MLB Draftkings Picks for Aug 21, 2025

Daily Player Picks

Updated Throughout the Day

Player expected costs and values are calculated every thirty minutes throughout the day.


Pitchers

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Dylan Cease SD $9,200 20.35 2.21
Shota Imanaga CHC $9,500 18.88 1.99
Sonny Gray STL $9,000 17.43 1.94
MacKenzie Gore WSH $9,000 16.97 1.89

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Dylan Cease SD $9,200 20.35 2.21
Sean Manaea NYM $8,100 16.39 2.02
Shota Imanaga CHC $9,500 18.88 1.99
Sonny Gray STL $9,000 17.43 1.94

Catcher

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Hunter Goodman COL $5,200 9.26 1.78
William Contreras MIL $5,100 8.99 1.76
Will Smith LAD $6,100 8.97 1.47
Ivan Herrera STL $4,800 7.92 1.65

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Riley Adams WSH $2,600 6.45 2.48
Samuel Basallo BAL $3,200 7.86 2.46
Freddy Fermin SD $2,400 5.86 2.44
Pedro Pages STL $2,900 7.03 2.42

First Base

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Nick Kurtz ATH $6,000 11.71 1.95
Freddie Freeman LAD $6,200 11.42 1.84
Vinnie Pasquantino KC $4,400 9.38 2.13
Hunter Goodman COL $5,200 9.26 1.78

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Andres Chaparro WSH $2,000 7.12 3.56
Bob Seymour TB $2,100 6.01 2.86
Rowdy Tellez TEX $2,800 6.98 2.49
Riley Adams WSH $2,600 6.45 2.48

Use our SFTB Plus optimizers to perfect your DFS roster. Include or Exclude players and teams, and see our 10 best rosters for every available slate.


Second Base

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Luke Keaschall MIN $4,800 10.46 2.18
Jazz Chisholm Jr. NYY $5,200 9.64 1.85
Jose Altuve HOU $4,900 9.17 1.87
Brice Turang MIL $4,600 8.35 1.81

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
David Hamilton BOS $2,800 6.42 2.29
Marcus Semien TEX $3,600 8.14 2.26
Luke Keaschall MIN $4,800 10.46 2.18
Nico Hoerner CHC $3,400 7.16 2.10

Short Stop

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Gunnar Henderson BAL $5,300 10.46 1.97
Bobby Witt Jr. KC $5,800 10.08 1.74
Francisco Lindor NYM $5,600 9.84 1.76
Trevor Story BOS $4,600 9.60 2.09

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Brooks Lee MIN $2,700 8.19 3.03
Joey Ortiz MIL $2,800 6.80 2.43
Ezequiel Tovar COL $4,000 8.95 2.24
Darell Hernaiz ATH $3,300 7.15 2.17

Use our SFTB Plus optimizers to perfect your DFS roster. Include or Exclude players and teams, and see our 10 best rosters for every available slate.


Third Base

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Alex Bregman BOS $5,100 9.46 1.86
Junior Caminero TB $5,400 9.28 1.72
Maikel Garcia KC $4,800 9.16 1.91
Carlos Correa HOU $3,500 8.29 2.37

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Mark Vientos NYM $2,600 7.59 2.92
Brett Harris ATH $2,400 5.68 2.37
Carlos Correa HOU $3,500 8.29 2.37
Nolan Gorman STL $3,700 7.75 2.09

Outfield

Best Rating

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Giancarlo Stanton NYY $5,000 10.83 2.17
Byron Buxton MIN $5,700 10.47 1.84
Aaron Judge NYY $6,500 10.38 1.60
Juan Soto NYM $5,800 10.28 1.77
Wyatt Langford TEX $4,100 10.04 2.45
Roman Anthony BOS $4,800 9.99 2.08
Jarren Duran BOS $4,900 9.72 1.98
Trent Grisham NYY $4,400 9.47 2.15

Best Values

Name Team Cost Expected Value
Joc Pederson TEX $2,200 7.51 3.42
James Outman MIN $2,100 6.72 3.20
Jeremiah Jackson BAL $2,400 7.34 3.06
Dylan Beavers BAL $2,500 7.16 2.86
Tyler Tolbert KC $2,300 6.49 2.82
Luis Matos SF $2,000 5.60 2.80
Brenton Doyle COL $3,500 9.46 2.70
Brandon Lockridge MIL $2,400 6.43 2.68

Picks are based on historical performance and match-up. Picks are updated regularly, but we advise that you keep up to date on late-day roster moves and injuries – those are not taken into consideration. Sports from the Basement provides no warranty on these suggestions and readers should make picks at their own risk. Sample lineups are provided as thought-starters, and are not intended for direct use.