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

September 9, 2025

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

It's time for another fantastic Tuesday slate of MLB DFS action! There are 11 games on tonight's slate on both FanDuel and DraftKings, giving us ample choices for our lineups and allowing us to choose only the best possible matchups.

That's where I come in. I have combed through the data and stats so that you don't have to! The more I dig into this slate, the more I like it, and I think there are some outstanding spots for both pitchers and hitters tonight.

This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 9/9/2025, 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

Emmet Sheehan, LAD vs. COL ($9,000 DK/$8,900 FD)

Sheehan had a bit of a hiccup in his last start against the Pirates, but escaped with only two earned runs allowed and six strikeouts despite not finishing the fifth inning. He had dominated the Reds for ten strikeouts over seven shutout innings the start before that and picked up a win over these Rockies in Colorado back on August 19.

Sheehan has electric stuff, and when he's on, he can rack up strikeouts. He's a massive home favorite tonight, backed by an elite offense in a good spot, so he stands a great chance of picking up a win, while potentially making quick work of a Rockies lineup that ranks dead last in wRC+ vs. RHP over the last 30 days.

George Kirby, SEA vs. STL ($10,000 DK/$10,000 FD)

Kirby has been doing his best Jekyll and Hyde impression lately, pitching a gem one start and then getting blown up in the next one. However, there's still much more to like here than not, and his two worst outings lately came against some very tough lineups (the Rays and the Mets).

The Cardinals' lineup does not qualify as a tough lineup, however, especially not against RHP, as they are just two spots better than the Rockies at 28th overall in wRC+ vs. RHP over the last 30 days.

We'd better get the good Kirby tonight, because he's quite expensive. Maybe the box score-watchers will be dissuaded from using him based on his last start, but my gut says he will still probably be fairly popular.

Zebby Matthews, MIN at LAA ($7,700 DK/ $9,000 FD)

I have to make sure I mention Zebby tonight, as his price on DraftKings is very appealing as an SP2 option alongside Sheehan or Kirby. Despite having some batted ball issues this season, Matthews has racked up strikeouts in bunches, and we are slowly starting to see him get his home run issues under wraps.

Six innings of one-run ball for Zebby Matthews, who has a 4.53 ERA and 50-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 45.2 innings since returning from a shoulder injury in July.

Matthews got 14 swing-and-misses vs. the White Sox, including at least two on five different pitch types. pic.twitter.com/XKuOYBNLeV

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) September 4, 2025

His SIERA of 3.61 is still a full run lower than his ERA, and he could have more positive regression coming. He couldn't ask for a better matchup tonight as he'll face an Angels lineup that is 27th in wRC+ against RHP over the last 30 days and first in strikeout rate (29.7%).

Matthews has shown great splits against RHH this season, with lefties giving him the most issues. He won't have many lefties to deal with tonight as the Angels should send six or even seven right-handed hitters to the plate.

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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Nick Kurtz, 1B (FD), 1B/OF (DK) - ATH ($5,700 DK/$4,100 FD)

UPDATE: The Red Sox are bringing up a left-handed rookie pitcher who is pretty darn good. SO, Kurtz is a GPP play at best, dang it!

I don't think I have seen a better pitch mix profile for a hitter than Kurtz's profile against right-hander Dustin May of the Red Sox.

Kurtz is having a rookie campaign for the ages. His .739 SLG% and 26% Barrel% against righties are just absurd numbers that we only see from the best power hitters in the league. I probably won't stack against May, who has good enough stuff to survive this Athletics lineup, but Kurtz is my ultimate one-off play if you want to hunt 2-HR upside.

Max Muncy, 3B  - LAD ($4,000 DK/$3,300 FD)

Muncy is back from the IL and far too cheap for this spot tonight against the washed-up righty German Marquez.

Before this last stint on the IL, Muncy was hitting the ball very well, homering in two of his last four games. He crushes four-seam fastballs, sinkers, and curveballs from right-handers, which is what he should see mainly from Marquez tonight.

