MLB DFS Picks for Opening Day: Paul Skenes to Dominate?
By Daniel Destler in MLB Baseball
Published:
- An 11-game slate of MLB games on the docket
- DFS players target key props on Underdog
- Today’s top MLB DFS picks include Skenes strikeouts, Brunson points, Mobley rebounds
Opening Day is here, and the 2026 MLB season is officially underway, highlighted by a standalone matchup between two marquee teams. With a full slate of MLB games for the first time in 2026, it presents one of the best early opportunities to find value on
For DFS-style pick’em contests, 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 Day games, leaning into volume, matchup context, and star power is the foundation for success. Here are some of the top Underdog lines to consider for this Opening Day showdown.
My Picks for MLB Opening Day
Before we dive into picks, just know there is a free pick that I have my eye on as DraftKingsPick6 is giving you a promo you cannot afford to miss out on: For Thursday only, Shohei Ohtani plate appearances is down to over 0.5! My picks below are from Underdog.
Paul Skenes (PIT) Higher than 6.5 Strikeouts vs Mets
I love backing Paul Skenes to go higher than 6.5 strikeouts, especially given his early success against the New York Mets. In two career appearances versus New York, Skenes is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA while piling up 14 strikeouts, showing just how effective he’s been at generating swings and misses against this lineup.
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That kind of production points to a clear edge in this matchup. Skenes has already proven he can attack these hitters and put them away, and if he gets a normal starter’s workload, the strikeout chances should be there again. With his stuff and ability to miss bats, clearing 6.5 strikeouts is well within reach in this spot.
Kyle Schwarber (PHI) Higher than 1.5 hits+runs+rbis vs Rangers
I like Kyle Schwarber to go higher than 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs here, mainly because of how he profiles against a righty like Jack Leiter. There’s no real history between the two, but Schwarber’s track record vs right-handed pitching is what stands out—he gets on base, hits for power, and usually finds a way to be involved in scoring. Leiter is still getting his footing in the majors and can have command issues at times, which opens the door for baserunners and run production. Schwarber also doesn’t need a huge game to cash this—one extra-base hit, or just getting on base and coming around to score, can get it done. Batting near the top of the lineup only adds to his chances to clear this number.
Jacob Misiorowski Higher than 6.5 strikeouts vs White Sox
I like Jacob Misiorowski (the Miz!) to go higher than 6.5 strikeouts against the Chicago White Sox mainly because of his pure strikeout upside. Even in a limited sample last season, he racked up 87 strikeouts in just 66 innings, which comes out to nearly 12 K/9—elite swing-and-miss stuff.
That kind of profile is exactly what you want targeting a number like this. Misiorowski’s fastball velocity and ability to generate whiffs give him the tools to pile up strikeouts quickly, even if he doesn’t go super deep into the game. And with this being a younger White Sox lineup, there’s a good chance he can take advantage of some swing-and-miss tendencies early and rack up Ks in bunches.
He doesn’t need a perfect outing to get there either—if he’s around the zone and gets 5–6 innings of work, his strikeout rate alone puts 7+ well within reach.
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- UNDERDOG FANTASY
PLAY $5 FANTASY ENTRIES, GET $75 IN BONUS FANTASY ENTRIES W/ CODE SBD!
- BETR PICKS
UP TO $200 BACK IN BONUSES + FREE PICK!
- CHALKBOARD FANTASY SPORTS
GET A FREE PICK + DEPOSIT MATCH UP TO $100!
- PRIZEPICKS (AK, AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, IN, KS, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY)
ENTER $5 CONTEST, GET $50 INSTANTLY
- PRIZEPICKS (AZ, CO, DC, DE, IL, KY, MA, ME, NM, NY)
ENTER $5 CONTEST, GET $50 INSTANTLY
- SLEEPER FANTASY SPORTS
$20 NO-DEPOSIT BONUS & 100% DEPOSIT MATCH
- DABBLE FANTASY
GET $10 WHEN YOU SIGN UP - NO DEPOSIT NECESSARY!
- DRAFTKINGS PICK6
DEPOSIT $5+ & GET $25 IN PICK6 BONUS PICKS + UP TO 100% WINNINGS BOOST
- BOOM FANTASY
$100 RISK-FREE TOKEN
- SPLASH SPORTS DFS
$10 DEPOSIT MATCH
DRAFTKINGS DFS T&Cs: Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit req. 1 single-use $3 ticket rewarded. Ticket rewards are site credits valid for use on eligible DraftKings contests. Ticket rewards expire 14 days (336 hours) after being issued. Terms: www.draftkings.com/promotions. Ends 3/25/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
DRAFTKINGS PICK6 T&Cs: Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 18+ (19+ AL/NE, 21+ AZ/MA/VA). Valid only where Pick6 operates, see dkng.co/pick6states. Void in NY, ONT, and where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. 1 per new DraftKings customer. Min. $5 deposit req. Receive $25 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Picks that expire in 14 days; AND 100% single-use Winnings Boost Token. Must select Token BEFORE placing entry. Boost reward issued as cash and only applies to winnings. Max. $100 boost reward. Token expires in 14 days. 14 days = 336 hours. Ends 3/29/26 at 11:59 PM ET. Terms: pick6.draftkings.com/promos. Sponsored by DK.
Danny Destler is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A graduate of Marist University, Dan covers a wide range of sports topics, creating engaging and evergreen content for DFS enthusiasts and casual fans.
