MLB DFS Picks Today: Daily Fantasy Baseball Strategy and Tips For FanDuel, DraftKings (9/1/25)

Jamie's top DraftKings and FanDuel MLB DFS picks for today, Monday, 9/1/25. His favorite daily fantasy baseball lineup sleepers and value picks for DFS on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Happy Labor Day, RotoBallers! If you're off from work for the afternoon, I invite you to kick back to read my article with a coffee, and prepare for some fun afternoon baseball (when you can enjoy some cold ones). If you're still competing for that season-long title, our staff is still cranking out the articles to make sure your year ends the right way.

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This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 9/1/2025, with the slate starting at 1:05 PM EST. Keep in mind the FanDuel slate has chopped off the late afternoon games from their main slate. 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.

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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Sonny Gray, SP - STL ($9,300 DK/$10,500 FD)

There aren't any flashy star pitchers on this slate, but Sonny Gray should be treated as such for today. He's been victimized by bad luck lately, but he is still pitching to a sparkling 3.04 xFIP and an elite 30.8% CSW. He's also striking out over a batter per inning for the second straight year.

Today Gray takes on the Athletics, who are young and fun to watch but also boast the third-highest K rate against RHP. There's also a chance Gray will catch them without rookie-of-the-year favorite Nick Kurtz who is nursing an injury. For someone who mases righties like Kurtz does, that's a BIG boost to the pitcher. Gray should be a cash game staple.

Parker Messick, SP - CLE ($8,000 DK/$9,800 FD)

Speaking of rookies, where did Parker Messick come from? The Cleveland southpaw has begun his career with back to back quality starts, and has only allowed one run in 13.2 innings pitched with 12 Ks and a 16:7 GB:FB ratio. Messick's 0.66 ERA is tough to ignore.

Messick will take on the Red Sox today, and Boston has been a constant source of strikeouts for lefty pitching all season long. They have the fifth-highest K rate against LHP, and only rank 22nd in wOBA against them. They'll be able to stick some platoon players in, but the overall lineup is weakened as such. Messick is a tough sell at almost $10K on FD, but his price on DK makes him a perfect SP2.

7 scoreless innings for Parker Messick in just his second Major League start! pic.twitter.com/4gif5dxPyr

— MLB (@MLB) August 27, 2025

Others To Consider (Cash/GPP):

• Jacob Misiorowksi, SP - MIL ($9,000 DK/not on FD)
• Spencer Strider, SP - ATL ($8,800 DK/not on FD)
• Bailey Ober, SP - MIN ($7,300 DK/$7,900 FD)

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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Rafael Devers, 1B - SF ($5,500 DK/not on FD)

FanDuel players do not have to deal with the Coors Field decisions today, but it's not as huge a deal on DK either as you're not being forced to roster the Skubals and Crochets of the world. You'll want a piece of the Giants today, as they have a IRT of 6.3 runs in Coors and are facing Chase Dollander who has (predictably) been massively worse at home to start his career.

Rafael Devers is the central point of any Giants stacks and should also be heavily considered in cash as your 1B. Even in a polarizing year, Devers is likely still going to produce another 30-HR, 100-RBI season. He's also continued to crush righty pitching, with a .400 wOBA and .277 ISO against them.

Elly De La Cruz, SS - CIN ($5,000 DK/$3,800 FD)

I'm not heavily on the Reds as a stack, per se, but I couldn't help but notice how Elly De La Cruz's price has absolutely plummeted with Cincinnati's skid. He's one homer away from a 20-30 season, and he's still been barreling the ball well during the Reds' losing streak.

Chris Bassitt has allowed a .353 wOBA and 1.41 HR/9 to lefty bats this season, so he can definitely be had by a player of De La Cruz's caliber. Elly has rocked the platoon split as well, with a .377 wOBA and .232 ISO against RHP. He's a solid cash play, and a one-off with upside in GPP.

Luke Keaschall, 2B - MIN ($4,700 DK/$3,100 FD)

The Twins are in a magnificent spot tonight against the White Sox, who just had their already suspect bullpen decimated by the Yankees over a four-game series. Tonight, they face Bryse Wilson, who has a 6.48 FIP, 12.8% K rate, and has allowed 2.18 HR/9 (ouch).

