# Today’s Top Fantasy Baseball Picks: Hitters and Pitchers to Target

Welcome back to our daily fantasy baseball breakdown! As we dive into today’s MLB slate, I’ve analyzed matchups, recent performance trends, ballpark factors, and injury reports to bring you the most promising fantasy options. Whether you’re playing on DraftKings, FanDuel, or another DFS platform, these selections should give you a competitive edge in your contests. Let’s examine the top four hitters and two pitchers who are positioned for success today.

Top 4 Hitters for Today’s MLB Slate

When selecting hitters for daily fantasy baseball, we’re looking for the perfect combination of skill, opportunity, matchup advantage, and ballpark factors. Today’s selections check all those boxes and offer excellent upside for your lineups.

1. Juan Soto (OF, New York Yankees)

Soto continues to prove himself as one of the most consistent fantasy producers in baseball. His elite combination of power and patience makes him a high-floor, high-ceiling option in any format. Today’s matchup is particularly favorable for several reasons:

• Facing a right-handed pitcher with a 4.75 ERA who struggles particularly against left-handed batters
• Playing at Yankee Stadium, where the short right field porch perfectly suits his pull-side power
• Hitting in the heart of one of baseball’s most productive lineups, providing maximum RBI opportunities
• Currently riding a 10-game hitting streak with four home runs during this stretch

Soto’s advanced metrics further support his selection today. His 15.2% barrel rate and 92.7 mph average exit velocity indicate that his recent power surge is far from a fluke. While his price tag will be high across all DFS platforms, his consistency and ceiling make him worth the investment.

2. Freddie Freeman (1B, Los Angeles Dodgers)

Freeman remains one of the most reliable fantasy options at first base, and today’s matchup puts him in an excellent position to deliver significant fantasy production:

• Matched against a pitcher he’s historically dominated, going 8-for-16 with three doubles and two home runs in their previous meetings
• Dodger Stadium has played surprisingly hitter-friendly in recent weeks due to warmer weather conditions
• Has been particularly effective at home this season, with a .322/.418/.567 slash line in his home ballpark
• Coming off a multi-hit performance yesterday, suggesting his timing is locked in

What makes Freeman especially valuable in DFS formats is his reliability. While many sluggers accept high strikeout rates as the cost of doing business, Freeman maintains elite contact skills (strikeout rate under, 16%) while still delivering power numbers. This gives him a safer floor than many power hitters while maintaining similar upside.

3. Bobby Witt Jr. (SS, Kansas City Royals)

The breakout star continues his ascension to fantasy superstardom, and today’s matchup makes him a premium play across all DFS platforms:

• Facing a left-handed pitcher against whom he holds significant platoon advantages (.328 average vs. LHP this season)
• Playing in his home park where he’s demonstrated increased comfort and production
• His combination of power and speed gives him multiple pathways to fantasy production
• The opposing pitcher has surrendered a .290 batting average to right-handed hitters this season

What makes Witt particularly appealing is his multi-category upside. On any given day, he can deliver home runs, stolen bases, or both. This diverse skill set provides security for your fantasy investment while maintaining significant ceiling potential. His improved plate discipline this season (career-best walk rate) further stabilizes his fantasy floor.

4. Gunnar Henderson (SS/3B, Baltimore Orioles)

Henderson has evolved into one of baseball’s most electric young talents, and today’s game conditions align perfectly for a standout fantasy performance:

• Batting leadoff in baseball’s most potent lineup, maximizing his plate appearances and run-scoring opportunities
• Playing in Camden Yards against a pitcher who has surrendered 1.8 HR/9 to left-handed batters
• Demonstrating tremendous power in recent weeks with six home runs in his last 12 games
• Position flexibility (SS/3B eligibility) adds strategic roster construction options

Henderson’s batted ball metrics support his recent power surge. His 13.9% barrel rate and 50.1% hard-hit percentage place him among the elite power hitters in the game. While his price has increased on most DFS platforms, there’s reason to believe he still offers value relative to his ceiling, particularly in tournament formats where his power upside creates significant differentiation potential.

Top 2 Pitchers to Build Around Today

Selecting the right pitchers in daily fantasy baseball often makes the difference between cashing and falling short. Today’s slate offers two standout options who combine favorable matchups with elite skills.

1. Corbin Burnes (Baltimore Orioles)

The former Cy Young winner has seamlessly transitioned to the American League and continues to demonstrate why he’s one of fantasy baseball’s most reliable pitching options. Today’s start against the White Sox presents a particularly appealing opportunity:

• Facing one of baseball’s least productive offenses (bottom three in runs scored, OBP, and wOBA)
• The White Sox lead MLB in strikeout rate against right-handed pitching (28.2%)
• Burnes has been particularly effective at home, with a 2.54 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in Camden Yards
• Coming off a complete game shutout in his previous outing, demonstrating his current form and efficiency

While Burnes’ strikeout rate has decreased slightly this season, his ability to work deep into games compensates by providing additional opportunities for fantasy points through innings pitched. His control remains elite (2.2 BB/9), minimizing damage and supporting both his floor and ceiling.

The matchup against Chicago’s struggling offense couldn’t be more favorable. They rank last in baseball in weighted runs created plus (wRC+) against right-handed pitching and have shown little improvement throughout the season. Their aggressive approach plays directly into Burnes’ strengths, setting up a potential double-digit strikeout performance.

2. Logan Gilbert (Seattle Mariners)

Gilbert has established himself as one of the American League’s most reliable starters, and today’s matchup against the Athletics makes him an excellent fantasy option:

• Oakland ranks 27th in wOBA against right-handed pitchers and strikes out at a 25.3% clip against them
• Gilbert thrives at T-Mobile Park, where the spacious dimensions and marine air suppress offensive production
• His 11.2% swinging strike rate and improved changeup have led to more consistent strikeout totals
• The Mariners are heavily favored, increasing his win probability significantly

Gilbert’s evolution as a pitcher has been fascinating to watch. While he’s always had excellent command, the development of his secondary offerings has transformed him from a solid starter to a potential ace. His slider has become a true put-away pitch, generating a 36.7% whiff rate that supports his strikeout upside.

The Oakland matchup offers Gilbert a remarkable combination of floor and ceiling. The Athletics’ lineup lacks dangerous power threats and features several high-strikeout hitters that Gilbert should be able to exploit. The spacious dimensions of T-Mobile Park further suppress the minimal power threats Oakland does possess, reducing the risk of damage on mistakes.

Building Your Optimal DFS Lineup

When constructing your daily fantasy baseball lineup today, consider these strategic