MLB DFS Value Plays April 3: Top DraftKings & FanDuel Picks
We have an 11-game MLB DFS main slate on Monday, April 3rd, on DraftKings and FanDuel. With the Dodgers and Astros receiving two of the three highest implied totals on the board, a lot of the top-priced options from those teams' offense such as Mookie Betts, Yordan Alvarez, and Freddie Freeman, but to get those guys, we’re going to need some value. Let’s dive into some of my favorite value options of the day and some we can fit into our cash and tournament lineups!
MLB DFS Value Pitchers
Hunter Brown, Houston Astros (DraftKings: $7,400)
Considering Brown is $9.1K on FanDuel, he doesn’t qualify here but at just $7.4K on DK, he does. The 2023 top 50 prospects across the industry is in a good spot facing off against the Tigers. Brown had 134 Ks in 106 minor league innings last year and a 2.55 ERA in the PCL, the most challenging minor league to pitch in. The Tigers were dead last in OPS and wOBA against right-handed pitching last season and it’s not as if they made many upgrades across their lineup. Brown’s a -240 favorite, the biggest Vegas favorite on the board.
Zach Plesac, Cleveland Guardians (DraftKings: $7,900, FanDuel: $7,400)
Despite a pretty low floor, Plesac has a great match-up against the Oakland Athletics today. Oakland was dreadful against right-handed pitching last year ranking 29th across the board along with a 24% K-rate and the lineup might actually be worse this season. Oakland, a few games into 2023, is already right on par with last year’s numbers ranking 29th in OPS and wOBA and they have a..wait for it..39% K-rate. We love Oakland for pitchers, too, so another bonus for the -150 favorite in Plesac.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Chas McCormick, Houston Astros (DraftKings: $3,000, FanDuel: $2,600)
After not starting the first couple games of the year, McCormick started each of the last two games and has looked great. He’s had a hit in each and has walked three times while stealing three bases. We’re seeing guys run at an insane rate thus far and that’s not going to stop anytime soon. Look at the numbers below;
McCormick loved facing off against left-handed pitching a year ago hitting .340 with a .972 OPS, .223 ISO, and .418 wOBA. He also had a 41.7% hard-hit rate, so there’s no reason to think he doesn’t crack today’s lineup. Right-handed batters have had a pretty successful career against Matthew Boyd posting a .339 wOBA and .472 SLG% against him.
Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees (DraftKings: $2,900, FanDuel: $2,600)
Look, Volpe hasn’t been all that fantastic at the dish considering he’s hitting just .222 through his first three games, but it’s what he’s done when he reaches base. He’s stolen a base in three consecutive games and has reached base four times total. Hitting ninth isn’t so bad considering the wrap-around potential he has. Following him are the big boppers in Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton with the potential of scoring plenty of runs. With a right-hander on the mound, Taijuan Walker needs to do his best to keep Volpe off the bases.
Miguel Vargas, Los Angeles Dodgers (DraftKings: $2,300, FanDuel: $2,500)
Vargas hasn’t really had a chance to show off his bat-to-ball skills because he’s too busy taking his walks. He’s walked eight times in four games and has been on base 10 times overall. He’s free across the industry and with the Dodgers checking in with the second-highest implied run total, Vargas helps you stack the Mookie Betts, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman’s of the world. Vargas had 17 homers and 16 stolen bases at Triple-A last year, so that could very well translate to the big league level. We’re not just playing him because he’s on base, we’re playing him to clear the bases as well.
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Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.