Best MLB DFS Picks Today: Top Value Plays for August 23, 2026

Sunday’s MLB slate is stacked with 13 games and a full afternoon-into-evening window, giving DFS players plenty of salary flexibility to build both cash lineups and GPP stacks. With several teams still fighting for playoff positioning in late August, expect motivated bats and a handful of exploitable pitching matchups across the board.

Today’s approach leans on a mix of a red-hot value arm on the mound, a couple of bounce-back bats heating up at the right time, and lineup-spot certainty at the corner infield and outfield positions. Here are five MLB DFS picks worth building around for today’s slate.

Cal Quantrill, SP — Texas Rangers ($6,800 DK / $7,800 FD) vs. LAA

Quantrill has quietly turned into one of the better value arms in baseball since sliding into the Rangers rotation to cover for the injured Nathan Eovaldi. Across his last five outings he’s posted a 3.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a strong 54:22 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 77.2 innings, and he was outstanding in his most recent start, tossing seven scoreless innings against a difficult NL lineup without issuing a single walk.

Today’s matchup against the Angels sets up well. Los Angeles ranks near the bottom of MLB in run production over the second half, and Quantrill gets to work at Globe Life Field, a park that has played fair for pitchers this season. His K/9 sits at a modest 6.3, so he’s not a huge strikeout-upside target, but the floor here is excellent for cash games — he’s allowed more than two earned runs in a start only rarely over his last stretch of work.

At $6,800 on DraftKings, Quantrill is priced well below the top-tier arms on the slate like Cristopher Sanchez, freeing up salary to pay up at other positions while still rostering a pitcher with a legitimate shot at a win and a clean ERA line.

Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B — Kansas City Royals ($4,200 DK) vs. DET

Pasquantino has been must-play since coming off the injured list, and the salary hasn’t caught up to the production yet. Since returning from right wrist soreness, he’s gone 9-for-19 (.474) across his last five games with two home runs, three doubles, four RBI, and five runs scored. For the season he’s now hitting .244 with 8 homers and 37 RBI, but it’s the recent surge that matters most for today’s lineup construction.

Facing the Tigers, Pasquantino gets a matchup where he’s shown he can do damage, and his on-base skills give him a strong floor even on days the power doesn’t show up. He rarely strikes out in bunches, which keeps him in play for both cash games and GPP builds. At $4,200, he’s priced like a middling complementary bat, but the underlying form suggests he should be treated as a value play up near the top of the first base pool today.

Agustin Ramirez, C — Miami Marlins ($3,600 DK) vs. WAS

Catcher remains one of the shallowest positions on any given slate, and Ramirez offers a rare combination of a favorable matchup and a manageable price tag. He’s put together a strong week at the plate, going 4-for-15 with two RBI, four runs scored, three walks, two doubles, and a stolen base over his last several games, pushing his season OPS to .682.

Washington’s rotation situation on Sunday adds another layer of appeal — the Nationals are relying on a shaky arm to soak up innings, which could mean an early bullpen game and more favorable at-bats as Miami’s lineup churns through relievers. Ramirez has also shown real thump against left-handed pitching this season, posting a .955 OPS in that split, giving him extra appeal on days Miami faces a southpaw earlier in games. For $3,600, he offers a strong combination of floor and spike upside at a position where neither is easy to find.

Heriberto Hernandez, OF — Miami Marlins ($3,700 DK) vs. WAS

Hernandez has emerged as one of the best power bats in Miami’s surprising 2026 season, and he’s a natural pairing with Ramirez if you want to build a Marlins stack against a taxed Washington pitching staff. He launched his 19th home run of the season this past weekend, and his overall line sits at .227 with 19 homers, 52 RBI, and a .758 OPS — well above what his salary suggests for an everyday outfielder.

The matchup context matters here too. Hernandez has hit noticeably better against left-handed pitching this season, and if Washington leans on left-handed relief options behind whichever starter opens the game, he becomes an even stronger target for both power and on-base production. He doesn’t offer batting-average safety on a bad night, but the power ceiling is real, making him a strong GPP piece who can also hold up fine in cash formats given his everyday role in the middle of Miami’s order.

Jose Altuve, 2B — Houston Astros ($4,200 DK) vs. ATH

Second base can get thin fast once the top-tier names get expensive, and Altuve gives DFS players a proven bat without needing to break the bank. He’s hitting .247 with 13 home runs, 37 RBI, and a .706 OPS on the season, and while his last week has been more about contact than power — nine hits over his last six games — he remains one of the more consistent lineup-spot options on the entire slate, anchoring the top of Houston’s order.

Today’s matchup against the Athletics is exactly the kind of spot where a bat like Altuve should be rostered aggressively. Oakland’s pitching staff has struggled to keep the ball in the yard and limit contact quality, and Houston’s lineup — even in a down offensive season — should see plenty of opportunities against a rebuilding Athletics roster. Altuve’s low strikeout rate and top-of-the-order role give him a strong floor, and any home run adds significant DraftKings and FanDuel scoring upside given the leadoff at-bats.

Building Your Lineup

The Marlins-Nationals game stands out as a strong stacking environment today given Washington’s rotation questions, and pairing Ramirez with Hernandez lets you attack that matchup from multiple angles without overcommitting salary. On the pitching side, Quantrill offers a safer, cheaper alternative to the handful of premium arms on the board, which frees up cap space to pay up elsewhere — whether that’s a top-tier outfielder or a bat like Pasquantino who’s actively heating up at the plate.

For cash games, prioritize the floor plays here: Quantrill on the mound and Altuve at the top of Houston’s lineup both offer low bust risk relative to their price points. For GPPs, consider fading some of the popular, higher-owned stars in favor of value bats like Pasquantino and Hernandez, both of whom carry real spike upside without carrying the ownership percentage of the slate’s biggest names. As always, check the live MLB odds and final lineup confirmations before locking anything in, since late scratches and last-minute lineup shuffles can change the math on any of these plays. Building around a mix of a safe, affordable arm and a couple of hitters trending in the right direction is a reliable formula for both DraftKings and FanDuel lineups on a busy Sunday slate like this one.