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 Trevor Rogers (BAL), $9,100: This season hasn’t gone as planned for the Baltimore Orioles, but Trevor Rogers’ turnaround has been a significant development. After trading multiple prospects (including All-Star Kyle Stowers) to get Rogers at the deadline last year, he pitched to a 7.11 ERA in only four starts down the stretch run. This year, Rogers has a 1.41 ERA in 12 turns. In his last five, he’s given up only four runs in 35 total innings, racking up at least 21.5 DFS points in each turn. Lock him into your MLB DFS lineup and don’t think twice.
SP Jack Flaherty (DET), $8,600: If you can’t quite justify Rogers in the inner-circle studs tier, Flaherty is your next-best bet. He’s been having a rough year for Detroit, pitching to a 4.51 ERA in 25 starts. But he is striking out 11.1 batters per nine innings, which brings value. He also gets a date with a Kansas City Royals offense that has struggled all year, and is coming off seven shutout innings against the Astros. If there’s a time to play Flaherty in your lineup, it’s now.
Pitcher Value Plays
SP David Peterson (NYM), $7,800: Peterson is my favorite value play on the board. Though the Braves have picked things up offensively, Peterson consistently finds a way to get deep into games without getting shelled. Aside from one struggle spot (against the Braves, no less), he’s gone at least six innings in seven of his last eight starts, giving up one or fewer earned runs five times. He’s due for some revenge against Atlanta.
SP Taj Bradley (MIN), $7,500: Bradley is an alternative I’m less confident in, but worth playing in an unfriendly pitcher slate. He’s slated to make his first start for the Twins on Sunday, facing a White Sox team that tagged him for four runs in 1.2 innings in his last start as a Ray. The metrics suggest he’s due for some luck, and he’s facing a Chicago lineup that lacks explosive potential. He’s your last handhold before the pitching goes off a cliff in this slate.
Infield Studs
SS Gunnar Henderson (BAL), $5,400: If you need an infielder to anchor your lineup, look no further than Henderson. Going into Saturday’s action, Henderson is riding a 14-game on-base streak. The young shortstop has seven extra-base hits, seven runs scored, two stolen bases and 10 RBIs over that span. Going up against struggling Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti, getting an Oriole or two in the lineup is a strong move for this Sunday’s slate.
1B Vinnie Pasquantino (KC), $4,300: Pasquantino is hotter than the surface of the sun. Though his five-game home run streak ended on Saturday, he knocked in another run for the Royals. That gives him 10 runs knocked in over his last six games with an OPS well over 1.500. If anyone is going to put some damage on Tigers starter Flaherty, it’ll be Pasquantino.
Infield Value Plays
2B/3B Brett Baty (NYM), $3,600: It’s taken a while for former first-round pick Brett Baty to get settled, but he’s finally found an everyday spot in manager Carlos Mendoza’s lineup. He’s making a ton of hard contact and adding an extra element of danger to this Mets offense. Riding a seven-game hitting streak into Sunday, he’s got a great spot against Atlanta starter Bryce Elder, who has a 6.29 ERA on the season.
C Alejandro Kirk (TOR), $3,400: Alejandro Kirk isn’t the flashiest player, but he gets the job done. Toronto’s All-Star gets on base consistently while hitting for some power and keeping the line moving. The Blue Jays’ offense has been elite over the past few weeks, and getting a piece of that group is crucial to building your lineup. It should be Kirk, who has three home runs, eight RBIs and six runs scored across his last seven games.
3B/OF Daniel Schneemann (CLE), $3,300: Another subdued value play to keep our salaries down. In August, Schneemann has only batted second or third for the Guardians when in the lineup. That’s resulted in a decent amount of runs scored to reward his on-base skills. He’s got power and base-stealing abilities, and is likely to be involved when Cleveland’s offense gets anything going. Against homer-prone Texas starter Merrill Kelly, Schneemann could deliver big value as a boom-bust option.
Outfield Studs
OF Juan Soto (NYM), $5,800: As I mentioned before, targeting hitters facing Elder is a smash spot. And who better to rack up MLB DFS points than Juan Soto? He’s having a very productive August, belting seven home runs and stealing five bases while posting an OPS near 1.000. When the damage comes against Elder, Soto will be at the heart of it. Make him a fixture in your lineup.
Outfield Value Plays
OF Wyatt Langford (TEX), $3,900: Wyatt Langford is quietly putting together an excellent season for the Texas Rangers. Closing in on his first 20-20 season, the 23-year-old has been hitting very well in August, with an OPS over .900. Now that he’s moving to the top of the order, batting before slugger Corey Seager, he carries extra value. For a value price, he can deliver in a big way, with three 20+ DFS point performances in his last seven games.
OF Brandon Marsh (PHI), $3,400: Sometimes you need to take a chance on a guy with your last salary slot. It hasn’t been an excellent season for Marsh, being reduced to platoon hitting at times while struggling to generate consistent offense. But he tends to hit sixth or seventh against righties, and faces Nationals starter Jake Irvin, who has been struggling. For the sake of getting better players in the lineup, we’ll have to hope Marsh can put something together against a scuffling righty.
