Best MLB DFS Picks Today: Top Value Plays for July 31, 2026

Friday’s MLB slate is loaded, with 15 games spread across an early Wrigley Field matinee and a full night slate that runs into double-digit start times on the West Coast. That mix of afternoon and evening baseball gives DFS players plenty of ways to build a roster, whether you’re grinding cash games with a small slate mentality or firing GPP lineups that lean into a late Coors Field or West Coast stack. With two ace-caliber arms anchoring the pitching pool and several cheap bats trending in the right direction, there’s a clear path to building a lineup that’s both safe and differentiated.

My approach today centers on pairing a true stud arm at the top of the pitching pool with a handful of affordable bats who are seeing the ball well right now. None of these five plays require you to punt too hard on salary, and a couple of them are true value outliers relative to their recent production. Here’s where I’m looking to build my DraftKings and FanDuel lineups today.

Paul Skenes, SP — Pittsburgh Pirates ($9,300 DK / $10,600 FD)

Skenes is priced like the ace he is, but the matchup makes the salary easy to justify. He comes in at 9-9 with a 3.65 ERA, 149 strikeouts and a tidy 1.06 WHIP over his workload this season, and while his overall numbers have had some bumps, his history against Friday’s opponent is about as good as it gets. Skenes has made seven career starts against the Reds and owns a 5-0 record with a 1.38 ERA, 52 strikeouts and just six walks across 39 innings in those outings — dominant, sustained success against this specific lineup.

Cincinnati counters with Hunter Greene, who enters at 2-2 with a bloated 7.06 ERA and just 29 strikeouts, a sign the Reds’ own pitching staff is beat up and unlikely to keep this one low-scoring. That works in Skenes’ favor twice over: not only does he have to face a lineup he’s historically dominated, but a shootout-adjacent game script means the Pirates should be able to build him a cushion. For cash games, Skenes is about as safe a strikeout floor as you’ll find on this slate, and in GPPs his ceiling with double-digit K upside makes him worth the max-salary commitment.

Cal Raleigh, C — Seattle Mariners (vs. Minnesota Twins)

Raleigh remains one of the most dependable power sources at the catcher position in all of DFS, and he shows up as one of the better value plays at the position on today’s card. Catcher is historically the thinnest position in MLB DFS pools, and any time you can roster a legitimate power threat there for a mid-range price, it’s worth strong consideration — especially in a spot where Seattle is chasing a spread against a Minnesota pitching staff that’s had its share of shaky outings this year.

Raleigh’s calling card all season has been raw power output, and he’s the type of hitter who can single-handedly win a lineup with one swing. Rostering him at catcher lets you save salary elsewhere while still getting exposure to a legitimate 30-plus home run threat. In a game with a late 10:10 p.m. ET first pitch, Raleigh also gives DFS players a way to attack the final wave of the night if you’re building lineups across multiple contest windows.

Hao-Yu Lee, 2B — Detroit Tigers

Lee is the top-ranked DraftKings batter value on today’s slate, and the underlying trend supports the price. Over his last 15 games, Lee is hitting .310 with a .356 on-base percentage and a .476 slugging mark, a notable step up from his season-long .255 average and .677 OPS. He’s also shown thump against lefties this year, posting a .775 OPS against southpaws compared to a more modest .609 mark versus right-handers, so matchup context matters when deciding whether to lock him into cash builds or treat him as more of a GPP dart throw.

At a bargain-bin price point, Lee gives roster flexibility to pay up at a premium position like starting pitcher or outfield without sacrificing a middle-infield spot that’s otherwise producing above his salary. He won’t be the headline of anyone’s lineup, but that’s exactly the profile you want from a value piece — cheap enough to fit anywhere, hot enough to matter.

Colton Cowser, OF — Baltimore Orioles (vs. Philadelphia Phillies)

Cowser is another name climbing the value boards on both major sites today, and while his season-long triple-slash of .224/.317/.365 with 8 home runs and 27 RBI won’t turn heads, the power output is real and the price reflects a hitter who’s had stretches of inconsistency rather than one without pop. His last-30-day window has actually included a four-homer, 18-RBI stretch that shows the raw tools are still there even when the batting average lags.

Camden Yards remains one of the more forgiving parks for left-handed power, and Cowser’s left-handed bat benefits from that short porch when he connects. Against a Phillies staff on the road, he’s a classic punt-and-pray outfield spot — priced low enough that a home run pays off his salary many times over, while a quiet game costs you almost nothing given how little of your cap he eats up.

Jorge Polanco, DH — New York Mets (vs. Miami Marlins)

Polanco slots in as one of the cheaper DraftKings values on the board today, and he’s shown flashes of life against right-handed pitching that make him worth a look in this home matchup versus Marlins starter Janson Junk, who carries a 4.89 ERA into the outing. Polanco’s been a switch-hitter capable of doing damage against righties over his career, and while his season-long numbers have been inconsistent, he’s shown recent signs of coming out of a slump with better contact quality in his last several trips to the plate.

The Mets have the platform advantage in this one — a shaky Marlins starter, a home ballpark, and a lineup spot that should give Polanco plenty of run-producing opportunities. He’s a fine piece to pair with the Mets’ more expensive bats if you’re building a mini-stack against Junk, since spreading exposure to Miami’s bullpen concerns doesn’t have to break your salary cap. If you want more on how a matchup like this can be shopped for line value before first pitch, checking live MLB odds is a smart habit before you lock a roster.

Building Your Lineup

With this slate’s split first-pitch times — an early Wrigley Field game at 2:20 p.m. ET followed by a heavy night slate — there’s real value in building separate cash and GPP entries rather than trying to force one roster to do both jobs. Skenes anchors the pitching pool as a premium, high-floor arm, and pairing him with a bargain bat like Lee or Polanco lets you get to a stud hitter like Raleigh without blowing your salary cap. If you’re stacking a team, keep an eye on total run projections for the late-night Pacific Coast games, since those lines tend to move throughout the afternoon as weather and bullpen news firms up.

For cash games, prioritize the floor plays — Skenes for strikeouts, Raleigh for a power source at a scarce position — and fill out the rest of your roster with players in confirmed lineup spots who’ve shown recent form, like Lee and Cowser. In GPPs, don’t be afraid to pay down at pitcher elsewhere on the slate to roster a stack around one of tonight’s more favorable park factors, and always double-check batting order before locking your roster, since even a two-spot bump in the order can be the difference between a productive plate appearance total and a disappointing one. Ownership on a stud arm like Skenes will be high across the field, so if you’re chasing large-field GPP equity, consider pivoting to a slightly cheaper starter and using the salary saved to differentiate your bats.