MLB DFS Picks Today: Daily Fantasy Baseball Strategy and Tips For FanDuel, DraftKings (8/28/25)

August 28, 2025

Zach's top DraftKings and FanDuel MLB DFS picks for today, Thursday, 8/28/25. His favorite daily fantasy baseball lineup sleepers and value picks for DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Welcome Back, RotoBallers! It's a busy time in the sports calendar with the NFL about to get going and baseball pennant races heating up. It's also the time of the season when some teams are taking a look at some exciting young players who can be part of their future. Every game has plenty or intrigue and storylines to consider, and this Thursday, both DraftKings and FanDuel have a three-game slate lined up that highlights the three games under the lights.

Two of the three games on the slate are NL East matchups as the Phillies host the Braves and the Marlins visit the Mets. The third and final game on the scoreboard is the Yankees taking on the White Sox in the opener of their four-game set in the Windy City. The weather looks clear and cooperative across the board for these three contests, so all six teams can be in the player pool

This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/28/2025, with the slate starting at 6:45 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

Aaron Nola - PHI vs. ATL ($8.7K DK/$9.4K FD)

Nola was sidelined from mid-May until mid-August with rib and ankle injuries, but he looked excellent in his last start and will look to build on that as he takes on the Braves at home on Thursday. His season-long numbers are scary since he's only 2-7 with a 6.52 ERA and 4.98 FIP. However, in his last outing, he earned 21.9 DraftKings points and 40 FanDuel points with six strong innings at home against the Nationals.

Aaron Nola was as good as you could be in the first inning. 2 Ks, 3 whiffs against the top of the order.

FF is sitting 93.5 MPH / T94.1 MPH
SI sat 92-93 MPH & KC looks SHARP pic.twitter.com/qxH8WDEJuq

— Joseph Cammisa (@jcammisabsbl) August 23, 2025

Nola allowed two solo home runs but picked up six strikeouts in his six solid innings, a huge improvement from his first game back, which was also against the Nationals.

The Phillies will be looking for him to step up and serve as their stopper after they were swept in New York. They still have a four-game lead over the Mets, but need to get back in the win column. Nola should also get plenty of run support as the Phillies face Braves' starting pitcher Cal Quantrill (more below).

Clay Holmes, NYM vs. MIA ($7.9K DK/$8.6K FD)

While the Phillies are looking to turn things around after getting swept, the Mets will look to keep their impressive run at home rolling as they welcome the Marlins for a four-game series. They'll start by giving the ball to Clay Holmes, who is a solid alternative or addition to Nola, although he doesn't have quite as friendly a matchup. Holmes posted over 16 DraftKings points in three of his last four starts and is coming off his best fantasy outing in a few months. He held the Braves to two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings last Saturday with four strikeouts, 19.25 DraftKings points, and 35 FanDuel points.

Holmes' conversion to a starter has been mostly successful this season, and he's 11-6 with a 3.60 ERA, 4.09 FIP, and 7.1 K/9. He faced the Marlins twice early in the season with mixed results, but he'll look to continue his recent momentum and keep the Mets rolling at home as they try to hold onto the third NL Wild Card spot.

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):

• Davis Martin, CWS vs. NYY ($7.4K DK/$8K FD)

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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B on DK, 2B/3B on FD - NYY ($5.2K DK/$3.7K FD)

Chisholm has been heating up for the Yankees and has posted double-digit DraftKings points in six of his last 10 games while averaging 12.2 DraftKings points per game over that stretch. He has hit only .250 (8-for-32) during that span, but he had big-scoring events with four home runs, four stolen bases, and seven walks to go with nine runs scored and nine RBI.

On Thursday, Chisholm will be on the strong side of the splits against Davis Martin, who has allowed lefties to post a .341 wOBA against him this season, with nine of the 17 homers he has allowed. Chisholm is a notoriously streaky player, and right now, he definitely seems to be trending in the right direction to be a fantasy asset to build around on Thursday.

Kyle Teel, C - CWS ($3.8K DK/$2.7K FD)

On the other side of that matchup, Teel is a strong, affordable option behind the plate. The rookie had a little bit of an adjustment period, but he seems to have settled in and looks ready to rake in the majors for many years to come. I highlighted him in my Bargain Basement hitters to target on the waiver wire for season-long contests, and I also love plugging him in at catcher for DFS, which can sometimes be a tricky spot to fill.

