You’re likely going to need some value bats for this 12-game slate, as a litany of top-tier pitchers, and salaries, dominate tonight’s main slate. I threw in a value arm for y’all as well, but mostly, you’re going to need value amongst your hitters to round out your lineup. There’s plenty of value on the slate, and at least two players that you could have told me their price tag was $1,000 higher than what it actually is and I would have believed you! Without further ado, here’s the best value options in the vault for tonight’s slate.
Both Sites:
Gavin Lux , 2B LAD ($2,800 FD/$3,300 DK) - Lux is heating up and his price in DFS likely won’t stay this lower for much longer. He’s hit safely in six of his last seven contests, going 10-for-25 (.400 AVG) with four extra-base hits (2 HR), five runs scored 10 RBI and just three strikeouts. He's grossly underpriced on both sites, so it's in your best interest to pay for Lux everywhere today. I mean, they are almost paying you to play him!
Kyle Tucker , OF HOU ($2,900 FD/$3,600 DK) - Since the calendar flipped to May, Tucker is hitting .327 with five home runs, a .692 slugging percentage and a massive 1.109 OPS. For the season as a whole, Tucker is hitting .266 with a .918 OPS off right-handers, but in May alone, he’s hitting .370 with a .370 ISO and 1.209 OPS against righties. Wowza! Frankie Montas has served up a 1.71 HR/9 this year, and Tucker is too damn cheap on both sites, especially FanDuel.
Ryan Mountcastle , OF BAL ($2,500 FD/$3,400 DK) - Mountcastle should get a couple at-bats against Yarbrough, which should bode well for him. Mountcastle is hitting .295 with a .783 OPS against southpaws this season. Mountcastle also hits better at home, posting a quality .273 average and .756 OPS. The young Baltimore slugger is in a bit of a cold spell right now, notching just two hits in his last 21 at-bats, but today’s a great opportunity to break out of this slump in a big way.
FanDuel:
Aaron Civale, SP CLE ($7,300) - Do you know what Zack Greinke , Garrett Richards and David Peterson all have in common? They are all more expensive and have a higher ERA than Civale. The Cleveland right-hander is the 14th-most expensive starter on the slate, and gets to face an Angels lineup that is now without Mike Trout . The Angels do sport the third-best batting average against righties this year, but without Trout (.361 AVG and 1.224 OPS vs. RHP), things could be a bit different. I’ll take a chance at this price point in a GPP or two. He’s put up at least 28 FanDuel points in three of his last five outings.
Jazz Chisholm, 2B MIA ($3,200) - It’s nothing to do with Zach Eflin , it’s just that Chisholm is a cool 4-for-9 since returning from injury, and he’s posted a .902 OPS against righties this year. Chisholm has been excellent this season, and as long as he’s hovering around the low-$3,000s on FanDuel, he’s a surefire play in DFS. He’s pushing $5,000 on DraftKings, which makes this price on FanDuel far more appealing. He’s far more of a value on FanDuel today, and is looking for his third-straight multi-hit effort.
Adam Duvall , OF MIA ($3,000) - In 12 at-bats against Philadelphia’s Zach Eflin , Duvall is 5-for-12 with two home runs, five RBI and a .500 wOBA. Eflin has been far more generous to opposing left-handers this year, but Duvall has a great track record against Eflin and five of his eight homers this year have come against righties. His .714 OPS against righties is better than his .658 mark against southpaws, and Duvall has been a more impactful hitter on the road than at home (.788 road OPS vs. .593 home OPS).
DraftKings:
Josh Bell , 1B WAS ($3,500) - Josh Bell hasn’t exactly set the world on fire this year, but he’s been solid against Jake Arrieta for his career. Bell is 7-for-23 with two home runs and a .429 wOBA against the veteran right-hander throughout his career. In 2021 alone, Arrieta has allowed lefties to hit .267 with a .329 wOBA this year. Arrieta has been very good at home this year (1.59 ERA), but he’s also faced the Pirates, Mets and Christian Yelich -less Brewers in his three home starts, so take that for what it's worth. Bell is not in consideration for cash games, but there’s some appeals with some lower ownership of Bell in some GPPs.
Dylan Moore , 2B SEA ($2,700) - Detroit’s Tarik Skubal has been decimated by righties this year, allowing a 1.017 OPS and .424 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Moore is hitting just .212 against southpaws this year, but he does have a .350 OBP and .774 OPS. While Moore has gone hitless in his last two games, he did hit safely in the four games prior, while hitting two home runs, and notching six RBI. Skubal has a ridiculous 3.00 HR/9 this year, and Moore has massive potential in the return on investment department over on DraftKings. Moore has at least seven DraftKings points in four of his last five games, and at least 16 points in three of his last five. UPDATE: Moore is not in the starting lineup. Feel free to pivot to Kyle Lewis at $3,200 (.263 AVG & .774 OPS vs. RHP in 2021)
Player News
Gustavo Campero (ankle) is not in the lineup for Wednesday’s contest against the Blue Jays.
It’ll be veteran slugger Jorge Soler making a rare appearance in right field on Wednesday night after Campero was lifted from Tuesday’s contest with left ankle irritation. It doesn’t sound like a serious concern at the moment. He’s presumably available off the bench, if needed, in an emergency situation.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that he hopes Teoscar Hernández (groin) is back in two weeks.
It’s a complete 180-degree turnaround from Roberts’ tone earlier this week when he spoke ominously regarding a potential return timetable after Hernández hit the injured list with a Grade 1 adductor strain. It certainly sounds like there’s a realistic possibility the 32-year-old fantasy stalwart is ready to return to the Dodgers’ lineup before the end of May, barring any setbacks in his rehabilitation process.
Kris Bryant is scheduled undergo an ablation procedure on his back later this week.
Bryant will travel to Los Angeles on Thursday to have the procedure performed to aid healing in his back. The 33-year-old former NL MVP was diagnosed last month with lumbar degenerative disease and will have to manage the ongoing issue for the remainder of his playing career. There is no timetable for his return at the moment.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy told reporters he anticipates Brice Turang returning to the lineup for Friday’s game against the Rays.
Turang sat out Wednesday’s series finale against the Astros as he continues to battle a lingering illness. MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reports the 25-year-old has lost weight recently due to the unspecified illness and the club is trying to manage his workload as he makes his way back into shape.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said he expects Sal Frelick (knee) to return for Friday’s series opener against the Rays.
Frelick has missed three consecutive games due to a left knee inflammation, but it sounds like there’s a strong belief he’ll be a full-go for Friday’s showdown against the Rays. The 25-year-old underwent an MRI earlier this week that didn’t reveal any structural issues, which is good news.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy told reporters he anticipates William Contreras (finger) returning for Friday’s series opener against the Rays.
Contreras was diagnosed with a fractured left middle finger, which he has been playing through for “some time.” The lingering issue hasn’t impacted his on-field performance yet, but it could become problematic if he’s unable to grip a bat or properly close his glove while catching. Fantasy managers shouldn’t anticipate the 27-year-old slugging backstop missing any time, but it’s an injury situation he’ll need to manage moving forward.