Garion Thorne gives his top studs and value plays for tonight’s eight-game featured fantasy baseball slate on DraftKings.

There’s just three weeks left in the MLB regular season. Three weeks of baseball to decide six months of games. What’s on tap specifically for this evening? How about an eight-game DFS slate that’s stacked with high-quality pitching options?

Let’s dive in and highlight the names you’ll be building your lineups around on Monday.

Make your DraftKings MLB DFS picks here: MLB $100K Bat Flip [$25K to 1st]

PITCHER

Value

Yu Darvish, San Diego Padres vs. Cincinnati Reds, $6,900 – Darvish has not looked amazing since coming off the IL in early July, pitching to a 5.75 ERA across 51.2 innings of work. However, the surface stats don’t really tell the full story. While Darvish’s velocity is down a tick and his swinging strike rate (10.4%) is falling in turn, the 39-year-old’s 3.64 xERA is relatively promising. How could that be? Well, first and foremost, Darvish’s 59.9% strand rate is laughably low and due for some serious regression. It’s also not like Darvish is getting shelled, as he owns a 90th percentile opponent hard hit rate (34.0%). The RHP has always pitched at his best in Petco Park and he should benefit from facing a Reds lineup that ranks 29th in ISO (.131) and 27th in wRC+ (91) since the All-Star break.

INFIELD

Stud

Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners vs. St. Louis Cardinals, $6,300 – Raleigh is red-hot at the moment, coming into tonight’s tilt with Miles Mikolas ($5,800) having hit a home run in back-to-back games. Overall, Raleigh is also riding a six-game hitting streak, though he is batting just .211 since the All-Star break. No matter. Singles aren’t why you’re paying up for “Big Dumper” and his services. Raleigh leads the league with 53 long balls, while Mikolas has surrendered 1.82 home runs per nine to opposing LHBs so far this season. At this point in his career, Mikolas just doesn’t miss bats. That’s a scary way to live against Raleigh, who sports a 94th percentile expected wOBA on batted ball events (.483).

Value

Brooks Lee, Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Angels, $3,000 – Lee has slumped since a marvellous month of June put him on the DFS radar, but it’s not like the former eighth-overall pick lacks talent or upside. The switch-hitting infielder has clubbed 14 home runs in 2025 and he’s done most of that damage from the left-hand side. On Monday, Lee and the rest of the Twins will face-off with the right-handed Caden Dana ($6,500). The 21-year-old RHP has struggled in his six career MLB appearances, pitching to a 7.17 ERA. LHBs have been Dana’s biggest issue, with opponents within the split combining for a massive .474 wOBA. I’d also keep an eye on Matt Wallner ($3,600), Trevor Larnach ($3,500) and Edouard Julien ($2,700).

OUTFIELD

Stud

Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers at Texas Rangers, $4,800 – It hasn’t been the sophomore campaign people wanted from Chourio, but there’s no doubt that the former top prospect has looked his best in 2025 than when getting the opportunity to face a southpaw. In 130 plate appearances within the split, Chourio is slashing .355/.400/.603 with a 177 wRC+. Jacob Latz ($7,000) has been decent since transitioning to the rotation for the Rangers, yet this matchup seems pretty one-sided.

Value

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels vs. Minnesota Twins, $3,800 – If it wasn’t enough getting the aforementioned Darvish for less than $7,000, now Mike Trout is priced below $4,000. My millennial brain is breaking. Trout is obviously not having his best season ever, but the future Hall of Fame outfielder does still possess an 89th percentile barrel rate (14.2%) and an 81st percentile expected wOBA (.360). He’ll also be facing Simeon Woods Richardson ($6,300), who has struggled to keep the ball in the park throughout 2025. Woods Richardson has allowed 1.61 opponent home runs per nine and a sixth percentile opponent barrel rate (11.4%). I expect Trout to have a huge night.