Welcome to my weekly Sunday DraftKings MLB DFS plays. I’ll break down some of the prime picks on the board, including studs and value plays, and why these players can lead your lineup to victory.
Set your DraftKings MLB DFS lineups here: MLB $200K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
Top MLB DFS Targets
Pitcher Studs
SP Chris Bassitt (TOR), $8,700: The Kansas City Royals, scuffling all year, have found some life after the All-Star break. Bats have woken up as their hopes of a wild-card chase dwindle. But they regressed to the mean on Saturday, scoring two runs against the Blue Jays. It lines up well for Toronto starter Chris Bassitt. He’s got one of the lowest walk rates in baseball this year, and if the Royals have to earn it with their swings, I’m trusting Bassitt to deliver SP1 value here.
SP Edward Cabrera (MIA), $8,000: After breaking out in 2022, Edward Cabrera has gone through some rough times. Injuries and inefficacy have plagued his past two seasons. Now he’s rounding back into form for the Marlins and gets a Sunday date with the Yankees. Facing this Yankees lineup without Aaron Judge is like wrangling a snake without fangs. If you need a bit more of a discount for your SP1, Edward is your man.
Pitcher Value Plays
SP Frankie Montas (NYM), $7,300: It hasn’t been a fun debut season in New York for Frankie Montas. After signing a one-year deal in the offseason, he’s battled back from injuries to join the rotation, and it hasn’t been going well. Montas owns a 5.46 ERA through six turns on the mound, giving up six home runs in 29.2 innings. Luckily for him, this Giants offense is in a rut. Perplexingly, they’ve been one of the worst offenses in baseball since trading for Rafael Devers. A home date with a scuffling offense is a get-right spot for Frankie.
SP Colin Rea (CHC), $6,900: Colin Rea doesn’t wow you. He won’t go super deep into games or rack up big strikeout totals. But he doesn’t need to be excellent against this post-deadline Orioles offense. Baltimore dealt away Ryan O’Hearn, their All-Star DH slugger, and Ramón Laureano on Thursday. The offense responded with 16 straight scoreless innings in two games against the Cubs before an eighth-inning rally on Saturday. Rea can deliver value with the third-lowest price on the board.
Infield Studs
1B Pete Alonso (NYM), $5,200: Pete Alonso is enjoying himself in this series against the Giants. The Polar Bear homered for a second straight game on Saturday and is carrying the Mets’ lineup against San Francisco. If you’re saving elsewhere, Alonso is a must-start against left-hander Carson Whisenhunt. Though he is a well-regarded prospect, Alonso should have the edge here.
3B Matt Chapman (SF), $4,300: Matt Chapman has a balanced contribution to DFS lineups. He draws a lot of walks, and with how well he runs the bases, it puts him in a good position to score runs. Chappy also provides a lot of power, slugging two home runs on our last Sunday slate. If anyone is going to do some damage from this San Francisco batting order, it’ll be Chapman.
Infield Value Plays
C William Contreras (MIL), $3,900: Right now, William Contreras’ picture is next to the definition of “locked in.” His 5-for-7 Friday night against the Nationals came with six batted balls of 101 MPH+. That’s the most in a single game during the Statcast era. Facing down a rookie in Washington starter Brad Lord, I expect this Brewers lineup to continue eating on Sunday. Contreras will be at the heart of that.
SS Anthony Volpe (NYY), $3,900: Anthony Volpe is playing like the MLB’s version of Jameis Winston right now. VolpE6, as Yankee fans so adoringly nicknamed him, has struggled with the most routine fielding plays all year long. That’s been amplified over the past week. But alongside the gaffes has been tremendous production with the bat and the wheels; the young shortstop has three home runs, three stolen bases, and seven runs scored in his last five games. Despite hitting at the bottom of New York’s lineup, he is more than capable of creating something out of nothing by himself.
Outfield Studs
OF Kyle Stowers (MIA), $5,300: Stower Power is real, folks. The surprise All-Star had a torrential July, bashing 10 home runs while batting .364 with a 1.269 OPS. August may be no different, as the young outfielder roped a grand slam to kick off the stretch run on Friday. The Yankees are trotting out reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil for his season debut on Sunday. If there’s any rust to knock off, Stowers and this hot Marlins squad will be there to jump on it.
OF Steven Kwan (CLE), $4,800: It’s been a stressful week for Steven Kwan. So many trade calls came in that it seemed a certainty the perennial Gold Glover would be on the move. Instead, he remains with Cleveland through the deadline. It’s bad news for the Twins and Sunday’s starter, José Ureña, who is on his fourth team of the season. Kwan rode a nine-game hitting streak into Saturday, scoring ten runs with a .934 OPS over that stretch. As the leadoff hitter against a Twins team nearly cut in half at the deadline, he’s in line to cross home plate once or twice.
Outfield Value Plays
OF Sal Frelick (MIL), $3,900: This one bears watching, as Frelick was removed from Saturday’s game with left knee soreness as a precaution. But if he’s in the lineup, he’s worth playing. Batting at the top of a hot Brewers lineup, the young outfielder has tremendous run-scoring potential if he can get on base.
OF Ángel Martínez (CLE), $3,300: If you need a real bargain-bin option, Cleveland’s young center fielder is your man. Often batting in the two-hole when he plays, Martínez has the potential to capitalize on whatever offense he can generate. Even as a below-average hitter, sitting between Kwan and José Ramírez gives him upside. And if this game gets ugly against Ureña, then Ángel can deliver value.
