Covering The Bases: MLB DFS Picks Today for Sunday 8/24

by Justin Van Zuiden (stlcardinals84) Last Updated 2025-08-24 14:17:20 Premium Content Part of the product MLB DFS

Long-time grinder, Justin Van Zuiden (aka stlcardinals84), is here to cover the bases for the upcoming MLB DFS slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Whether you are looking for the top pitchers or the best stacks, Cards has you covered with an extensive deep dive into his favorite MLB DFS picks.

Happy Sunday, Grinders! We have an interesting Sunday slate on tap, with an 8-game slate on both FanDuel and DraftKings. There are only 2 more Sundays available for us to make some decent cash before football takes over, so we should try our best to make them count!

As always, it will be important to monitor things with our MLB weather page. Nothing looks extremely ominous as of the time I am writing this, and I will write the article as though every game plays fine. However, there are a few spots that are worth keeping an eye on as lineup lock draws closer.

Let’s dive in and see what this Sunday afternoon has to offer!

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Sunday Pitching: MLB DFS Picks on FanDuel & DraftKings

TOP TIER ACES

Brandon Woodruff vs. Giants
Robbie Ray vs. Brewers
Ranger Suarez vs. Nationals
Trevor Rogers vs. Astros
Kevin Gausman vs. Marlins

We have a very strong group of 5 pitchers at the top today, and this is a surprisingly good pitching slate for an 8-game docket. As usual, let’s begin with a peek at the 2025 data:

Woodruff – 2.47 ERA, 3.09 xFIP, 32.7% K, 6.5% BB
Ray – 2.85 ERA, 4.06 xFIP, 25.2% K, 9.1% BB
Suarez – 3.25 ERA, 3.73 xFIP, 22.7% K, 5.9% BB
Rogers – 1.41 ERA, 3.48 xFIP, 23.3% K, 5.6% BB
Gausman – 3.78 ERA, 3.94 xFIP, 23.9% K, 7.1% BB

UPDATE – There is some confusion over who will start for the Brewers today. It sounds like they might push Brandon Woodruff back and start Robert Gasser. Obviously, just ignore the Woodruff analysis if he is not pitching. Gasser is not a DFS option.

If we just take the numbers at face value with no extenuating circumstances, it is clear that Brandon Woodruff is the best pitcher in this tier. He has the best ERA, the best xFIP, and the top strikeout rate. He gets to face a Giants team that has been very underwhelming in the second half of the season. However, I have real concerns about his ceiling. He got up to a season-high 94 pitches in his most recent start against the Cubs, but that was a key divisional game, and he still only made it through 4 1/3 innings. He has not topped 88 pitches in any other start. The Brewers are taking it easy with him, and it’s the smart move playing the long game. When you also factor in that Woodruff will likely be popular, I don’t love the GPP appeal. He’s certainly fine and can be used as your cash game SP1, but he is not a must play in tournaments.

All of the other arms fall into a strange bucket, with xFIP marks between 3.45 and 4.10 for the year and strikeout rates that are just a tick above league average. Robbie Ray becomes one of the odd men out for me with the highest xFIP and walk rate of the bunch, especially since he has to face the Brewers. I can see keeping him in your GPP pool given his upside when he does have his “best” stuff, but he is also not a priority. I have even less interest in Trevor Rogers against an Astros team that has scored 7+ runs in 3 straight games against the Orioles this weekend. Rogers has been mega fortunate with one of the lowest opposing BABIP marks you will ever see, and I just don’t see that lasting forever. He also doesn’t have huge strikeout totals.

I am neutral on Kevin Gausman in a matchup against a hit-or-miss Marlins offense. While the Marlins went on a surge in July, they have cooled of late and rank just 23rd in team wOBA against RHP over the last 2 weeks. Gausman has solid (if unspectacular) numbers across the board. He will be in my GPP pool.

I have buried my take on the best pitcher in this tier, and that is Ranger Suarez. I love the home matchup against the Nationals. He is a massive favorite, and he will have the splits edge against Washington’s more dangerous hitters. While Suarez has struggled to an ERA of nearly 6.00 in August, much of that is attributable to very poor luck. He still has a sparkling 21/2 K/BB ratio over his last 4 starts, and he showcased his best stuff with a 10-strikeout, no-walk performance in his last outing. He’s my SP1.

I am ranking this tier as Suarez > Woodruff > Gausman > Ray > Rogers, and I feel pretty comfortable with how I have slotted them.

SECONDARY PITCHING OPTIONS

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