Luke Keaschall this season:

.341/.434/.527
11 XBH
17 RBI
.961 OPS
171 wRC+
13 BB | 13 K

The 23-year-old is off to a RED HOT start to his career! pic.twitter.com/8GezLOTT0i

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 27, 2025

You'll want the cheaper Twins up and down the lineup, but Luke Keaschall is a mainstay. The rookie has been a revelation for the Twinkies, and has entrenched himself in the 3/4 spots in the lineup. It's a small sample size, but he's absolutely battered same-handed pitching for a .482 wOBA and .233 ISO. He's priced well enough on DK, and is an absolute gift on FD.

• Pete Alonso, 1B - NYM ($5,200 DK/$3,900 FD)
• Hunter Goodman, C - COL ($5,200 DK/not on FD)
• Colson Montgomery, SS on DK, SS/3B on FD - CHW ($4,000 DK/$3,300 FD)

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Juan Soto, OF - NYM ($5,900 DK/$4,400 FD)

Juan Soto is the top overall play on the slate, and I won't be taking arguments at this time. The Mets' IRT of 4.7 runs isn't jaw-dropping, but the top of the order looks mighty nice, and all cash lineups should being with Soto.

Detroit pitcher Charlie Morton continues to put up impressive K numbers even in his age-41 season, but he's also given up a .370 wOBA and 1.35 HR/9 to LHB over the past three seasons. His 1.40 HR/9 given up this season is his worst since 2010. Soto has a .417 wOBA and .288 ISO in his first season with the Mets.

Players with 35 HR, 110 BB, and 25 SB in a season:

Juan Soto
Chipper Jones
Jeff Bagwell x2
Barry Bonds x4 pic.twitter.com/cfxBNWbAez

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) August 30, 2025

Need more fuel? Soto's BvP stats against Morton is off-the-charts. In his career, he's 8-for-14 with three homers, and has EIGHT walks against only three strikeouts.

Jung Hoo Lee, OF - SF ($4,000 DK/not on FD)

Jung Hoo Lee is also a cash priority as long as he leads off for the Giants, which is expected. He should have a chance at five plate appearances against Chase Dollander and the Rockies' bullpen, which maximizes his floor. Lee's .135 ISO doesn't invite GPP upside, but he's a must for cash.

As I mentioned, Dollander has been miserable at home. He has a 6.44 FIP and .411 wOBA allowed, and has only struck out 15.8% of batters. The entire Giants' lineup is in play, and Lee will hopefully be the catalyst for the run producers.

Matt Wallner, OF - MIN ($3,500 DK/$3,000 FD)

The Twins have several lefty bats that are under $4k on DK, and hovering right around the $3k mark in FD. These are the ones you'll want to utilize to fill out your cash lineups, and the Minnesota stack as a whole has more than enough upside for GPPs.

I mentioned Bryse Wilson's overall struggles this year, and they've been even more magnified against lefties. It's a smaller sample size, but Wilson has a 9.06 FIP against LHB and has allowed 2.76 HR/9. Matt Wallner has been excellent against RHP this season, with a .375 wOBA and .293 ISO.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Christian Yelich, OF - MIL ($4,900 DK/not on FD)
• Yordan Alvarez, OF - HOU ($4,800 DK/$3,400 FD)
• Trevor Larnach, OF - MIN ($3,400 DK/$2,800 FD)

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

1. San Francisco Giants vs Chase Dollander (DK only)

By default, the Giants are the top stack simply because they're in Coors Field. Their IRT of 6.3 runs is a run and a half higher than any other, and they face Chase Dollander and a Rockies' pen that ranks 29th in FIP and dead last in ISO allowed. They're not difficult to fit in with the pitching on this slate, so make sure you have exposure.

Favorite Combo: Lee, Ramos, Devers, Adames

2. New York Mets vs Charlie Morton

A Mets' stack of their top options is actually going to average you about $500 more per player, and I'm hoping that lowers their ownerships enough. I've already sung the praises of Juan Soto, but the top of the Mets' order is filled with players that have significant platoon pop, and Pete Alonso hits everyone.

Favorite Combo: Lindor, Soto, Nimmo, Alonso

3. Minnesota Twins vs Bryse Wilson

The cheap stack of the day is Minnesota, who could really go off against Bryse Wilson. Byron Buxton is fully priced which makes including him difficult, but there's enough upside against Wilson that you could use "with Buxton" and "without Buxton" iterations. Wilson has a 6.48 FIP, 12.8% K rate, and has allowed 2.18 HR/9 this season.

Favorite Combo: Buxton, Larnach, Keaschall, Wallner

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis