There’s a seven-game featured MLB DFS slate tonight on DraftKings and things get going right at 7:05 p.m. ET in the Bronx with a big matchup between two AL teams with playoff aspirations.
What do we aspire to? How about winning $50,000? Allow me to dive in and break down a few of my favorite picks for Thursday’s action on the diamond.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $150K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves at Athletics, $9,500 – Strider’s coming off a bit of a down start against the Orioles, where he surrendered a pair of home runs and only managed 14.7 FPTS. However, I’m going to look at the positives. Strider was still lighting up the radar gun in that contest, making it four of his last five appearances where the average fastball velocity has been at or above 96.0 mph. That’s a big deal, as Strider possesses a 2.35 FIP and a 32.2% strikeout rate within that same span of time. Meanwhile, the Athletics own baseball’s highest strikeout rate over the past two weeks (26.7%). You can see where I’m going with this. Strider has huge potential on this slate. Maybe even double-digit strikeout potential.
Value
Jonathan Cannon, Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians, $6,400 – The bottom-half of the pitcher pricing list is a minefield. This truly might be a slate where you need to pay-up twice above the $8,000 plateau. Still, if you are interested in a possible value option, you could do much worse than Cannon. The right-hander is on the heels of surviving Coors Field, allowing just a pair of earned runs across 5.1 innings of work. I’d be lying if I said Cannon’s viability was about his own skill, though. It’s definitely more about his matchup. The Guardians’ bats started to come alive this week in Houston, but over the past 14 days, the team remains dead-last in MLB in batting average (.182), wOBA (.250) and wRC+ (58). At this price, Cannon’s at least worth a shot.
INFIELD
Stud
Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox, $4,500 – Think we’ve gotten to the point where we can say with certainty that Aranda isn’t some flash in the pan. Not only has the first baseman been named an All-Star, but Aranda comes into Thursday night’s tilt in possession of 98th percentile marks in both hard hit rate (56.1%) and expected batting average (.311). He’ll get the opportunity to add to his amazing stat line in a matchup with Walker Buehler ($6,900), who has conceded a .333 average and a .396 wOBA to opposing LHBs as a Red Sox. Needless to say, it’s a nice spot for Aranda and all other left-handed Rays.
Stud
Corey Seager, Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels, $4,500 – By this point, I think everyone is aware that Jack Kochanowicz ($6,200) struggles with LHBs. To that point, the Angels’ RHP has allowed opposing lefties to hit 2.15 home runs per nine with a .300 batting average this season. Yikes. The Rangers have several good left-handed bats, but the list begins with Seager, who seems to finally have broken out of a nasty mid-year slump. It’s early, but the former All-Star is batting .367 in July with seven extra-base knocks. I’d say he’s seeing the ball well again.
Value
Edgar Quero, Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians, $2,800 – Quero hasn’t hit for much power in his rookie campaign, as evidenced by a .067 ISO that is the 12th-lowest mark of the 247 players with at least 200 plate appearances in 2025. Still, what little offensive upside the backstop has showcased has been as a right-handed hitter. In his 67 PAs within the split, Quero is slashing .435/.478/.548 with a 192 wRC+. This after a pair of doubles off the left-handed Eric Lauer on Wednesday afternoon. Logan Allen ($7,700) would be wise to pitch to this rookie catcher quite carefully.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Randy Arozarena, Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees, $5,100 – Few bats are hotter at the moment than Arozarena, who is somehow still cheaper in DFS than the struggling Julio Rodriguez ($5,300). Across his past 20 games, Arozarena is slashing .321/.368/.667 with a .346 ISO and a 186 wRC+. I’m excited to see what kind of damage the veteran outfielder will be able to do this evening in a matchup with Marcus Stroman ($6,000) and his 7.45 ERA. Stroman is walking almost as many opponents has he’s striking out in 2025. Simply put, the former first-round pick looks cooked on the mound.
Value
Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians, $3,500 – It’s obviously been a nightmarish campaign for Robert, but if there have been any bright spots, they’ve tended to come against LHPs. To wit, in his 73 plate appearances against lefties this season, Robert has managed an .865 OPS and a 142 wRC+. He also has a .408 OBP within the split, which is great, because he needs to actually be on base to add to his total of 22 steals. Robert and the aforementioned Allen have had several AL Central battles with the outfielder owning a .333 average off the southpaw with a pair of doubles. At this price tag, that’s all enough to warrant some attention.
