The Value Vault was in solid form yesterday until we got hit by the postponement of the Angels/Twins game and lost two players we were looking at. Rain would have been one thing – we would have avoided altogether – but it was a COVID postponement and that not only screwed us yesterday, but they’ve also postponed today’s so more players we don’t get to choose from.
Either way….let’s get to today’s action and see where we can stir up some value.
Both Sites:
Pablo López , SP MIA ($6,200 DK/$7,400 FD) – Coming off a beating in Atlanta, Lopez returns home where he looked absolutely dynamic in his first two starts, allowing just two earned runs with 10 strikeouts over 11.2 innings. Now he faces the Giants who are currently posting a team wOBA of just .288 with a 30-percent strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season. Lopez makes for a great pay-down on FD while also serving as a strong complementary second-starter on DK.
Jorge Soler , OF KC ($3,400 DK/$2,700 FD) – While Soler has been running hot and cold this season, we’ll take a shot on him in GPP tournaments today against Robbie Ray . Soler owns a .444 wOBA against southpaws this season and does most of his power-hitting against them, based of career ISO numbers. He should deliver today.
Draft Kings:
Kyle Higashioka , C NYY ($3,000) – With Gary Sánchez dealing with a hand injury, Higashioka is going to see more at-bats moving forward and should be a nice option on DK for a few days. The Rays are using Andrew Kittredge to start but will turn to lefty Ryan Yarbrough for the bulk of the innings. That works well considering Higashioka usually hits left-handed extremely well.
FanDuel:
Josh Harrison , 2B/3B WAS ($2,900) – The veteran infielder is batting fifth today against Madison Bumgarner and his 11+ ERA today. He got the day off yesterday but had hit safely in five-straight before that, four of which he had multi-hit performances. He should definitely be a big part of today’s Nationals hit parade.
Starlin Castro , 2B WAS ($2,500) – Another super low-priced Nationals player sitting in a prime spot against MadBum and a weak Arizona bullpen. Yes, please!
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.