August is here, and Sunday brings us 11 games on the DFS slate with the first pitch at 1:35 p.m. EDT. Let's end the weekend on a high note! Here are my MLB DFS lineup recommendations.
Pitching
Chris Bassitt, TOR vs. KAN ($8,800): Bassitt has been subpar on the road this season, yet lists a 2.65 ERA at home. He's also getting to face a woeful Royals offense that ranks 29th in runs. Bassitt's road issues are concerning enough to doubt his ability in Toronto, though I'm still in due to KC's batting issues.
Edward Cabrera, MIA vs. NYY ($8,400): Cabrera didn't end up part of any trade, which means he's still dealing for the Marlins with a 3.00 ERA and 0.8 HR/9 rate at home on the year. He's also posted a 2.11 ERA across his last 11 starts and has only allowed more than two earned runs once during that stretch. The Yankees boast an excellent offense, but Aaron Judge is injured and that changes the situation enough. And I also don't love Sunday's pitching selections.
Joey Cantillo, CLE vs. MIN ($7,200): I was deciding between Cantillo and his counterpart Simeon Woods Richardson. Cantillo is at home and the Twins hollowed out their roster at the deadline. And then Woods Richardson's start was pushed back where he was replaced by Jose Urena. Minnesota probably won't be able to fall into the bottom-five in runs scored, but I do expect them to end up around 25th. Cantillo has spent a lot of time in the bullpen while in the big leagues, yet also offers a 10.86 K/9 rate.
Find out which projected starters are going and when with RotoWire's Probable Pitchers page!
Top Targets
It's been the kind of season from Kyle Tucker ($3,900) that the Cubs were hoping for as he's already exceeded 20 doubles and 20 stolen bases to go with 18 homers. He's unsurprisingly been bolstered by a .906 OPS against righties. The expectation is Brandon Young will grab another start on Sunday, which is due to a lack of other options. The rookie has registered a 6.63 ERA while lefties are hitting .308 against through eight MLB starts.
Getting Matt Chapman ($3,300) away from San Francisco's ballpark is to the benefit of his bat. He had an .819 road OPS last year and his current mark is at .892. Frankie Montas enters with a 5.46 ERA in six starts as a Met and his fellow righties have gone .295 against.
Bargain Bats
Though Isiah Kiner-Falefa ($3,200) doesn't offer much power, he's batting .273. On top of that, he's eligible to be rostered at second, third, and shortstop. Even without pop, he's produced 14 doubles, two triples, and 12 steals. The Pirates at visiting the Rockies in a ballpark that's also reliable for doubles. Bradley Blalock has pitched 15.0 home innings during 2025, where he's struggled to a 12.00 ERA.
I didn't see Mickey Moniak ($3,000) playing himself into becoming a viable leadoff hitter, at least against righties. He's hit .272 and slugged .534 while being bolstered by an 1.012 OPS at Coors Field. Mitch Keller is enjoying his best career campaign, yet lefties have still hit .258 against and will be in a hitter's ballpark on Sunday.
Stacks to Consider
Guardians vs. Twins (Jose Urena): Jose Ramirez ($3,900), Kyle Manzardo ($2,900), Steven Kwan ($2,800)
The move from Woods Richardson to Urena changed my stack plans. Urena is in his age-33 season and has spent part of the year at Triple-A . The Twins are also his fourth team of 2025. Urena has finished with an ERA under 5.00 only once since 2018. You don't have to worry about righties against him as basically everyone succeeds, but the Guardians don't really have righties who face righties so all three listed below hit left-handed.
It's not surprising Ramirez has gone over 20 doubles and homers, and he's also stolen 30-plus bases with a .961 OPS the last three weeks. He's also batting .300, so he could possibly exceed .300 for the first time since 2017. In only 94 games, Manzardo has hit 18 home runs. Since the start of July, he's recorded a .948 OPS. Kwan didn't end up getting dealt and has an .842 OPS the last three weeks. He doesn't boast a lot of power, yet he's slugged .463 while facing righties with all nine of his homers coming against them.
Orioles at Cubs (Colin Rea): Gunnar Henderson ($3,500), Jackson Holliday ($3,100), Colton Cowser ($3,100)
Rea's K/9 rate is down to 6.37 this season and his HR/9 rate is up to 1.61, which partially explains his 4.89 FIP. Lefties have gone .302 against him, and I was still able to find an Orioles stack even though they don't have all the lefties they did before the deadline.
Henderson is at 13 homers, 14 steals, and 25 doubles. He's likely to set a new personal-high in that last category, and facing more righties will help. He's struggled against southpaws, but can claim a .925 OPS versus righties. Holliday has definitely taken a step forward this season batting .259 with 14 home runs and 11 swipes. He's still experiencing issues with lefties, though the second baseman has hit .274 and slugged .443 against right-handers. There's nothing standing in the way of Cowser playing regularly after he's managed nine homers and six stolen bases in only 52 games. The southpaw has also slugged .448 against righties and .455 on the road.
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