Best MLB DFS Picks for Thursday, June 25, 2026: Top Value Plays for Today’s Slate

Thursday’s MLB main slate features seven games with first pitch beginning at 6:10 PM ET. The matchups range from a pitching-forward environment in Cincinnati to a loaded offensive setting in St. Louis, giving DFS players plenty of angles to exploit. Whether you are building a cash game lineup or taking shots in a GPP tournament, today’s slate has clear value spots worth targeting.

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The approach today centers on a pair of high-upside starting pitchers alongside three hitters positioned for favorable matchups and strong production floors. Here are five players to build around for your Thursday DraftKings MLB DFS lineup.

Kevin Gausman, SP — Toronto Blue Jays ($8,500 DK)

Gausman has been one of the more consistent arms in the American League this season, and at $8,500 on DraftKings he represents the sweet spot between salary relief and genuine strikeout upside. His 2026 numbers — 4.04 ERA, 89 strikeouts, and 1.13 WHIP through 89 innings — reflect a veteran pitcher who limits walks and generates consistent volume. His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 89:20 is elite, and on DraftKings that kind of command efficiency compounds into strong scoring floors on a nightly basis.

Gausman served as Toronto’s Opening Day starter and has anchored their rotation all season. His last 15-start stretch covering 83 innings produced 78 strikeouts — about 5.2 per start — and his career history shows he can reach 20-plus DK points in any given outing when he is on. He faces the Houston Astros on Thursday, and while the Astros lineup demands respect, Gausman’s splitter-heavy approach and above-average command give him the floor that cash game lineups require. He is not a set-and-forget play, but at $8,500, the value is real when the two top pitchers on the board are clearing $10,000.

Freddy Peralta, SP — New York Mets ($7,500 DK)

Peralta came to New York in January 2026 as part of a trade that sent Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to Milwaukee. His transition to the Mets has been mixed on the surface — a 4.83 ERA across 16 starts — but the underlying numbers tell a more compelling story. Statcast projects his xFIP at 3.83, nearly a full run better than his ERA, suggesting he has been on the wrong side of variance. His strikeout rate sits at 22.1 percent, and his career track record of multiple 200-strikeout seasons confirms the swing-and-miss ability has not gone anywhere.

At $7,500 against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, Peralta is one of the best salary-saving pitchers on the entire board. He is a GPP-specific play rather than a cash game anchor, but in tournament formats this is the kind of contrarian arm that can separate your lineup from the chalk. If he settles in and gets deep into the game, a 20-point outing is well within range. The DraftKings review breaks down how pitching scores work across contest types if you want to factor that in when deciding between Peralta and a safer full-price option.

Jackson Chourio, OF — Milwaukee Brewers ($5,600 DK)

Chourio has become one of the most exciting hitters to target in DFS after returning healthy from a hand fracture that delayed his 2026 season. Since his return, he has been exceptional — hitting .293 with a .867 OPS and 10 home runs in just 184 at-bats. Over his last 15 games, Chourio has gone absolutely scorching: a .313 average, 6 home runs, and 14 RBI in a stretch that has reminded everyone why he was one of the most coveted young players entering the league.

On Thursday, Chourio is confirmed in the Brewers lineup batting second at Great American Ball Park against Cincinnati’s Rhett Lowder, who carries a 4.82 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP through 52 innings. Lowder has been very hittable this season, and the combination of Chourio’s hot bat, a premium lineup spot, and a vulnerable starter makes this one of the most compelling value plays on today’s DFS board. DailyFantasyFuel projects him for 10.1 fantasy points at 1.80 projected points per $1,000 — among the best values at any position in the $5,000-$6,000 range. Pair him with a second Brewers bat like Christian Yelich or William Contreras to build stack correlation in this game. Check out current DraftKings promo code offers if you are setting up a new account before tonight’s slate.

Elly De La Cruz, SS — Cincinnati Reds ($5,300 DK)

De La Cruz is one of the most unique players in baseball from a DFS value perspective — a shortstop who combines legitimate home run power with stolen base upside, running production across multiple scoring categories every time he takes the field. His 2026 season has been strong: .277 average, .509 slugging, .844 OPS, 12 home runs, and 10 stolen bases through 58 games. He bats second in the Cincinnati lineup and sees regular run-scoring opportunities from that slot, meaning his counting stats pile up quickly in good games.

Thursday’s matchup against Shane Drohan of Milwaukee is a tougher test — Drohan is sharp with a 3.40 ERA and 1.17 WHIP — but De La Cruz is a switch hitter who bats right-handed against left-handed pitching, and his right-handed splits have generally been his stronger side. His 2026 April production (.298 average, .577 slugging) showed what the ceiling looks like when he is hitting his spots, and at $5,300 on DraftKings his 1.88 projected points per $1,000 is the best rate of any value bat on today’s full slate. He is a cash game play who also offers GPP upside if the power shows up, and his stolen base potential is a bonus that few other options in his salary range can match. The live MLB odds for the MIL vs. CIN game will help you assess the implied totals before locking him in.

Corbin Carroll, OF — Arizona Diamondbacks ($5,500 DK)

Carroll returned from hamate bone surgery to post one of the more impressive first-half lines in the National League. His 2026 slash of .279/.365/.537 adds up to a .902 OPS — fifth-best in the NL — with 13 home runs, 9 stolen bases, and 48 runs scored in 76 games. His slugging percentage ranks fourth in the entire National League, and his multi-category contribution makes him reliable whether you are building for cash or trying to win a large-field GPP.

In June, Carroll has continued to produce: a .269 average with 10 extra-base hits over 17 games is right in line with his season-long production. Arizona heads to St. Louis on Thursday to face Michael McGreevy, who carries a 3.35 ERA for the Cardinals. It is not a soft matchup, but Carroll’s elite OPS floor, ability to reach base consistently, and multi-category scoring profile make him one of the most reliable at-bats in the $5,000-$6,000 DraftKings range. His approach at the plate — 36 walks and 9 stolen bases alongside the power numbers — gives DFS lineups multiple paths to a big game from the outfield spot. If you want to shop the contest offerings across platforms before tonight, the FanDuel promo code page has the latest bonuses for new users.

Building Your Thursday Lineup

The best stack on today’s seven-game slate runs through the Brewers-Reds game at Great American Ball Park, where Milwaukee faces Rhett Lowder’s 4.82 ERA and Cincinnati gets Shane Drohan’s sharper 3.40. Chourio is the anchor, and adding Yelich or Contreras from the Brewers lineup builds natural game correlation. If you want to go contrarian, targeting the Reds side with De La Cruz and JJ Bleday gives you exposure to a Cincinnati lineup that has pop throughout the order.

Paying down at pitcher with Peralta at $7,500 instead of a $10,000-plus arm frees up significant salary to fill the rest of your roster with quality bats. Gausman at $8,500 is the middle ground if you want a pitcher with a stronger floor but still need cap space for the value hitters. For cash games, Gausman, Chourio, De La Cruz, and Carroll as a four-player core gives you excellent projected value across positions. In GPP formats, swapping Gausman for Peralta frees up another $1,000 to spend up at a hitter. Today’s DFS promotions page is a good stop if you want to explore deposit bonuses or first-contest offers before the 6:10 PM ET first pitch.