I went out and bought myself sunglasses this morning because after a long, cold winter, it’s starting to turn towards summer. And in the United States, summer means one thing: baseball.
For DFS players, the beauty of the MLB’s 162-game season is that nearly every team suits up nearly every day, so there are lots of contests and lots of options. Here are two pitchers, three infielders, and three outfielders I’m targeting for tonight’s action. As usual when there’s a larger slate, my eight players all come from different games.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $250K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals vs. Colorado Rockies, $8,900 – This game will truly be a battle of bad offenses, with both of these below-.500 squads ranking near the bottom of the league’s leaderboard in virtually every major hitting category (and Colorado flailing in the pitching categories, too). Imagine this: the Rockies have hit the third-fewest home runs in all of the major leagues despite playing their home games at 5,280′. One bright spot on these rosters is Bubic, who returned from 2023 Tommy John surgery with the best form of his career: a 1.88 ERA, 2.70 FIP, 3.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and an average of 21.4 FPTS per game. He did struggle with his control last Wednesday against the New York Yankees but should bounce back against a Colorado lineup that has drawn the third-fewest walks.
Value
Bailey Ober, Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox – This one’s pretty simple — see the White Sox, target the White Sox. Chicago is 5-17 this season after finishing 41-121 in 2024 — only better than the aforementioned Rockies — and it struggles at virtually all aspects of hitting, ranking dead last in all of the slash line categories. Ober, meanwhile, has a not-so-good 6.16 ERA so far this season, but all of the damage came in his first start of the season, when he lasted just 2.2 innings and gave up eight runs on eight hits and three walks (-10.6 FPTS). In his three starts since then, he’s gone 16.1 innings and conceded just five earned runs with a 14:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio (16.2 FPTS per game). Throughout his career, he’s consistently been better than league average, so it’s fair to consider the first start an aberration.
INFIELDER
Stud
Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs, $5,700 – It’s almost been a disappointing season so far for Betts, even though the team has gotten off to a solid start in its title defense, winning 16 of its first 23 games — a better winning percentage than it posted during last year’s championship run. The one-time MVP is slashing just .243/.356/.432 — his worst OPS of his career — and more worryingly, his bat speed, average exit velocity, and hard-hit rate have all declined for the second straight season. Thankfully, though, Shota Imanaga ($8,500) throws fastballs on more than 50% of his pitches despite allowing a .389 wOBA on the pitch, while Betts has a .409 wOBA on fastballs this season.
Stud
Shea Langeliers, Athletics vs. Texas Rangers, $4,200 – I’m pivoting from Langeliers’ teammate, Tyler Soderstrom ($5,200), who I picked twice last week. Langeliers been a bit boom or bust, hitting for a low .211 average but plenty of power, with five home runs to his name already in 2025. But the 27-year-old has a lot to like: he ranks at the MLB median or better in every single Statcast hitting category and his elite pop time behind the plate should keep him in the everyday lineup. Plus, while he’s done better on the road than at home so far, Sutter Health Park has seen plenty of offense, and Texas starter Patrick Corbin ($6,000) is about five years past his prime.
Value
Rhys Hoskins, Milwaukee Brewers at San Francisco Giants, $3,900 – Hoskins has really turned his season around in the last six games, combining to hit nine-for-19 with three homers, eight RBI’s, and four runs scored (13.5 FPTS per game) across that stretch. The 32-year-old slugger had a rough season in 2024 after missing all of the 2023 campaign with an injury — slashing just .214/.303/.419 — but he’s bounced back so far with advanced metrics more in line with his career averages. Giants starter Jordan Hicks ($7,400), meanwhile, has conceded three or more runs in each of his past three starts. Hoskins loves to hit fastballs, and the flame-throwing Hicks loves to deliver them. He also rarely chases, while Hicks rarely induces them.
OUTFIELDER
Stud
Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Tampa Bay Rays, $6,100 – Carroll is one of the most expensive players on the slate, but it’s for good reason — he’s been excellent this season and has three 20-plus-FPT performances in his last six games. The 24-year-old brings an excellent combination of power and speed, slashing .323/.394/.645 with seven homers and four stolen bases so far this season as the Diamondbacks are a solid 13-9. The Rays, meanwhile, have a middle-of-the-pack pitching staff overall, but they’ve struggled with the long ball, allowing 34 already, including six by starter Zack Littell ($7,000). Chase Field is also one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball overall.
Stud
George Springer, Toronto Blue Jays at Houston Astros, $4,400 – Springer has slowed down a little bit — in his last 10 games, he’s slashing just .233/.333/.433 — but for the season, his numbers are ridiculous: a .349 batting average that ties for sixth in all of the major leagues, nine walks and four stolen bases — two of which came in yesterday’s 7-0 defeat. The former Astro is also familiar with Daikin Park, which just so happens to be one of the league’s most hitter-friendly venues, per Statcast. Meanwhile, Ronel Blanco ($7,600) hasn’t yet gone more than five innings, and he’s given up three or more runs in three of his starts and handed out three or more free passes in three of them.
Value
Victor Scott II, St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves, $3,600 – The 24-year-old is a classic utility man: he doesn’t hit for a lot of power, but he’s a decent contact hitter, walks a fair amount, and has blazing speed while being a defensive ace. His 91st percentile glove and 98th percentile legs will keep him in the lineup, and even though he’s only had five multi-hit games this season, he’s continued to be a fantasy asset because he’s recorded eight stolen bases, the second-most in baseball. Whichever catcher is behind the plate for the Braves — whether that’s Sean Murphy ($4,400) or Drake Baldwin ($2,600) — has a merely average pop time, and if their pitcher is indeed the newly-acquired Scott Blewett, his pitches are all below-average in velocity.
