Fall is around the corner, though there's been a recent uptick in heat. The MLB regular season is winding down, but there are more games to be played and more DFS contests to be entered. Sunday sees nine games on the DFS slate with the first pitches at 1:35 p.m. EDT. Here are my lineup recommendations.
Pitching
Shane Bieber, TOR vs. BAL ($9,900): Through four starts since returning from injury, Bieber has a 4.30 ERA but with a 3.18 FIP. And he's really only had one poor start, which was on the road in Cincinnati's hitter-friendly park. The Orioles are bottom-10 in runs scored while their lineup got worse at the trade deadline. Bieber should be able to avoid a subpar showing on Sunday.
Aaron Nola, PHI vs. KAN ($9,200): Nola has endured two bad road outings since coming back, yet has posted a 3.00 ERA during three home appearances. And last time out, he threw six innings of shutout ball against a strong Mets lineup. Meanwhile, the Royals rank 28th offensively.
Shota Imanaga, CHC vs. TAM ($9,100): If the Rays could do it, they would slot four or five lefties into their lineup. But Imanaga is a southpaw with a career .199 against lefties. That'll cramp Tampa's style as they're a team that's roughly average when it comes to runs. Imanaga also boasts a 2.87 home ERA since joining the Cubs.
Find out which projected starters are going and when with RotoWire's Probable Pitchers page!
Top Targets
While Corbin Carroll ($4,100) will have to settle for topping out at 30 doubles, 30 homers, and 30 stolen bases (what a slacker), there's one thing he's done few can dream up which is picking up a whopping 16 triples. He may not add to that total facing Bailey Ober, though that's only because the right-handed pitcher has allowed 2.02 homers per nine innings with 17 of the 29 long balls coming against southpaws.
There's an excellent chance that Jose Ramirez ($4,000) will get to 30 doubles, 30 home runs, and 40 steals for the second straight year. The switch-hitting third baseman also has a .901 home OPS. Yoendrys Gomez has pitched for three teams in 2025 so home/road splits don't mean a lot, but he's struggled to a 5.05 ERA and 1.74 K/BB rate.
Bargain Bats
Though Sal Frelick ($3,00) has registered 10 homers, his .296 average and 19 stolen bases are probably more intriguing in DFS. When it comes to displaying power he saves it for the home crowd as the lefty has slugged .460 in Milwaukee this season. It's been a nightmare campaign for Miles Mikolas on the road having posted a 6.54 ERA and 2.4 HR/9 rate.
As the Tigers try to avoid the embarrassment of squandering their lead in the AL Central and missing the playoffs entirely, they could use players like Colt Keith ($2,800) contributing offensively as he's slugged .425 on the road and .437 versus righties. Adam Mazur gives the Tigers - and Keith - as much of an opportunity as they'll find with a career 5.87 K/9 rate and 7.04 ERA.
Stacks to Consider
Cubs vs. Rays (Adrian Houser): Ian Happ ($3,600), Pete Crow-Armstrong ($3,500), Michael Busch ($3,000)
Unsurprisingly, the Rays got a bit of fool's gold in trading for Houser. He came into 2025 with a career 4.21 ERA and then suddenly recorded a 2.10 over 11 starts with the White Sox? Since joining Tampa, Houser is at a 4.93 through seven outings. Lefties have hit .271 against compared to a .245 from righties, so I've included three batters below who can hit left-handed.
The switch-hitting Happ has an .810 OPS against righties since 2023. And over the last three weeks, he's posted a robust 1.107 OPS. Crow-Armstrong is trying to get back on track for the playoff and is only two homers away from a 30/30 season. He also lists an .856 OPS versus righties with an .859 at home. Busch has pushed his power up a notch by producing 27 home runs. He's completely fallen off against lefties after being serviceable in those matchups last year, yet his .871 OPS versus righties works.
Twins vs. Diamondbacks (Nabil Crismatt): Luke Keaschall ($3,400), Matt Wallner ($3,000), Trevor Larnach ($2,900)
Crismatt is 30 and had made one MLB start prior to this season after pitching out of the bullpen. And while he's managed a 3.24 through five outings (one in bulk relief), his FIP is at 4.18. The righty has also allowed lefties to bat .342 against him and they've also notched all three of the homers he's conceded. I do have one righty in this stack based on the Twins' usual roster.
Keaschall is the righty in the stack who's hit .314 with four home runs and 12 stolen bases in 41 games. I'm willing to take a shot on the 22-year-old as he's a second baseman with a 1.016 OPS versus righties. In only 100 appearances, Wallner has 21 homers and three triples. And since 2023, he's slugged .523 against righties and .510 at home. Larnach is at 16 homers while adding 21 doubles. He's also gone .322 the last three weeks while slugging .440 in Minnesota the last couple campaigns.
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