MLB DFS Picks Today: Daily Fantasy Baseball Strategy and Tips For FanDuel, DraftKings (8/12/25)

Jamie's top DraftKings and FanDuel MLB DFS picks for today, Tuesday, 8/12/25. His favorite daily fantasy baseball lineup sleepers and value picks for DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel.

It was a successful Monday, as a lot of our RotoBaller crew's top plays and stacks hit. My full fade of Garrett Crochet also paid off yesterday, as the big lefty had trouble with Houston's all-righty lineup. Tonight, we get a 12-game Tuesday slate, which will feature some new matchups to explore.

Make sure to pop into our RotoBaller Discord if you can. We talk baseball in there all day, and spend a lot of time analyzing matchups and lineups. There are always analysts in there ready to help, so come see what we're about. Football is also just around the corner!

This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/12/2025, with the slate starting at 7:05 PM EST. The lineup picks will showcase elite players, mid-priced options, and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is always essential.

DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Paul Skenes, SP - PIT ($11,000 DK/$10,800 FD)

It's not an easy choice going against the mighty Brewers, winners of eight of their last 10 and the best record in the majors. Paul Skenes is simply awesome, though. He's followed up his 1.96 ERA/2.44 FIP in his rookie season with a 1.94 ERA/2.32 FIP, and he also has built up a 4.9 pitcher WAR.

Paul Skenes:
47 MLB starts
60 total earned runs

It sounds crazy but I swear it's true. pic.twitter.com/7hDl38ii3g

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 8, 2025

The matchup isn't easy, but Skenes has a 28.9% K rate and 29.3% CSW, and he has only allowed a TOTAL of six runs over his previous seven starts. He's pretty much matchup-proof at this point, and the fact that his price tag is $1k lower than Tarik Skubal's was a couple of days ago offers discount upside.

Jack Flaherty, SP - DET ($9,200 DK/$9,600 FD)

Jack Flaherty had a rough outing against Minnesota in the last game, but he had been rolling along before then. His 29.3% CSW is tied with Skenes on the season, and only Carlos Rodon has a better one on this slate. Flaherty has also struck out just under 11 batters per nine innings, a career-high for him.

The White Sox have been known to troll a bit lately, but that's not a reason you should avoid attacking them. They rank 28th in wOBA against RHP and have an IRT of only 3.5 runs. Flaherty is an excellent value at under $10k on both sites and can fit as your SP1 or SP2 on DK. He's a great value as your sole pitcher on FD as well.

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):

• Carlos Rodon, SP - NYY ($10,200 DK/$10,500 FD)
• Freddy Peralta, SP - MIL ($10,000 DK/$10,300 FD)
• Matthew Liberatore, SP - STL ($7,400 DK/$7,800 FD)

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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Nick Kurtz, 1B - ATH ($6,200 DK/$4,200 FD)

I can't quit you, Nick Kurtz, even though your five DK points missed the mark on upside within the stack yesterday. The A's will still get another game at home tonight, and have an IRT of 4.8 thanks to the Triple-A dimensions and great hitting weather in Sacramento.

Shane Baz's profiles offer downside for Kurtz, as he's posted over a 28% K rate against LHB this season. However, sometimes the batter's immense splits win out in these situations, and I'm going to continue to bank on Kurtz's massive .483 wOBA and .374 ISO against RHP.

Junior Caminero, 3B - TB ($5,500 DK/$3,400 FD)

Like Kurtz, Junior Caminero also has a tougher pitching matchup than yesterday, as the A's lefty Jacob Lopez has an impressive 28.2% K rate and 28.1% CSW. Caminero is sizzling right now, though. Over his past five games, he's 10-for-20 with five homers, eight RBIs, and only four strikeouts, and he gets to hit in Sutter Health Park.

Junior Caminero homers for the 5th time in the last 5 games to lead @RaysBaseball to victory. pic.twitter.com/p7vOPCTaRW

— MLB (@MLB) August 12, 2025

Despite Lopez's emergence, he continues to struggle with righty power, allowing 1.47 HR/9 to opposite-handed batters. Caminero has a .237 ISO against LHP, and his HHR is simply off the charts right now. I'm buying him in cash, and he's a cornerstone if you're stacking Rays against Lopez.

Willson Contreras, 1B (DK), 1B/C (FD) - STL ($4,100 DK/$3,000 FD)

The Cardinals did not come through as the cheap stack last night, but we're going back to them again for money-saving. Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland must be thrilled about pitching away from Coors, but it may not be much better as the forecast calls for hot temps in St. Louis with the wind blowing out. The Cards have an IRT right at five runs.

