Thursday’s features a four-game DraftKings MLB DFS slate that starts at 12:15 p.m. ET.
As such, there’s no time to dilly-dally. Let’s get right into the picks.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $100K Relay Throw [$25K to 1st]
PITCHER
Value
Chris Paddack, Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles, $7,300 – The Twins are the hottest team in baseball, entering play on Thursday in the midst of a 10-game winning streak. Paddack has been a large part of that success. The right-hander is directly on the heels of his best performance of the season, allowing one earned run over 7.1 innings against the Giants last week. Across his past six starts, Paddack is in possession of a 2.51 ERA and he’s held his opponents to a paltry .248 wOBA. The strikeout potential is far from elite, but you can’t quibble with the results. The Orioles’ also own MLB’s third-highest strikeout rate over the past 30 days (25.2%), so there’s a chance they’ll provide their own swing and miss.
INFIELD
Stud
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays, $4,900 – It’s nice to get Guerrero in a lineup for less than $5,000, even if he’s only currently mustering a .127 ISO. He’s still Vlad — at least that’s what a .384 expected wOBA suggests — and he’s in a dangerous matchup on Thursday afternoon against Zack Littell ($7,500). Not only is Guerrero 3-for-5 in his career off the Rays’ RHP, but Littell’s conceding 2.10 home runs per nine to RHBs so far in 2025. That’s tempting.
Value
Santiago Espinal, Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago White Sox, $3,400 – Generally speaking, Espinal is at his best as a platoon bat, as evidenced by a career .300 batting average against LHPs. However, the utility infielder has recently been batting second in the Reds’ lineup against righties, so he’s worth consideration at this modest price tag. It helps that Bryse Wilson ($5,000) is on the mound for the White Sox, too. Wilson’s faced 77 RHBs in 2025 and they’ve combined to slash .342/.377/.589 with a .417 wOBA.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays, $4,300 – Varsho is another Blue Jay with great career numbers off Littell, as the outfielder is 4-for-9 with a double and a home run. More important than that? Varsho has been incredibly locked in since returning from the IL and a shoulder issue that cost him all of April. To wit, in 45 plate appearances, Varsho owns a .400 ISO and a 133 wRC+. He’s striking out more than you’d like, but when he makes contact, watch out. Varsho currently possesses a .599 expected wOBA on batted ball events.
Value
Alex Verdugo, Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals, $3,700 – I’m having a hard time believing Verdugo is still hitting leadoff for the Braves against RHPs — but he is. To be fair, Verdugo’s putrid numbers versus LHPs really bring his total stat line down, as he’s batting .289 with a 107 wRC+ in his 82 plate appearances specifically when facing a right-hander. Today, that’ll be Trevor Williams ($7,000), who sports an inflated 5.88 ERA in 2025. It’s been opposing LHBs that have done Williams in this season, with the veteran surrendering a .625 slugging percentage and a .450 wOBA within the split. Woof.
