We’ve got a teeny, tiny three-game slate for Thursday’s MLB action.
Let’s find some studs and values for your MLB DFS lineups on DraftKings. This article was written before lineups were announced.
Make your DraftKings MLB DFS picks here: MLB $80K Relay Throw [$20K to 1st] (Night)
PITCHER
Stud
Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, $8,300 — Lugo has been solid through his first two starts of 2026. Across 11.1 innings, he’s allowed just two earned runs on nine hits and two walks, while striking out 10. His 1.92 FIP supports his impressive 1.59 ERA. There are some concerns: his average exit velocity is 90.1 mph, his launch angle is 16 degrees, and his 12.1% barrel rate is a career high. In addition, his 22.2% strikeout-rate is around the MLB average. However, the White Sox rank third league-wide in K-rate, along with 25th in ISO, 26th in wRC+, and 29th in wOBA so far this season.
Value
Randy Vasquez, San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies, $7,300 — Vasquez has a career 15.2% strikeout rate, but he’s up at 23.9% through 12 innings in 2026. That’s unlikely to be sustainable, as he hasn’t increased his fastball velocity. His ERA is 0.75, but his FIP is much higher at 2.32, and his BABIP is only .258. Vasquez is certainly over-performing so far, but his underlying metrics may not matter against the Rockies, a team that has been deplorable outside of Coors Field in recent years.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Luis Robert Jr., New York Mets vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, $5,000 — Robert looks rejuvenated in New York, slashing .333/.478/.417 in 42 plate appearances. His 23.8% walk rate and 16.7% strikeout rate are both career-best marks. His ISO, average exit velocity, launch angle, and barrel rate are all low in the early goings, but his bat speed is still solid. As long as Robert is healthy, he should start mashing — it’s just a matter of when. Robert owns a career .216 ISO and 142 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. In 154.1 innings last season, Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez posted a 1.57 HR/9 and 4.85 FIP against righties.
Value
Lane Thomas, Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, $2,300 — Thomas is a short-side of the platoon bat for the Royals, offering some pop and some speed. In 2023 with the Washington Nationals, Thomas hit 28 home runs and stole 20 bases. He stole another 32 bases the following season, so there are multiple paths to scoring fantasy goodies. Thomas has a career .206 ISO and 134 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. He should hit around fifth in the lineup. I was high on Anthony Kay coming into the season, but so far he’s posted a 6.93 FIP with six walks, four earned runs, and only five strikeouts in nine innings.
INFIELD
Stud
Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, $6,000 — Witt is only slashing .273/.365/.295 with a .000 ISO to start the season. He has a career .211 ISO. There’s a good chance he gets his first homer of the season on Thursday, as Kay has been vulnerable to start the season. As with Thomas, Witt has multiple paths to fantasy glory and has already swiped seven bags on the season.
Value
Nick Castellanos, San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies, $2,800 — It’s only been 21 plate appearances for Castellanos, but his ISO is a paltry .100. His power has fallen off over the years, but it was still .150 last season. The strikeout rate is also only 19%, so that’s a good sign. What’s even better is that he’s put up seven, 10, and 13 FPTS in the last three contests, racking up four hits (two doubles) with five RBIs. Chase Dollander throws gas and can miss bats, but he has control problems and has been much worse on the road than at Coors Field.