There are a slew of cheap St. Louis options you can use in all formats, but Willson Contreras is the one that offers the best combination of floor and ceiling. He has a .377 wOBA and .232 ISO against LHP this season, and the Rockies' bullpen ranks dead last in FIP. Freeland has allowed a .373 wOBA and 1.57 HR/9 to RHB.

• Ketel Marte, 2B - ARI ($5,900 DK/$4,100 FD)
• Yandy Diaz, 1B - TB ($5,100 DK/$3,000 FD)
• Corey Seager, SS - TEX ($4,400 DK/$3,100 FD)

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Shohei Ohtani, 1B/OF (DK), OF (FD) - LAD ($6,500 DK/$4,800 FD)

Ohtani, man. He's on fire again, with nine hits and four homers in his last five games. His OPS is back up over 1.000, and he's got a .448 wOBA and .386 ISO against RHP. The Dodgers have an IRT of 5.7 runs, which is the highest on the slate, and Ohtani may get five plate appearances on the road in good hitting weather.

No. 42 for Shohei Ohtani 😤

He's homered in 3 straight games! pic.twitter.com/IrN3wduI1q

— MLB (@MLB) August 12, 2025

Angels pitcher Victor Mederos doesn't have enough of a sample size to really analyze, but what we've seen so far is not good. All projection systems have his FIP well over 5.00 and his walk rate at almost five batters per nine innings. In his short time in the majors, he's walked 22% of batters faced. Ohtani is worth the top price tag.

Ivan Herrera, OF (DK), C/OF (FD) - STL ($4,100 DK/$3,100 FD)

Back to cheap Cardinals. Ivan Herrera has been a nice surprise for the Cards this year, with a .295 average and .839 OPS. He bats second, and he still has C eligibility on FD (it would be better if it was on DK, but first world problems...)

Herrera will be in a nice spot against Freeland, and he's had a solid season against LHP with a .399 wOBA and .237 ISO. Herrera's 139 wRC+ is a career high, and so is his .169 ISO on the season. He's a solid cash play and is a cheap upside addition to STL stacks.

Joc Pederson, OF (DK), OF/1B (FD) - TEX ($2,000 DK/$2,300 FD)

Joc Pederson is the value play of the day. He's the stone-cold minimum price on DK and is near-minimum on FD. His price tag is appropriate since he's had a lost year (.144 batting average, .555 OPS), but this looks like the day he can provide us riches.

Anthony DeSclafani has a long career of being hit by lefties, with a .346 wOBA and 1.58 HR/9 allowed, and despite his struggles, Joc still has a .352 wOBA and .215 ISO against RHP this season. He's also the BvP play of the day! Joc is career 9-for-19 against DeSclafani with six XBH, four homers, and only four strikeouts. That's more than enough to justify a minimum price tag.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Aaron Judge, OF - NYY ($6,400 DK/$4,700 FD)
• Kerry Carpenter, OF - DET ($4,600 DK/$3,200 FD)
• Heliot Ramos, OF - SF ($4,300 DK/$3,000 FD)

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

1. Los Angeles Dodgers vs Victor Mederos

The Dodgers are the top stack of the night with an IRT of 5.7 runs. Led by Ohtani (who has averaged a whopping 19.5 DK PPG) and backed by a slew of top hitters, the Dodgers should feast on Mederos, who simply does not look major league ready. They're not difficult to stack, either, as other Dodgers aren't priced to their level of potential.

Favorite Combo: Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Muncy

2. New York Yankees vs Thomas Hatch

The Yanks came through last night against Zebby Matthews with four of their six runs coming on homers. It's hot again in New York, and the short RF porch looms. The Yankees have an IRT of 5.2 runs at home, and they face Thomas Hatch, who has a career 4.78 FIP and has walked 4.12 batters per nine. After Hatch, they face a Twins bullpen that traded away five arms at the deadline.

Favorite Combo: Grisham, Rice, Judge, Bellinger

3. St. Louis Cardinals vs Kyle Freeland

The Cardinals' cheap stack didn't hit yesterday as they only put up three runs, but the weather looks prime for hitting in St. Louis tonight, and the Cards have an IRT of five runs. Their players are dirt cheap, and they make a useful stack. Using them can allow you to roster two top-tier pitchers or get a team like the Yankees or Dodgers alongside them with ease.

Favorite Combo: Herrera, Contreras, Winn, Walker

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