Charlie Cummings shares his top DraftKings MLB DFS stud plays, values and targets for Sunday’s slate on 8/31/25.
Welcome to my weekly Sunday DraftKings MLB DFS plays. I’ll break down some of the prime picks on the board, including studs and value plays, and why these players can lead your lineup to victory.
Set your DraftKings MLB DFS lineups here: MLB $175K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
Top MLB DFS Targets
Pitcher Studs
SP Hunter Brown (HOU), $10,800: If you want to spend big on your SP1 but can’t quite get to Tarik Skubal levels, Hunter Brown is your guy. Surrendering only seven total earned runs over his past six starts, he’s been a model of consistency during that stretch, pitching into the sixth inning each time. Against a middling Angels lineup, Brown is as close as you’ll get to a guarantee of top-end starter value.
SP Lucas Giolito (BOS), $9,000: Not ready to splurge on Brown? Giolito is the next-best thing. In a comeback season, he’s been a steady rock in turbulent waters for the Red Sox rotation. He’s recorded 20+ DFS points in four of his last six starts — including his most recent outing, where he scattered four hits and one walk across eight shutout innings. Facing a feeble Pirates offense that ranks bottom five in runs scored, Giolito offers top-tier value at a discounted price.
Pitcher Value Plays
SP Jose Soriano (LAA), $6,600: Brown’s opposite number carries good value into this matchup. Houston has scored only 14 runs across its last six games — including three against the Rockies, who’ve been serving meatballs all year. Soriano isn’t likely to go deep, but 5–6 clean innings are within his wheelhouse against a struggling Astros lineup.
SP Sandy Alcantara (MIA), $6,200: Is Alcantara back? That’s a hard maybe. Over his past three starts, the former Cy Young winner has gone at least six innings, struck out seven in each, and surrendered just four earned runs total. It feels like a glimpse of the old Sandy before injuries took their toll. The Mets lineup is hot, but Sandy might be hotter. At this bargain-bin price, he’s worth the risk.
Infield Studs
2B Brandon Lowe (TB), $5,000: Consistently one of the more underrated hitters in baseball, Lowe is quietly putting together another solid year. He has 27 home runs — eight in the last month — and 23 of those have come against right-handers. He won’t wow you with OBP, but he’s a strong candidate to leave the yard on Sunday.
3B José RamÃrez (CLE), $5,600: Mariners starter Bryce Miller has been struggling mightily, allowing 3+ earned runs in six straight starts and posting an 8.68 ERA in that span. If anyone’s going to capitalize, it’s José. One of the premier power-speed threats in the game, RamÃrez can anchor your lineup even against aces. Against anything less, he’s a near-automatic play.
Infield Value Plays
C Ryan Jeffers (MIN), $3,600: Many of the top catchers have tough matchups on Sunday — but not Jeffers. A solid hitter for his position, he had a modest three-game hit streak snapped Saturday. Padres lefty Kyle Hart has been prone to giving up runs, and Jeffers, a right-handed bat, is in a great spot to capitalize.
1B Paul Goldschmidt (NYY), $3,800: Goldschmidt has one of the most extreme platoon splits in MLB. Against right-handers, his OPS is around .600; against lefties, it’s over 1.100. Even more absurd: his road OPS is nearly 250 points higher. On Sunday, he’s facing a lefty on the road. Lock him in.
SS Colson Montgomery (CWS), $3,900: Not much has gone right for the White Sox this year, but Colson Montgomery has been a bright spot. The rookie is fresh off a four-game home run streak, and his sweet lefty swing has delivered excellent results early in his MLB career. No shortstop gives you better value on Sunday’s slate.
Outfield Studs
OF Juan Soto (NYM), $5,700: If you’re not playing Alcantara, you need Soto. The Mets superstar has been on fire all summer. On Saturday, he slugged two homers, stole two bases, and walked twice — a perfect encapsulation of his elite August. He’s been hitless in only six of 27 August games — and walked in five of those. There’s no other stud worth considering. Get him in there, or pivot to value plays.
Outfield Value Plays
OF Jakob Marsee (MIA), $4,400: Another rookie making noise for a struggling team, Marsee boasts an OPS over 1.000 through his first 100 MLB at-bats. In 29 games, he’s hitting .343 with 25 RBIs and nine steals. Kodai Senga hasn’t been sharp lately, and if you’re playing a Marlin, this is the guy.
OF Jesús Sánchez (HOU), $4,100: Marsee may have replaced Sánchez in Miami, but Sánchez is making the most of his opportunity in Houston. He extended his hitting streak to five games on Saturday — driving in four runs, scoring three, and collecting four extra-base hits in that span. Soriano is solid, but doesn’t go deep. That leaves Sánchez with plenty of chances against a shaky Angels bullpen.
