of contact and power. Batting in the heart of the Yankees order, Bellinger will have multiple opportunities to impact the game. He doesn’t need a home run to cash this line—two singles or a double are enough—and his ability to drive the ball to all fields makes him a consistent threat.

Bellinger also has a solid career track record against the Giants, particularly on the road. He’s hit .251 with 42 hits, 3 home runs, 18 RBIs, and 28 runs scored in 48 games against San Francisco away from Yankee Stadium. These numbers demonstrate that he can reach base and produce extra-base hits even in tough matchups. In a single-game slate like Opening Night, that historical consistency, combined with volume and lineup position, gives DFS players a high-probability path to cash the over 1.5 total bases line.