MLB DFS Value Plays Today, 4/18: Daily Fantasy Picks At DraftKings & FanDuel
Conquer the MLB DFS main slate on Friday, April 18, 2025, with our top DraftKings and FanDuel value plays! Our lineups, based on data, are constructed for the 11-game slate beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET, with budget-friendly players possessing high-upside ceilings.
From hitters who are undervalued with good matchups to pitchers who present excellent value, we've got you covered with intelligent suggestions to maximize the ROI of your lineups. Dive into the best MLB DFS value plays and stacking options to crush the competition on DraftKings and FanDuel today.
Top MLB DFS Value Picks for Today, 4/18; DraftKings & FanDuel Value Targets
Cheap Hitters in Great Matchups
Hitting cleanup for the Reds tonight, Hays is a fantastic value play in this matchup against Baltimore Orioles southpaw Cade Povich.
Hays is a known lefty killer dating back to his time with the Baltimore Orioles and since coming off of the injured list he is hitting .308 with a pair of homers and an OPS of 1.077.
Make him part of your Reds stack or as a one-off value play here this evening.
The Braves called up Verdugo from Triple-A and he is hitting leadoff here today against the Minnesota Twins and righty Chris Paddack.
Verdugo struggled last season with the Yankees and went unsigned for most of the offseason before signing a minor league deal with Atlanta.
Verdugo did not have impressive numbers at the Triple-A level but earned the callup anyways and we can’t avoid a leadoff hitter this cheap in a matchup against a bad Chris Paddack.
With a lefty on the mound we see Luken Baker enter the lineup for the Cardinals here today against the Mets.
St. Louis is one of the top hitting teams against southpaws this season and Baker has some power and is hitting second tonight against the Mets David Peterson.
There is the potential he gets pinch-hit for later in the game by Alec Burleson but for now, he is a great value option for your lineups, even as a one-off play.
Low-Cost Pitchers With Strikeout Potential
There aren’t too many good value pitchers on today’s slate but if you wanted to chase the matchup then Red Sox righty Hunter Dobbins would be the guy to look towards.
In his debut start this season against a tough Cardinals lineup he went five innings, allowing just two runs while striking out five.
The White Sox have one of the worst offenses in all of baseball with a 23% strikeout rate and while Dobbins isn’t an elite prospect, he was a solid arm at Triple-A last season for Boston and has some win equity here today.
How to Find Value in MLB DFS Lineup Construction
MLB DFS lineup building value is found by targeting players whose expected fantasy points will exceed their expected fantasy points for their price on sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel. Target underpriced players with good matchups (i.e., against poor pitchers or in park-friendly ballparks), platoon advantages, or good lineup positions.
Use projections, matchup stats, and park factors to find inexpensive hitters and pitchers who can provide 3x–4x their price in points, maximizing your lineup's overall scoring capacity under the salary cap.
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.