All 30 teams across Major League Baseball are taking the field this evening. On this 15-game featured slate, there’s plenty of enticing options for fantasy baseball managers. Let’s dive into the matchups and take a look at my top MLB DFS picks for Friday.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Extra Inning [$50K to 1st]
Pitchers
Stud
SP Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins at KC ($9,100): July saw a flurry of activity from the Twins, who dealt off several major pieces. However, Minnesota chose to hold on to Joe Ryan, despite plenty of interest around the league. Looking over the All-Star’s numbers, it’s easy to see why. This season, the right-hander owns a 2.83 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 141 strikeouts. Ryan has surrendered two runs or less in eight of his previous ten starts.
Minnesota’s ace is poised for another dominant outing this evening. The Royals are averaging an American League-worst 3.70 runs scored per game. In addition, Ryan has absolutely owned this matchup in the past. Over nine career meetings with Kansas City, the 29-year-old has notched a 1.30 ERA. With fellow ace Seth Lugo ($8,300) pitching, a win might be hard to come by for the Twins. Regardless, Ryan is someone to target against this light-hitting KC lineup.
Infield
Stud
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays at LAD ($5,900): The Blue Jays sit atop the AL East, thanks to one of baseball’s deepest lineups. Leading Toronto has been face of the franchise Vladimir Guerrero Jr., still one of the game’s most consistent hitters. Through 114 games played, the first baseman is slashing .296/.398/.481 with 18 homers and 62 RBIs. On Wednesday, the five-time All-Star tallied four hits and a two-run dinger against the Rockies.
Tonight’s matchup against the Dodgers presents a far more difficult challenge. Toeing the slab for Los Angeles will be future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw ($7,500). Through 65.2 innings pitched, the southpaw has accounted for a 3.29 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 42 strikeouts. Those numbers, while solid, are a far cry from the veteran’s Cy Young-winning prime. Guerrero Jr. is hitting .324 against left-handed pitching this season. Entering Friday on a hot streak, Toronto’s standout slugger is poised for another stellar stat line.
Value
1B Kyle Manzardo, Cleveland Guardians at CWS ($3,700): When looking for a value play, sometimes the savviest move is to swing for the fences (literally). Kyle Manzardo is far from the most consistent hitter. The 25-year-old owns a mediocre .235 batting average. With that being said, Cleveland’s first baseman possesses plenty of pop, having crushed 18 home runs. Manzardo’s .225 isolated power currently ranks as the 23rd-best mark in baseball this season.
In the right matchup, an all-or-nothing slugger can do some serious damage. Tonight’s opposing starter, Aaron Civale ($7,100), fits the profile of someone that Manzardo can produce against. Chicago’s right-hander owns a mediocre HR/9 ratio of 1.3. In addition, he’s posted a career-worst 34.3% flyball percentage. When these squads met on July 13th, Manzardo crushed a three-run bomb off of the veteran pitcher. Is a repeat performance in store on Friday? At just $3,700, it’s worth taking a flier on the youngster.
OUTFIELD
Stud
OF Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. COL ($6,300): The Diamondbacks made the difficult decision to sell off assets at the trade deadline. However, Arizona still has one of the National League’s better lineups. That’s due in large part to franchise cornerstone Corbin Carroll. This season, the outfielder is slashing .247/.323/.546 with 23 homers, 56 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. A career-best .298 ISO and 33.1% flyball percentage have led to some prolific power from the 24-year-old.
Those numbers alone are enough to give Carroll serious consideration in your fantasy lineups. A date with the atrocious Rockies makes things even more enticing. Granted, this game will be played in Phoenix, not at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Still, Colorado’s pitching is bad regardless of the venue. Friday’s starter, Austin Gomber ($5,000), owns a miserable 6.15 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. Over 13 career at-bats against the right-hander, Carroll has gone 6-for-13 with two homers. Despite the high price, Arizona’s young superstar is worth backing tonight.
Value
OF Ivan Herrera, St. Louis Cardinals vs. CHC ($3,900): Ivan Herrera, much like his Cardinals teammates, has flown under the radar this season. St. Louis’ part-time backstop, part-time outfielder missed several weeks dealing with a hamstring strain. Still, when healthy, he’s an impact player. Over 62 games played, the 25-year-old is slashing .305/.389/.480 with ten home runs and 41 RBIs. Herrera has been lethal in August, recording two or more hits in three of his last five games.
On paper, this isn’t an ideal matchup for any Cardinals hitter. Cubs starter Matthew Boyd ($8,800) has been terrific all year, posting a 2.34 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 118 strikeouts. However, the lefty is at a disadvantage against Herrera. Over 55 at-bats, the right-hander owns a phenomenal 1.300 OPS against southpaws in 2025. Averaging a stellar 8.3 fantasy points per game, Herrera could be a steal tonight at less than $4,000.