Teel is hitting a scorching .413 (19-fo4-46) in his last 13 games, with two homers, a double, 10 RBI, and a .450 wOBA. He has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, including five games with multiple hits.

Kyle Teel punches one into center for an RBI single. Even the insurance runs are falling in the Sox’s lap right now. pic.twitter.com/0PcmTGioek

— Sox On Tap (@SoxOnTap) August 27, 2025

He has moved up to third in the batting order, which should give him plenty of chances to continue to produce as the White Sox host the Yankees this weekend.

Mark Vientos, 3B - NYM ($2.9K DK/$3K FD)

Vientos is still extremely affordable, especially on DraftKings, and he brings a lot of upside to the hot corner against righty Adam Mazur and the Marlins. The Mets showed confidence in Vientos and Brett Baty by not replacing them at the trade deadline, and so far, both young hitters have rewarded that confidence with very productive stretches.

Coming into this series against the Marlins, Vientos has a 10-game hitting streak. During that streak, he went 15-for-38 (.395) with four doubles, six homers, and a .569 wOBA while producing 15.3 DraftKings points per game. Although he has been limited by injuries at times this season, Vientos has found a great groove over the last couple of weeks and seems extremely underpriced on Thursday night.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Trea Turner, SS - PHI ($5.9K DK/$3.8K FD)
• Pete Alonso, 1B - NYM ($5.1K DK/$3.7K FD)
  
• Brett Baty, 2B/3B - NYM ($3.9K DK/$2.9K FD)

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Ronald Acuna Jr., OF - ATL ($5.5K DK/$3.9K FD)

For such a small slate, there is no shortage of top, pay-up outfield options, but my favorite big-money play of the night is Acuna in Philly against Nola. He's cheaper than the other elite options and has looked sharp since returning from his calf strain. He's only played 67 games this season, but still has 15 homers, six stolen bases, and a .301 batting average. He has 12 hits in 12 games since coming off the injured list, including a double, a home run, and a 58.1% hard-hit rate.

He's added a pair of stolen bases over that span as well, showing that he is fully healthy and close to 100%. He has a great career history against Nola, going 16-for-49 (.327) in their extensive history with four home runs and a 1.084 OPS.

Michael Harris II, OF - ATL ($3.5K DK/$3.1K FD)

Harris has also had success against Nola in the past, going 6-for-25 (.240) with five extra-base hits, including three home runs.

After a miserable first half, Harris has been on fire since the All-Star break. He's hitting .342 over his last 39 games since the break with 11 homers, eight doubles, and a .425 wOBA. Since the break, he has a 49.6% hard-hit rate and 12.4% barrel rate after posting just a 39.4% hard-hit rate and 6.1% barrel rate in the first half.

Michael Harris II's on a second-half HEATER

It's all @Braves in Miami! pic.twitter.com/rKTfRaUwNA

— MLB (@MLB) August 27, 2025

Harrison Bader, OF - PHI ($3.2K DK/$2.7K FD)

Bader is a great bargain play if he gets the start on Thursday night for the Phillies. The 31-year-old has given the Phillies a nice jolt since arriving at the trade deadline, hitting .274 with two homers and a .349 wOBA in his 21 games with the club.

One thing that makes Bader stand out on Thursday as a bargain to consider is his history against Quantrill. In their past meetings, Bader is 5-for-7 with three of those five being home runs.

Others To Consider: 

• Kyle Schwarber, OF - PHI ($6K DK/$4.4K FD)
• Juan Soto, OF - NYM ($5.7K DK/$4.1K FD)
• Jakob Marsee, OF - MIA ($4.4K DK/$3.3K FD)
• Mike Tauchman, OF - CWS ($3.5K DK/$2.9K FD)

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

1. Philadelphia Phillies (Implied Run Total - 5.6) vs. Cal Quantrill

Quantrill has a 5.51 ERA and 4.73 FIP in his 25 starts this season, split between the Marlins and Braves. He has been very hittable in his last four outings, allowing 18 runs in 16 2/3 innings and five home runs.

Favorite Combo: Turner, Schwarber, Bader, Alec Bohm

2. New York Mets (Implied Run Total - 5.5) vs. Adam Mazur

Mazur will be making just his second MLB start of the season after going 6-7 with a 4.36 ERA and 5.12 FIP in 22 games in Triple-A. He's taking over the rotation spot vacated by Janson Junk (elbow), and he'll face a red-hot Mets lineup that has been mashing all month.

Favorite Combo: Soto, Alonso, Vientos, Baty

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