MLB DFS Picks & Player Prop Bets: Sunday (8/25)

We only have two more Sundays before the NFL takes over. These are the final two weeks when the Sunday prize pools will be significant because things collapse once everybody gets addicted to football again. We’re not too concerned about that because we love baseball, and we’re looking to finish the final month strong.

With that in mind, let’s dive into this Sunday slate!

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Sunday’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Sunday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs. LAA
Gausman hasn’t been great this season, but this guy should thrive in a matchup like this. Let’s start there because LA ranks 25th in total offense, playing without Mike Trout and Luis Rengifo. That’s huge since Gausman is turning his season around, generating a 3.38 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across his last eight starts. In addition, Gausman has allowed just two runs across 20 innings in his last three matchups with LA, entering this matchup as a -170 favorite.

Bryan Woo (SEA) vs. SF
Why is nobody talking about Woo? This guy has been one of the best pitchers in the AL, providing a 2.12 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. Some of the best closers in baseball don’t have averages like those, but it’s no surprise since T-Mobile Park is the most pitcher-friendly park in the sport. Woo has showcased that by posting a 1.54 ERA and 0.69 WHIP at home this year. In addition, he has a 1.45 ERA and 0.77 WHIP across his last five starts, while squaring off with a subpar San Fran lineup.

Frankie Montas (MIL) at OAK
We weren’t sure about Milwaukee trading for Montas, but they’ve found another diamond in the rough. Since joining the Brewers, the right-hander hasn’t allowed a run in his last two starts, totaling a 1.69 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 9.0 K/9 rate with his new team. We’re willing to trust that form in a road matchup with Oakland because the A’s rank is 25th in runs scored, 24th in OBP, and 26th in K rate.

Javier Assad (CHC) at MIA
Assad has been one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball since the start of last season. He has a 3.08 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in that span, allowing three runs or fewer in all but four games. He’s also coming off a 41-point gem in his most recent outing and should continue that form against Miami. The Marlins rank 29th in run scores, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and xwOBA. We also don’t mind that Assad is a -160 favorite!

MLB DFS Picks: Suggested Lineup Stacks

New York Yankees (vs. Austin Gomber)

• Home (Yankee Stadium)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/NYY -285

The Yankees facing the Rockies in Yankee Stadium sounds unfair. This New York team has one of the best top halves in baseball history, and they’ve all crushed lefties throughout their careers. That’s bad news for a guy like Gomber, who has generated a 6.14 ERA and 1.42 WHIP since June 1.

Pittsburgh Pirates (vs. Carson Spiers)

• Home (PNC Park)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/PIT -115

Stacking the Pirates is risky, but we’d use anyone against Spiers right now. The Reds righty has been struggling mightily, maintaining a 14.25 ERA and 2.67 WHIP across his last three starts. That makes the Pirates intriguing because this is one of the most affordable stacks on this slate!

MLB DFS Picks: Core Studs

• Does anything need to be said here about the beast in NY? Judge is about to reach 50 homers sometime this weekend and has a home matchup against a lefty who pitches for the Rockies! The MVP frontrunner has better splits against southpaws while sporting a .572 OBP, .915 SLG, and 1.487 OPS across his last 34 outings!
• Lindor is quietly having one of the best seasons in the NL, on pace for a 30-30 season. He’s done all of that damage since the opening month, and he gets to face a lefty with a 4.67 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Lindor is a switch-hitter, but he has a .889 OPS against lefties since the start of last year and just homered twice yesterday!
• Cruz is one of the most talented players in baseball, and he’s always a DFS darling when he faces a weak righty. That’s what we have here, squaring off with the Spiers averages mentioned above. Cruz has compiled a .384 OBP, .562 SLG, and .946 OPS across his last 46 outings while totaling a .836 OPS against righties this year.
• We discussed how hot Witt was in yesterday’s article, but Vlad is right there with him. The slugger has 14 homers over his last 34 games, providing a .482 OBP, .848 SLG, and 1.330 OPS in that span. Not many players will do that for a 34-game stretch throughout their careers, and we love that he has the platoon advantage against a lefty with a 4.78 xFIP.

MLB DFS Picks: Value Plays/Punts

• Stanton goes on these binges where he homers in every game, and he might be starting that against the Rockies. The slugger has homered in back-to-back games and four of his last 11 outings. Getting to face a weak lefty in Yankee Stadium only adds to his intrigue because Giancarlo has generated a .372 OBP and .953 OPS against southpaws throughout his career.
• Bogey got off to a dreadful start, but he’s been rolling since coming off the IL. The former All-Star has a .349 AVG, .393 OBP, and .850 OPS in 33 games since then. He’s also got a .379 OBP and .854 OPS against lefties since 2021, and he gets to face one who has an 8.27 ERA and 1.65 WHIP over his last four starts!
• Bellinger can be a frustrating player, but he needs to be the first option if you want to stack the Cubs. He always bats in the heart of Chicago’s lineup, posting a .291 AVG and .819 OPS since being activated off the IL. He’s also been much better against righties throughout his career and has the benefit of facing one with a 9.64 ERA and 1.50 WHIP!
• Stacking the Pirates can be tricky, but Cruz and Tellez always have tremendous options when facing righties. Like Cruz, Tellez has trounced righties, tallying a .737 career OPS against them. That’s an average number, but we can’t overlook that he has a .299 AVG, .341 OBP, .513 SLG, and .855 OPS across his last 60 outings!

Sunday’s Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props

Marcus Stroman: 16.5 Outs Recorded – Higher

Stroman has been a quality start machine throughout his career, and he should cruise to one against a Rockies team that has ranked last in road run scored over the last five years!

Vlad Guerrero Jr: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher

Vlad has reached this total in seven of his last 11 games.

Giancarlo Stanton: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher

Stanton has some of the best splits against southpaws and should get plenty of good pitches behind Judge and Juan Soto.

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.