Covering The Bases: MLB DFS Picks Today for Sunday 9/6
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, Justin has you covered with an extensive deep dive into his favorite MLB DFS picks today on September 6, 2026.
Happy Sunday, Grinders! We have a 9-game slate on tap for today, but the slates are slightly different between the sites. DraftKings is including the ATL/PHI game and starting their slate at 1:10 PM Eastern, while FanDuel is excluding that game and starting their slate at 1:35 PM Eastern. However, FD is adding the Coors Field game to their slate to keep it as a 9-gamer over there. I do like the FD approach today, as the Coors Field game is one of the only contests that looks exciting from an offense perspective.
As was the case yesterday, this looks to be a day that is all clear on the MLB Weather front, so it should be all systems go for lineup building.
It’s the final Sunday of the year where anyone will care about baseball with the NFL season starting next weekend, so we need to make this one count. Let’s dive in and see what this Sunday afternoon has to offer!
Sunday Pitching: MLB DFS Picks on DraftKings and FanDuel
TOP TIER PITCHERS
- Gavin Williams vs. Tigers
- Payton Tolle at Orioles
- Paul Skenes vs. Angels
- Ian Seymour at Rangers
These pitchers are priced at or above $9,000 on DK, and this tier also includes the 3 highest-priced pitchers on FD — though it’s notable that Paul Skenes has dipped below some others in salary over there. Before I dig into that analysis, let’s peek at the 2026 data as the usual starting point.
Williams – 3.81 ERA, 2.80 xFIP, 33.0% K, 7.6% BB
Tolle – 3.23 ERA, 3.64 xFIP, 27.7% K, 7.0% BB
Skenes – 3.97 ERA, 3.32 xFIP, 28.9% K, 7.1% BB
Seymour – 4.21 ERA, 3.46 xFIP, 29.4% K, 6.8% BB
Since I hinted at it above, I want to get the discussion on Paul Skenes out of the way first. There are a couple of positives here. If you zoom out at his season-long data, it still doesn’t look too bad and is very much in line with the other pitchers in this tier. He also benefits from a matchup against the high-strikeout, free-swinging Angels lineup. However, if you zoom in for the more recent data, it’s just concerning. The velocity is nowhere near its peak, and Skenes hasn’t topped 6 strikeouts in a single start since July. Maybe it’s fatigue. Maybe it’s a hidden injury. Maybe it’s just sample size wonkiness. If you think it’s a fluke, by all means play him at a now discounted salary and lower ownership against the Angels. I have legitimate concerns, and I will very much be underweight on him today.
Give me Gavin Williams as my clear-cut SP1 choice here. In his last 10 starts, he has recorded double-digit strikeouts 7 times. The stuff is electric, and his surface numbers would be even better if not for an unlucky 18% HR/FB rate. The Guardians also need a long start out of their ace given that they played a doubleheader on Friday and got blown out yesterday. The Guardians are tied with the Blue Jays for the final playoff spot in the American League right now, so it’s time for the stars to shine. Detroit ranks 29th in baseball in both team wOBA and ISO over the last month, and they have one of the lower team walk rates in baseball over that same span. This is a potential smash spot for Williams.
I don’t have a strong take on Payton Tolle or Ian Seymour. Both feel a touch overpriced when compared to Williams, but they will also almost certainly be lower owned in comparison. Tolle seems to offer more of the risk/reward ceiling, while Seymour is a steadier option. I will keep both of them in my multi-entry tournament pool and prefer Tolle if choosing between them, but both are a clear step below Williams on the SP1 radar.
SECONDARY PITCHING OPTIONS
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About the Author
Justin Van Zuiden (aka stlcardinals84) is a longtime RotoGrinders contributor and show host. He’s appeared in numerous Live Finals, has logged countless 6-figure wins in a host of different sports (including 5 in PGA), and is a former DFS Writer of the Year Nominee by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. You can find Justin’s ‘Covering The Bases’ series on weekends during the MLB season. He is also a main contributor of sports betting picks at our sister site, ScoresAndOdds. Follow Justin on X – @stlcardinals84