Best MLB DFS Picks Today: Top Value Plays for May 14, 2026

Thursday’s MLB DFS slate features 11 games spread across afternoon and evening, giving you a wide variety of pitching and hitting options to work with. The marquee DraftKings and FanDuel main slates are built around the afternoon games kicking off at 12:35 p.m. ET, which means you’ll need confirmed lineups early and a sharp approach to building winning rosters before first pitch. There’s a nice mix of elite arms and exploitable matchups today, making this a strong slate for both cash games and GPP picks.

The approach today is straightforward: anchor your DraftKings lineup with one of the elite starters atop the pitching pool, then fill in with value bats from games with the highest totals and weakest opposing pitchers. There are several strong stacking opportunities against struggling arms, and a few salary plays at hitter positions that offer tremendous upside for the price. Here are the five MLB DFS picks to target today.

Nolan McLean, SP — New York Mets ($9,300 DraftKings)

McLean has been one of the best pitching values in MLB DFS all season, and Thursday’s matchup against the Detroit Tigers checks every box you want when building a DraftKings lineup around a starting pitcher. The 24-year-old right-hander has posted a 2.78 ERA, 2.33 xERA, and a 0.90 WHIP over eight starts and 45.1 innings in 2026. His 32.6 percent strikeout rate ranks among the best in the league, and his 10.3 percent swinging-strike rate backs up the production — this isn’t a pitcher getting lucky with strand rates. His stuff-plus sits at 108 and his pitching-plus at 116, which confirms the underlying dominance.

The matchup is favorable. Detroit is tied for 10th in wRC+ against right-handers at 105, with a 22.1 percent strikeout rate. On the road, the Tigers check in at 12th in wRC+ at 98 with a 23 percent strikeout rate — a passable matchup by the numbers, but not one that should slow McLean down. The Mets are installed as -165 favorites, and the game total is set at a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs. At $9,300, McLean slots in just below the premium tier but profiles as the true SP1 of this afternoon slate for cash game picks and large-field GPP contests alike.

Chase Burns, SP — Cincinnati Reds ($8,000 DraftKings)

Chase Burns is the best value arm on the entire slate and a must-consider SP2 for any DraftKings lineup today. Burns has been elite in 2026, running a 2.11 ERA over eight starts and 47 innings while posting a 26.1 percent strikeout rate and a 14.6 percent swinging-strike rate that leads the rotation. He has five quality starts, four wins, and a 1.04 WHIP on the year. The 111 stuff-plus and 114 pitching-plus paint the picture of a pitcher operating well above average at the moment.

He draws the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park today. The Nationals rank 14th in wRC+ versus right-handers at 102, and Cincinnati is a -160 favorite with a game total of eight runs. That game total is high enough to suggest runs, but it also reflects public market noise — Burns has the ability to suppress an offense that has been streaky on the road this season. At $8,000 on DraftKings, Burns delivers excellent value per projected fantasy point and represents one of the cleanest salary plays on today’s slate. Pairing him with McLean in the two-pitcher slot on larger DraftKings formats is an approach worth considering.

Nick Kurtz, 1B — Oakland Athletics ($5,500 DraftKings)

Nick Kurtz is the most compelling bat on this afternoon slate and one of the best MLB DFS picks in any format today. The left-handed first baseman has been one of the most productive young hitters in the game since his MLB debut, and his numbers against right-handed pitching are exceptional. In 460 plate appearances versus righties since arriving in the majors, Kurtz has posted 32 home runs, a .442 on-base percentage, a .341 ISO, a .463 wOBA, and a 199 wRC+. Those are elite-tier numbers at any salary, let alone $5,500 on DraftKings.

Today he faces Michael McGreevy of the St. Louis Cardinals at Sutter Health Park. McGreevy carries a 2.18 ERA, but the underlying numbers are troubling — his 3.69 xFIP, 3.97 SIERA, and a 5.07 xERA suggest significant positive regression is on the way. Sutter Health Park is a hitter-friendly venue that can amplify contact, and the Cardinals are road favorites in a game with a 9.5-run total. Kurtz leads off the Oakland lineup, giving him maximum plate appearances and a great opportunity to inflict damage. This is one of the best DFS value plays available on the entire Thursday slate.

Byron Buxton, OF — Minnesota Twins ($6,200 DraftKings)

Byron Buxton is having his best offensive season in years, and today’s matchup sets him up perfectly for a big fantasy day. The Twins outfielder leads off against Braxton Garrett of the Miami Marlins at Target Field. Buxton is a right-handed hitter facing a left-handed pitcher, and his splits in that matchup are outstanding. In 282 plate appearances against southpaws since 2024, Buxton has slashed .287 with 14 home runs, a .351 OBP, a .252 ISO, a .375 wOBA, and a 143 wRC+. That is a quality lineup anchor at the outfield position in today’s DraftKings lineup.

Buxton is also off to a strong overall start in 2026, having accumulated 44 hits including 15 home runs through the early weeks of the season. Target Field plays as a neutral-to-slightly-pitcher-friendly ballpark, but with Buxton’s power potential and the platoon advantage in place, the risk is low and the upside is real. At $6,200 on DraftKings, Buxton sits in the mid-range of the outfield pool and projects as a high-floor cash game option and a core piece of many successful GPP lineups today. His leadoff role ensures he’ll see four or five plate appearances if the game plays out normally.

Yordan Alvarez, OF — Houston Astros ($6,500 DraftKings)

Yordan Alvarez brings the most upside of any bat on this slate, and his matchup today against Luis Castillo of the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park is one of the most favorable situations you will find on the board. Castillo has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball this season, posting a 6.57 ERA, 5.76 xERA, 4.35 xFIP, and 4.12 SIERA in eight starts. Righties have posted a .391 wOBA against Castillo in 2026 — and Alvarez, despite being a left-handed hitter, has posted a .383 OBP, .235 ISO, .376 wOBA, and 146 wRC+ against right-handed pitching since 2024, with 36 home runs in those matchups.

The Seattle-Houston game has the second-highest game total on the Thursday slate at 9.5 runs, and the Mariners are slight underdogs at +110. Houston bats in the middle of the order around Alvarez are capable of producing big innings, and Alvarez himself batting second in the lineup gives him premium plate appearances throughout the contest. For those building today’s DraftKings lineup with a power-heavy stack, the Houston bats against Castillo represent one of the most appealing DFS stacks on the afternoon. At $6,500, Alvarez is priced appropriately for his talent and the matchup could push him well into profitable territory.

Building Your Lineup

The foundation of a strong DraftKings lineup today starts with picking one or two of McLean and Burns at pitcher. McLean at $9,300 is the preferred cash game anchor, while Burns at $8,000 provides excellent salary relief that frees up budget for stronger bats. Pairing either pitcher with the Athletics against McGreevy makes sense as a stack — Kurtz is the clear top target in that game, but Shea Langeliers ($5,900) and Brent Rooker also have strong matchup profiles in that lineup.

For the Houston stack, Alvarez is the centerpiece, but adding Jose Altuve or Zach Cole at minimum salary can round out a multi-player stack against Castillo. Buxton completes the outfield and gives you a premium leadoff bat who keeps your lineup from being overloaded in one game. Keep an eye on late-breaking lineup news, particularly for the afternoon games, since roster changes up until first pitch can shift value significantly. These picks are grounded in the numbers available as of this morning, and they represent the best combination of floor, ceiling, and price for today’s MLB slate.