Best MLB DFS Picks Today: Top Value Plays for DraftKings and FanDuel Lineups

Thursday’s MLB slate features a full afternoon-into-night rotation with the Guardians and Twins wrapping up their series, the Braves looking to bounce back against the Pirates, and the Red Sox riding a wave of momentum into Chicago. With a mix of confirmed lineups, favorable pitching matchups, and a couple of hot bats to build around, there’s plenty to work with for both cash games and GPPs today.

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Today’s approach leans on pitching upside at the top, stacking a Red Sox lineup that’s clicking, and rostering hitters who are seeing volume against shaky arms. Here are five MLB DFS picks worth building your lineup around today.

Gavin Williams, SP — Cleveland Guardians (Premium Arm)

Williams has quietly turned into one of the better strikeout arms in the American League this season, sitting at 9-4 with a 3.89 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 123 strikeouts through 106.1 innings — good for second in the AL in punchouts. He’s coming off a rough outing against the White Sox where he allowed three runs in 4.2 innings, but his surface numbers over a larger sample remain strong, and he’s shown the ability to miss bats consistently all year.

He draws the Twins today in the rubber match of a three-game set at Target Field, going up against Minnesota starter Marco Paredes, who carries an 0-2 record and a 4.60 ERA. Cleveland’s staff ranks better than Minnesota’s across the board this season on run prevention, and Williams’ strikeout upside gives him a high ceiling in a matchup where he shouldn’t be overly stressed for offense. He’s a premium-priced play today, but the strikeout floor makes him worth rostering in cash formats and stacking upside in tournaments on any of the top DFS platforms you’re using.

Matt Olson, 1B — Atlanta Braves (Premium Bat)

Olson has been one of the more consistent power threats in the National League all year, batting .273 with a .888 OPS and 24 home runs — fourth-most in the NL. He’s been especially hot lately, going 7-for-29 with four home runs and five RBI over his last seven games, including a two-homer effort against the Mets on July 6.

Today’s matchup could not be more favorable. Olson and the Braves face Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller, who has completely fallen off a cliff since mid-May. Keller carries a 6.92 ERA over his last 10 starts and has surrendered 10 home runs in that stretch after allowing just two homers in his first 12 outings of the season. Olson’s left-handed power bat against a struggling righty who’s serving up gopher balls at an alarming rate makes him one of the top plays on the entire slate today, whether you’re building on DraftKings or elsewhere.

Willson Contreras, C/1B — Boston Red Sox (Mid-Range Value)

Contreras has quietly put together a strong season behind the plate for Boston, hitting .285 with 20 home runs and 61 RBI. He’s locked into the cleanup spot in a confirmed Red Sox lineup for today’s matinee against the White Sox at Rate Field, giving him plenty of RBI opportunity behind Boston’s table-setters.

Catcher is often a thin position in DFS, and getting this kind of power production from a confirmed four-hole hitter at a shallow position is exactly the type of roster-construction advantage that wins cash games. Boston has scored freely against Chicago already this series, and Contreras projects as one of the better values at his position today on both FanDuel and DraftKings.

Ceddanne Rafaela, CF — Boston Red Sox (Value Play)

Rafaela has developed into a legitimate everyday piece of Boston’s lineup, hitting .286 with a .333 on-base percentage and a .443 slugging mark this season. He’s confirmed to bat second today against the White Sox, putting him in position for extra plate appearances and a chance to feed off traffic on the bases from the leadoff spot.

Pairing Rafaela with Contreras gives you two pieces of a Red Sox lineup that just put up a five-run shutout win in this same series on Wednesday. He’s a cheaper multi-category contributor who fits well into a Boston stack without eating up a huge chunk of your salary cap, a solid pairing you’ll find echoed across most DFS reviews this week.

Riley Greene, LF — Detroit Tigers (Value Play)

Greene has been on a tear over the last week, going 8-for-29 with four home runs, 10 RBI and a .793 slugging percentage over his last seven games. On the season, he’s hitting .289 with 13 home runs, 44 RBI and an .844 OPS, numbers that rank among the better outfield production in the American League.

Detroit hosts the Athletics again today, continuing a series where Greene has already gone deep. Oakland’s pitching staff has struggled on the road this season, and with Greene locked into a middle-of-the-order role for a Tigers team that’s been scoring in bunches, he’s a strong value option to pair with pricier plays elsewhere in your lineup, and worth checking current DFS promotions before you lock it in.

Building Your Lineup

The clearest stack on the board today is Boston’s top of the order against Chicago — Contreras and Rafaela both give you access to a lineup that’s rolling, without requiring a full salary commitment to get there. If you’re building around Williams’ strikeout upside at pitcher, pairing him with Olson’s premium power gives you a top-heavy build that leaves enough salary to fill out value pieces like Greene underneath.

Before you set your final roster, it’s worth scanning today’s Underdog promo code offer for any last-minute deposit bonuses. For cash games, prioritize the floor plays — Olson against a pitcher who’s been serving up home runs at an alarming rate is about as safe a power play as you’ll find on the board. In GPPs, don’t be afraid to fade the Boston stack if ownership climbs after Wednesday’s blowout win; Greene and the Tigers offer a lower-owned pivot with real upside against a beatable Athletics staff. As always, check confirmed lineups and any late scratches before locking your final roster.