Author: Derek Helling

If you’ve never tried DraftKings Sportsbook before and you get into baseball, it’s time to take your swings. The only way you miss out on this DraftKings MLB Opening Day promo is if you stake a team that ends up on the short side of a no-hitter.

As the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies start their 2021 seasons, the book has yet to be written on how they’ll fare. With this NJ sports betting promotion, though, it’s likely bettors will turn $1 into $100.

Details of the DraftKings MLB Opening Day promo

The most crucial piece of information here is that this deal is just for new DraftKings customers. Don’t worry, DK vets. The NJ sports betting app has MLB promos for you, as well.

The Bet $1 Win $100 promo for first-time users is pretty simple. After you register your account (via the link above), deposit at least $10. Then, place a moneyline wager of at least $1 on any MLB team for any game taking place from April 1 to April 30.

If any player on the team you stake gets a hit, you get the $100 bonus. For example, say you put at least a dollar on the Yankees to beat the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday.

Then, say New York infielder DJ LeMahieu gets a hit in his first plate appearance of the game. You qualify for the promo credit at that point regardless of how the rest of the game goes.

If the Yankees were to win the game, you would also get your winnings from your straight bet as well. Your payout there would be based on how much you wager and the odds at the time, as always.

It’s important to note the conditions and terms here, though. This isn’t defensive indifference from DraftKings, letting you steal $100.

The fine print on the deal

The $100 is essentially site credit, issued as four $25 free bets. There’s a playthrough requirement, which means you must make further wagers using the credit before you can withdraw any of the funds.

Additionally, if you win any subsequent bets, you’ll just get the profit off your wager, not including any of the promotional value.

Finally, you have to use the free bets within a seven-day period. Any unused credit expires after seven days.

So, how do things look for the Mets, Phillies, and Yankees getting at least one hit in their first regular-season games of 2021? Actually, pretty fantastic.

Matchups for Thursday for regional MLB teams

The matchups for all three teams look great in this regard. All three teams have multiple batters who have performed admirably in the past in matchups with their opposition’s scheduled starters.

A highlight of the crowd of five players with at least six ABs against Toronto starter Hyun Jin Ryu is LeMahieu, who is hitting .261 off Ryu in his 23 career ABs. Fellow Yankees Clint Frazier and Giancarlo Stanton both have .333 averages in six ABs.

For Philadelphia, catcher JT Realmuto is the best candidate to deliver here. He has 18 career ABs against Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried, with a .389 average.

The Washington Nationals’ Max Scherzer has perplexed many hitters throughout his career, but two Mets have decent track records here. Michael Conforto has hit .379 off Scherzer in 29 ABs while Jonathan Villar comes in at .313 in 16 ABs.

DraftKings can’t do anything about whether the team you stake wins its Opening Day game. It can, however, start your season off right with a promo like this.

AP Photo/Matt Rourke