Welcome to MLB DFS Bargains. We’ll split the analysis into three groups: very cheap, mid-tier, and expensive. A greater emphasis will be placed on the lower end of the price scale.
Please note, these player picks were organized early in the day. For MLB contests, always check lineups and weather closer to game time. Rain, wind, or unexpected managerial decisions could open up additional sources of value. Be sure to keep an eye on the MLB Headlines and Injuries desk.
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We’re cooking with a six-game slate tonight.
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DIRT CHEAP BARGAINS
Dustin May – SP – Los Angeles Dodgers (vs Padres)
Prospect debuts are risky propositions. Pitfalls such as nerves, hidden pitch counts, and short leashes can shatter DFS value. May is an imposing 6’6’’ right-hander who combines high quality stuff with a hefty ground ball rate. The Padres struggle to do much damage to righties. They’re a great opponent against which to debut. May isn’t such a bargain that he’s an automatic must-play.
Brandon Crawford – SS – San Francisco Giants (at Peter Lambert)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Coors Field is a helluva drug. Toss in a scrubby starter like Lambert and any bargain-priced hitter is a value. While offense is surging leaguewide, Crawford is having a rather forgettable season. He’s batting just .231/.305/.370 on the season. However, since mid-June, he’s rebounded to hit .281/.350/.477. He’s made frequent hard contact over the span. Unfortunately, both Lambert and Crawford are ground ball guys. Such symmetry favors the pitcher.
Josh VanMeter – 2B – Cincinnati Reds (at Kevin Gausman)
VanMeter typically hits fifth in the Reds lineup. Cincinnati liked him enough to open a regular role at the trade deadline by dealing Scooter Gennett. VanMeter features a valuable blend of plate discipline, contact skills, and pop. Gausman turns in more then enough clunkers to furnish VanMeter with a golden opportunity.
Kyle Higashioka – C – New York Yankees (vs Eduardo Rodriguez)
Higashioka will have the platoon advantage at tiny Yankee Stadium. There’s ample opportunity for a home run. This season, Rodriguez has become a ground ball pitcher. Higashioka is a power hitter with a hefty fly ball rate. There is one serious drawback. He’s struck out 13 rimes in 27 plate appearances this season. Never before – including in past trials in the majors – has Higashioka struggled like this to make contact.
Also Consider: Jason Vargas, Scooter Gennett, Humberto Arteaga, Luis Urias
MID-TIER MUST PLAYS
Aaron Judge – OF – New York Yankees (vs Eduardo Rodriguez)
Judge is attractive for the exact same reasons as Higashioka except, well, he’s Judge. The gentle giant is having a typical season as the second hitter in the Yankees lineup. He’s slashing a robust .279/.397/.489. Surprisingly, he’s not hitting as many home runs as past campaigns due to a sharp drop in his fly ball rate. He’s also posting a 30 percent strikeout rate; an issue Rodriguez could exploit.
Also Consider: Franmil Reyes, Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, Brandon Belt,
HIGH PRICED VALUES
Charlie Blackmon – Colorado Rockies (vs Shaun Anderson)
Anderson, the Giants starter, hasn’t performed well at sea level. A visit to Coors Field is liable to be a disaster. Blackmon has two platoon splits working in his favor this evening. Against right-handed pitchers, he’s batting .320/.374/.598. When playing at Coors Field, he’s slashed an absurd .411/.465/.833. That’s not to say his home performance is replicable, but it’s fair to assume he’s the top hitter in the slate. He’s also the most expensive batter.
Also Consider: Yordan Alvarez, Trevor Story, David Dahl, Max Kepler
