FanDuel MLB DFS Picks: Thursday 9/18/25

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Let's check out the top options on today's main slate.

Note: All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook. All stats come from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant unless noted otherwise.

Top MLB DFS Picks

Pitcher Breakdown

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers ($10,500)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been lights out on the mound recently, delivering 10 Ks while pitching seven-plus innings in three consecutive starts, resulting in him scoring 52-plus FanDuel points (FDPs) in each of those outings. On Thursday, Yamamoto will face a San Francisco Giants squad that has the fourth-worst wOBA (.280) and seventh-worst wRC+ (79) over the last 14 days.

Max Fried, Yankees ($9,800)

While Max Fried doesn't bring a high ceiling in the strikeout department with his 50th-percentile strikeout rate (22.6%), he's earned a win in five of his last six starts, and he's tallied 34-plus FDPs in five straight appearances. Along with Fried producing solid outputs recently, the Baltimore Orioles have the fifth-worst wOBA (.280), sixth-worst wRC+ (78), fifth-worst ISO (.121), and fourth-highest strikeout rate (28.1%) across the last two weeks.

Quinn Priester, Brewers ($8,600)

Targeting the Los Angeles Angels with a pitcher in DFS has been beneficial recently, as the Halos are registering the seventh-worst wOBA (.282), fourth-worst wRC+ (77), and highest strikeout rate (33.6%) in the last 14 days of action. Even though Quinn Priester has just a 19.4% strikeout rate, he's racked up double-digit Ks twice this season, and his 57.2% groundball rate and 39.6% hard-hit rate should limit the damage he gives up on the bump versus the Angels.

Stacks to Target

New York Yankees

Players to Target: Aaron Judge ($4,800), Cody Bellinger ($3,500), Amed Rosario ($2,600), and Paul Goldschmidt ($2,700)

Cade Povich is set to make another start for the Orioles on Thursday, and the left-handed hurler is logging a 4.07 xFIP, 1.55 WHIP, and 2.05 HR/9 at home (compared to a 3.70 xFIP, 1.30 WHIP, and 0.81 HR/9 on the road). While Aaron Judge (219 wRC+ vs. LHP), Amed Rosario (193 wRC+), and Paul Goldschmidt (187 wRC+) all have the platoon advantage against Povich, Cody Bellinger (183 wRC+) shouldn't be forgotten in New York stacks -- especially with Povich coughing up 1.57 HR/9 to lefties.

Milwaukee Brewers

Players to Target: Jackson Chourio ($3,600), William Contreras ($3,100), Andrew Vaughn ($2,900), and Blake Perkins ($2,800)

Yusei Kikuchi has given up five-plus earned runs in three of his last four starts for the Angels, and he'll be tasked with taking on a Milwaukee Brewers team that has the sixth-best wRC+ (113) and fourth-lowest strikeout rate (19.1%) over the last month. In addition to liking Rhys Hoskins (113 wRC+ vs. LHP) if he's confirmed in the lineup, Jackson Chourio (176 wRC+), William Contreras (105 wRC+), Andrew Vaughn (210 wRC+), and Blake Perkins (138 wRC+) all have notable metrics versus southpaws this year.

Cincinnati Reds

Players to Target: TJ Friedl ($2,900), Elly De La Cruz ($3,700), Gavin Lux ($2,700), and Will Benson ($2,600)

The Cincinnati Reds stand out as a salary-saving stack on Thursday against Colin Rea, who is in the 15th percentile in xERA (4.92), 13th percentile in xBA (.279), and 18th percentile in barrel rate (10.2%). With Rea permitting a .378 wOBA and 1.74 HR/9 to left-handed sluggers (compared to a .269 wOBA and 0.73 HR/9 to right-handed sluggers), the main targets from the Reds are TJ Friedl (115 wRC+ vs. RHP), Elly De La Cruz (126 wRC+), Gavin Lux (111 wRC+), and Will Benson (89 wRC+).

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.