Sleeper MLB Fantasy Picks - Wildcard Wednesday, 7/31: Baseball Projections

The opportunities to bring home some cold hard cash are endless on Wednesday, July 31st, with all baseball starting at 12:10 pm ET and going deep into the night.
Let’s dive into some of our favorite Sleeper Fantasy MLB picks including Drew Thorpe of the Chicago White Sox and Austin Hays of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Sleeper MLB Fantasy Picks: Wildcard Wednesday, 7/31
Don't miss out on this amazing chance to discover the finest Sleeper Fantasy MLB picks for the day. Simply tap here and enter the exclusive Sleeper promo code VAULT3 to relish a complete 100% deposit match up to $100!
Plus, for today only, new users can secure a discounted strikeouts projection on Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen! Remember that today is also Wildcard Wednesday, allowing all patrons to enjoy a special discount on select squares!
Sign up via this link and claim your $100+ bonus with Sleeper promo code VAULT3 to get ready for our expert Sleeper Fantasy MLB picks now.

Drew Thorpe Sleeper Fantasy MLB Pick: More Than 2.5 Earned Runs (1.6x)
The one thing we’ve consistently said is that the Drew Thorpe blowup was bound to happen, and it sure did his last time out. The peripheral numbers haven’t gotten any better either and the Royals are in a great spot here.
The Royals have the second-highest implied team total at 5.3 runs and face a guy that doesn’t miss bats and allows a lot of fly balls. Expect the Royals to get to Thorpe early and often here and batter him like the Mariners did the last time out.
Austin Hays Sleeper Fantasy MLB Pick: More Than 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI (1.6x)
A lot has been made about how bad Nestor Cortes has been on the road this year and that holds true in this matchup against one of the best left-handed hitting teams in baseball. It’s also interesting that the Phillies have immediately put Hays in the two-hole with a lefty on the mound.
It’s because of how good Hays is against lefties. He’s batting .313 with an .856 OPS and .356 wOBA against them this season. He’s been this good against southpaws his whole career, too, batting .284 with a near .800 OPS against them compared to a sub .250 AVG and close to a .700 OPS against righty hurlers.
Multiplier: 2.5x
Wildcard Wednesday Presents $100+ Opportunity Using Sleeper Promo Code VAULT3
Immerse yourself in the exhilarating world of daily fantasy sports with Sleeper Fantasy! Sign up today through our exclusive link and enter Sleeper promo code VAULT3 to receive a remarkable 100% deposit match, up to $100, along with a complimentary square as you curate your fantasy lineup for Wednesday, July 24th.
This is the perfect opportunity to assemble your MLB lineups on Wildcard Wednesday. Leverage our expert Sleeper Fantasy MLB selections to fully capitalize on this generous deposit match. Don’t let this opportunity slip away – register swiftly with Sleeper Fantasy promo code VAULT3!

Player News
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.