MLB Draftkings Picks for Apr 18, 2026

Daily Player Picks

Updated Throughout the Day

Player expected costs and values are calculated every thirty minutes throughout the day.


Pitchers

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Tarik Skubal DET $10,100 26.27 2.60
Gavin Williams CLE $11,600 22.40 1.93
Chris Sale ATL $9,400 21.59 2.30
Cristopher Sanchez PHI $9,800 20.96 2.14

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Tarik Skubal DET $10,100 26.27 2.60
George Kirby SEA $8,500 20.36 2.40
Brandon Woodruff MIL $8,800 20.93 2.38
Nathan Eovaldi TEX $8,700 20.39 2.34

Catcher

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Shea Langeliers ATH $5,800 10.53 1.82
Drake Baldwin ATL $5,000 9.92 1.98
Hunter Goodman COL $4,800 9.25 1.93
Dalton Rushing LAD $4,000 9.20 2.30

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Reese McGuire CWS $2,000 6.15 3.08
Austin Wynns ATH $2,200 5.93 2.70
Adrian Del Castillo ARI $3,400 8.91 2.62
Drew Millas WSH $2,400 6.12 2.55

First Base

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Sal Stewart CIN $4,700 11.16 2.37
Nick Kurtz ATH $5,400 10.67 1.98
Shea Langeliers ATH $5,800 10.53 1.82
Ben Rice NYY $5,500 9.94 1.81

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Reese McGuire CWS $2,000 6.15 3.08
Austin Wynns ATH $2,200 5.93 2.70
Casey Schmitt SF $3,100 8.28 2.67
Connor Norby MIA $2,700 7.17 2.66

Use our SFTB Plus optimizers to perfect your DFS roster. Include or Exclude players and teams, and see our 10 best rosters for every available slate.


Second Base

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
JJ Wetherholt STL $4,700 10.42 2.22
Nico Hoerner CHC $4,700 9.95 2.12
Brandon Lowe PIT $5,600 9.86 1.76
Ketel Marte ARI $5,200 9.82 1.89

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Jose Tena WSH $2,400 7.28 3.03
Jeff McNeil ATH $3,500 8.56 2.45
JJ Wetherholt STL $4,700 10.42 2.22
Chase Meidroth CWS $3,100 6.71 2.17

Short Stop

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Elly De La Cruz CIN $6,000 10.33 1.72
CJ Abrams WSH $5,700 10.20 1.79
Zach Neto LAA $5,300 10.12 1.91
Corey Seager TEX $5,400 9.76 1.81

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Jose Caballero NYY $2,900 8.12 2.80
Taylor Walls TB $2,700 6.86 2.54
Brooks Lee MIN $2,800 6.79 2.43
Andres Gimenez TOR $3,400 7.59 2.23

Use our SFTB Plus optimizers to perfect your DFS roster. Include or Exclude players and teams, and see our 10 best rosters for every available slate.


Third Base

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Jose Ramirez CLE $9,600 9.74 1.02
Max Muncy LAD $5,200 9.60 1.85
Junior Caminero TB $5,200 8.90 1.71
Maikel Garcia KC $4,800 8.84 1.84

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Miguel Vargas CWS $3,500 8.67 2.48
Josh Jung TEX $2,800 6.68 2.39
Caleb Durbin BOS $2,600 6.17 2.37
Yoan Moncada LAA $3,500 8.12 2.32

Outfield

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Yordan Alvarez HOU $6,300 11.62 1.84
Aaron Judge NYY $6,700 11.31 1.69
Oneil Cruz PIT $6,200 11.27 1.82
Mike Trout LAA $5,800 10.77 1.86
Corbin Carroll ARI $6,100 10.66 1.75
Andy Pages LAD $5,400 10.55 1.95
James Wood WSH $5,900 10.36 1.76
Byron Buxton MIN $5,000 10.25 2.05

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Myles Straw TOR $2,300 7.29 3.17
Andrew Benintendi CWS $2,600 8.20 3.15
MJ Melendez NYM $2,000 6.09 3.05
Eloy Jimenez TOR $2,000 5.77 2.89
Drew Gilbert SF $2,000 5.70 2.85
Eli White ATL $2,500 7.08 2.83
Randal Grichuk NYY $2,200 6.12 2.78
Wenceel Perez DET $2,200 5.97 2.71

Picks are based on historical performance and match-up. Picks are updated regularly, but we advise that you keep up to date on late-day roster moves and injuries – those are not taken into consideration. Sports from the Basement provides no warranty on these suggestions and readers should make picks at their own risk. Sample lineups are provided as thought-starters, and are not intended for direct use.