FanDuel MLB DFS Picks: Thursday 8/21/25

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Let's check out the top options on today's main slate.

Note: All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook. All stats come from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant unless noted otherwise.

Top MLB DFS Picks

Pitcher Breakdown

Dylan Cease ($9,600)

Even though Dylan Cease carries some risk with his 24th-percentile walk rate (9.8%) and 24th-percentile barrel rate (9.8%), he also possesses plenty of upside with his 81st-percentile xBA (.220) and 90th-percentile strikeout rate (30.0%). In addition to Cease getting to pitch at home -- where he has a 3.38 xFIP and 31.7% strikeout rate -- he'll face a San Francisco Giants team that has the third-worst wOBA (.269), third-worst wRC+ (73), seventh-worst ISO (.136), and second-highest strikeout rate (27.6%) over the last 14 days.

Sonny Gray ($9,300)

Similar to Cease, Sonny Gray is far from a safe choice with his 30th-percentile xBA (.260) and 26th-percentile barrel rate (9.7%), but his 81st-percentile strikeout rate (26.9%) and 97th-percentile walk rate (4.2%) make him an enticing option against the Tampa Bay Rays. Along with the Rays posting the seventh-worst wRC+ (79) and fourth-highest strikeout rate (26.3%) across the last 14 days, they'll likely deploy at least six lefties in their lineup, which is worth noting due to Gray sporting a 2.76 xFIP, 1.12 WHIP, 0.70 HR/9, and 28.6% strikeout rate versus left-handed hitters (compared to a 3.23 xFIP, 1.27 WHIP, 1.84 HR/9, and 24.8% strikeout rate versus right-handed hitters).

Sean Manaea ($8,100)

Sean Manaea's 3.29 SIERA and 3.63 xFIP suggests he's been unlucky en route to a 4.78 ERA, and his 27.0% strikeout rate and 6.7% barrel rate give him a pathway to a ceiling outcome against the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Throughout the last 30 days, the Nationals are logging the worst wOBA (.250), worst wRC+ (57), seventh-worst ISO (.126), and third-highest strikeout rate (28.3%) versus southpaws, so this is a perfect opportunity for Manaea to improve his ERA.

Stacks to Target

San Diego Padres

Players to Target: Fernando Tatis Jr. ($3,600), Manny Machado ($3,500), Ryan O'Hearn ($3,000), and Gavin Sheets ($2,800)

Justin Verlander (4.40 SIERA and 4.57 xFIP) still has flashes of being a serviceable starter, but I want to take advantage of his 5.42 xFIP on the road and .347 wOBA allowed to left-handed batters on Thursday versus the San Diego Padres. The Padres have tallied the 10th-best wOBA (.333), 9th-best wRC+ (117), and lowest strikeout rate (17.2%) in the last 14 days, and Ryan O'Hearn and Gavin Sheets are both capable lefties who produced 31-plus FanDuel points (FDPs) on Wednesday against the Giants.

New York Yankees

Players to Target: Trent Grisham ($3,100), Aaron Judge ($4,700), Cody Bellinger ($3,600), and Giancarlo Stanton ($3,500)

Despite also liking the left-handed hitters from the Boston Red Sox in Thursday's clash between the Red Sox and New York Yankees, I give the slight edge to the Bronx Bombers at home versus Lucas Giolito (4.46 SIERA and 9.9% barrel rate). Giolito is permitting a .320 wOBA, 1.27 WHIP, 1.25 HR/9, and a 48.2% flyball rate to lefties, so Trent Grisham (147 wRC+ and .245 ISO vs. RHP) and Cody Bellinger (106 wRC+ and .211 ISO) stand out as premier options in the early part of New York's lineup.

Baltimore Orioles

Players to Target: Jackson Holliday ($2,800), Gunnar Henderson ($3,300), Samuel Basallo ($2,300), and Dylan Beavers ($2,300)

The Baltimore Orioles provide us with plenty of salary relief on Thursday, as only two of their players in their projected lineup carry a salary of $3,000 or higher. While Jason Alexander has scored 34-plus FDPs in three straight starts -- including 34 against these Orioles on August 16 -- he's still notching a 4.53 SIERA and 48.1% hard-hit rate, and he's coughing up a .344 wOBA, 1.40 WHIP, and 1.40 HR/9 to left-handed batters this season.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.