The Dodgers are in a great spot tonight, and if you can't afford to stack all of them, at least get some Muncy for some cheap exposure.

Luke Keaschall, 2B - MIN ($4,800 DK/$3,200 FD)

Keaschall is having a fantastic year and is one of the main catalysts in this Twins lineup. He can hit for average, power, and steal bases. He's had very wonky splits so far in his short career, hitting RHP much better, so with Kyle Hendricks on the hill, it's all systems go!

Luke Keaschall steals home when Royce Lewis got hung up stealing 2nd, both were safe pic.twitter.com/dcLsi3PFa9

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) September 7, 2025

Hendricks is a soft-tosser who relies on the precision location of his sinker and changeup. But he gets hit hard quite often, and I like the Twins, especially the RHHs, chances of getting to him tonight.

• Matt McLain, SS/2B - CIN ($3,600 DK/$2,900 FD)
• Blaze Alexander, 2B/3B. SS on FD - ARI ($3,100 DK, $2,800 FD)

DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks

Fernando Tatis Jr., OF - SDP ($5,400 DK/$3,600 FD)

Tatis is a reverse-splits hitter facing a reverse-splits pitcher in Littell. This is an absolutely perfect matchup for him as he is elite against sliders, one of Littell's primary pitches to right-handers. I am all in on the Pads tonight with Tatis as my top play. If you can't get on board with the Padres stack, then at least roll Tatis as an elite one-off.

George Springer, OF - TOR ($5,000 DK/$3,500 FD)

It's been two years since Springer faced Houston righty Luis Garcia, who is just returning from a whole year off with Tommy John surgery. However, it's hard for me to ignore the fact that Springer, his former Astros teammate, owns a .429 average, 1.429 SLG%, and 40% Barrel% against Garcia across nine at-bats.

Garcia allowed two home runs in his first start of the season, both to right-handed hitters. I don't think many people will be on Springer tonight, but he's a sneaky good play as he's in great recent form and hitting RHP well this season (.563 SLG%, 18.8% Barrel%).

Josh Lowe, OF - TB ($4,500 DK/$3,100 FD)

I don't often stack Tampa on the road, but they do have an appealing matchup tonight against Yoendrys Gomez. I am giving the lefties a hard look as Gomez has allowed a .441 SLG% and 13.9% barrel% to southpaws in his five starts this season.

Lowe is relatively cheap for his upside. He has solid power, as we saw the other night when he crushed this Tanner Bibee offering into the seats, but also some decent speed with 17 steals on the year.

Josh Lowe - Tampa Bay Rays (10)
pic.twitter.com/FQmm44neBE

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) September 7, 2025

I like the way he looks against the fastball/changeup combo from Gomez. Again, if you are hunting affordable home runs with your one-offs, Lowe is an excellent target.

Others To Consider (CASH/GPP): 

• Ramon Laureano, OF - SDP ($4,400 DK/$3,600FD)
• Trevor Larnach, OF - MIN ($3,600 DK/$2,900 FD)

DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks

1. San Diego Padres vs. Cincinnati Reds (Zach Littell)

I mentioned it already, but Littell has been giving up home runs in bunches, and his reverse splits are a bad thing as the Padres' top three power hitters are all righties.

Favorite Combo: Tatis Jr., Machado, Laureano, Sheets

2. Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Colorado Rockies (German Marquez)

Marquez's better days are behind him. His 5.11 SIERA is the worst on the slate, and he simply doesn't miss bats anymore (8.5 SwStr%, 93% Z-Contact%). The Dodgers should feast, especially the lefties.

Favorite Combo: Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, Kim

2. Minnesota Twins vs. L.A. Angels (Kyle Hendricks)

The Angels put up a crooked number last night, and they could tee off here on Hendricks and his 5.00 SIERA. Hendricks has reverse splits, so I like the righties first, but don't sleep on some the cheap lefties like Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens either.

Favorite Combo: Buxton, Larnach, Keaschall, Lewis

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