Dan Johnson dives into tonight’s MLB DFS slate to find three players you need to put in your DraftKings lineups.
Tonight’s DraftKings main slate is loaded with landmines. Loaded! But, fear not. I see clear paths to domination. The key, of course, is locking in those ever-pesky, ever-explosive value plays who smash salary expectations and deliver slate-breaking upside. Let’s take a look at tonight’s main DFS contest, and I’ll hit you with my three must-start players for the slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $150K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]!
SP Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves ($9,500)
Ace of the slate. Strider is an automatic start given his otherworldly strikeout upside and surging form. $9,500 might feel steep, but no other pitcher tonight can match his strikeout ceiling at this price point. You’re paying a fair tag for a 40+ DK point ceiling that no other arm offers, making him pure value despite the cost. He just fired off six scoreless innings with 13 punchouts in his last outing, a performance that reminded everyone of his 2023 dominance. After an early-season ramp-up, Strider’s fastball is humming in the upper-90s again and his slider is snapping – hitters look absolutely overmatched. The advanced stats tell the story: his K-rate leads all starters on the slate by a mile, and he’s already logged double-digit strikeouts in nearly one-third of his career starts. Tonight he faces an Angels lineup that, without Ohtani, leans heavily on Mike Trout and a cast of high-strikeout bats. That’s a dream scenario for Strider. Even if Trout manages contact, Strider can mow through the rest with ease.
Concerned about his price? Don’t be. His ceiling is 40+ DK points, and no other pitcher can touch that potential. I expect Atlanta’s fireballer to attack relentlessly; every pitch comes with purpose and electric velocity. The Angels rank near the top of the league in strikeouts, and Strider’s combination of elite stuff and confidence should exploit that. I’m projecting something like 7+ innings, 10+ Ks, and a win—a score you can’t fade. He’s the definition of a locked-in ace. I’m plugging Strider in as my SP1 and not looking back. Ride the strikeouts and enjoy the fantasy-point avalanche.
1B Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,900)
I’m building every lineup around Freeman’s bat tonight. At $4,900, Freeman’s price reflects his star power, but he’s underpriced relative to his ceiling in this matchup. He offers multi-hit, multi-RBI upside that rivals $5,500+ elite bats, yet you’re paying a discount. He’s a left-handed assassin against right-handed pitching, batting a scorching .358 with seven homers and 34 RBIs vs righties this season. That spells trouble for White Sox starter Aaron Civale (1–4, 4.74 ERA). Freeman is seeing beach balls at the plate lately—his swing is compact, his timing impeccable. Advanced metrics back it up: his hard-hit rate and wOBA sit among league elites, reflecting an MVP-level rhythm. Civale’s middling arsenal won’t sneak anything past Freeman. Every contact off Freeman’s bat has sizzle, and against a pitcher with a subpar strikeout rate, the Dodgers’ superstar should be in perpetual attack mode.
Some DFS players balk at Freeman’s premium salary, but I’m not hesitating. The Dodgers’ lineup around him is stacked, so the RBI opportunities will flow. With Shohei Ohtani now hitting behind him in Dodger blue, pitchers have zero room to pitch around Freeman. I see a multi-hit, run-producing night incoming. The floor is high—Freeman rarely whiffs—and the ceiling is a slate-breaker if the Dodgers erupt. Lock in the NL’s steadiest slugger and reap the rewards of his matchup-proof excellence. No hedge, no second-guessing—Freeman is a must-start cornerstone of my lineup tonight. I’m all in on his talent and this matchup.
2B/OF Davis Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays ($2,400)
Author’s note: I only consider Schneider a must-start if he’s in the lineup tonight against the Yankees! There’s been a bit of back-and-forth about Logan Evans, so please make sure you’re aware of the Yankees’ starting pitcher before you lock Schneider into your lineups.
Schneider is the sneaky must-start who frees up your salary cap without sacrificing upside. At $2,400, he’s a steal—this price doesn’t reflect his recent production or his true power potential. He lets you fit premium bats like Freeman or premium arms like Strider without compromising lineup upside. He’s flying in under the radar, but not for long. Last night, Schneider erupted with two home runs (plus a go-ahead shot in the seventh) and powered Toronto to an 11–9 slugfest victory. This rookie sensation brings a potent bat and a knack for hard contact that belies his modest price tag. His momentum is off the charts—you can’t script a hotter hand heading into tonight’s contest. Beyond the highlights, the advanced metrics love him: Schneider’s ISO is elite in his limited at-bats, and his AAA track record suggested this power surge is no fluke. He has a disciplined eye (his walk rate impresses), so he’s consistently in advantageous counts to unleash that compact swing.
The Blue Jays’ offense around him is a juggernaut (third in MLB in team average and OBP), meaning plenty of RBI and run opportunities when he’s in the lineup. Hitting in a hitter-friendly Rogers Centre and likely slotting in against a middling Yankees right-hander, Schneider is set up to smash value. Some might question chasing a one-game outburst—I see it as capitalizing on a young slugger in full breakout mode. He brings multi-position versatility and opens up budget for studs like Freeman while still delivering serious upside. I’m stacking Blue Jays exposure with Schneider as the linchpin value play. The confidence is earned—the ball is jumping off his bat, and I’m betting it continues. Insert him now before his price catches up to his production, and watch the points pile up. Schneider’s a plug-and-play phenomenon tonight, and I’m locking him in without a second thought.
OF/1B Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs ($5,100)
In case Schneider isn’t in the lineup!
Suzuki is my power-packed core infielder, priced to pop and primed for tonight’s matchup. At $5,100, he’s in upper-tier range—but his upside matches much pricier bats, thanks to elite splits and lineup context. He’s facing Guardians’ rookie Joey Cantillo, a lefty making his first MLB start—an ideal spot for Suzuki, who’s torched left-handed pitching this year with a 174 wRC+ and OPS north of 1.000. Those numbers aren’t flukes; they’re dominance backed by power and plate discipline.
Advanced metrics confirm he’s locked in: Suzuki’s ISO vs. lefties sits near .250, his barrel rate exceeds 14%, and his hard-hit percentage is elite. That combination is lethal against a green rookie on the mound in a hitter-friendly park. Beyond personal stats, he benefits from lineup support—batting cleanup in a probable Cubs stack against Cantillo, with teammates like Nico Hoerner and veteran protection providing RBI bridges.
Suzuki’s price lands between value and high-salary studs, giving you flexibility to fit in elite arms like Strider or Freeman without forfeiting ceiling. He’s one of the highest projected values on the board.
And, remember—set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $150K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]!
