MLB DFS Value Plays August 17: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Happy Thursday! We have an extra small slate of games today with only a 4-game main slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel getting underway at 7:15 PM EST. Today’s slate is headlined by Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes as the top priced pitchers of the day. I prefer going with Gallen and avoiding Burnes today if you want to pay for the high-end pitching, but there are a couple solid value options to go after today as well. On the offensive side there aren’t too many places to go with only 8 teams to choose from and two of them having to face whatever pitchers you choose, but my favorites to target today include the New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is extra difficult to get your lineup built with such few options so getting some quality value options is as important as ever so let’s jump into some of my favorite value options of the day to help build a winning MLB DFS lineup!
MLB DFS Value Pitchers
Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers (DraftKings: $7,200 / FanDuel: $8,900)
Tarik Skubal continues to pitch great. He has 3 starts where he has given up some runs in each of which he has really had one big inning that got away from him and gave up the damage, but other than that has still looked solid, and in his other 4 starts he hasn’t given up a single earned run. He also still holds a 10 K/9 and if he can avoid a big inning today, he should have no problem putting together a great start against the Cleveland Guardians.
Jose Quintana, New York Mets (DraftKings: $6,700 / FanDuel: $8,300)
Jose Quintana has been fantastic though his first 5 starts this season. He has thrown 4 straight quality starts, and in his first start was still in line for a win but was just an inning short of a quality start. He hasn’t gotten himself a win yet just because the Mets haven’t given him the run support. He has a 3.03 ERA though and while he hasn’t had a ton of strikeouts, he still provides solid value at this price today.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Spencer Torkelson, 1B Detroit Tigers (DraftKings: $4,200 / FanDuel: $2,900)
The Detroit Tigers have one of the easiest matchups today, facing Xzavion Curry of the Cleveland Guardians. Spencer Torkelson has hit 6 homers over his last 10 games including another multi-homer game yesterday and 4 homers in his last 4 games. Over that 10 game stretch he has a 1.219 OPS and will hopefully continue to tap into his power like this going forward and if the batting average can continue to improve (which I expect it to) along with it, Torkelson can turn into quite an offensive threat for the Tigers.
Jeff McNeil, 2B/OF New York Mets (DraftKings: $3,700 / FanDuel: $2,700)
Jeff McNeil isn’t having his best season at the plate, but he has had some solid production lately with hits in 9 of his last 10 games along with 7 runs, 4 RBIs, and a homer. While McNeil isn’t the most exciting addition to a lineup as the upside isn’t that high some stability in a small slate like this isn’t always a bad thing, and if he can at least have a multi-hit game, even if there isn’t any power, he can help your lineup plenty at this price.
Chris Taylor, 3B/OF Los Angeles Dodgers (DraftKings: $3,600 / FanDuel: $2,600)
Third base gets ugly real fast today you have Jose Ramirez, Nolan Arenado, Manny Machado, and Max Muncy at the top end and then there is a steep drop off. If you aren’t taking one of those 4 big dogs, Chris Taylor is the play I like today. He has 4 hits in his last 4 games with a homer and two steals. He also isn’t the flashiest pick but compared to everything else at third base after the top guys, I think he is the best hitter you can find.
James Outman, OF Los Angeles Dodgers (DraftKings: $3,500 / FanDuel: $2,900)
James Outman is having a solid August so far. He has slashed .333/.447/.538 with two homers and two steals. He has shown how hot he can be when he really gets going and provides great homer potential in a very potent offense. Corbin Burnes is a great pitcher, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have been playing fantastic and I expect both them and James Outman to manage to do some damage against him today.
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Player News
Willi Castro (oblique) went through a workout on Tuesday at Target Field.
Castro finally hit the injured list last Thursday with a right oblique strain after missing five consecutive games. All signs point to the versatile 28-year-old being ready to return at some point later this week.
The Reds are promoting pitching prospect Chase Petty for Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cardinals.
Petty broke the news himself on his Instagram account, so it looks like he’s coming up to take the ball at some point during Wednesday’s twin bill against the Cardinals. The 22-year-old was a first-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft and holds a solid 3.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 27/9 K/BB ratio across 23 innings (five starts) this season for Triple-A Louisville. His strikeout upside gives him some long-term fantasy appeal, but we’re hesitant to recommend him as a streaming option right out of the gate.
Ben Rice went 3-for-5 with two solo homers and four runs scored as the Yankees crushed the Orioles 15-3 on Tuesday.
Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge and Rice hit consecutive homers to open the top of the first, and Cody Bellinger added the Yankees’ fourth homer off Kyle Gibson before the inning concluded. Rice then took Gibson deep again in the second. Rice seemingly was slowing down, having come into this one 3-for-25 in his previous eight games. He’ll probably be in danger of losing at-bats against lefties with any sort of extended slump, but as is, he figures to retain mixed-league value for the foreseeable future.
Carlos Rodón allowed two runs and two hits over six innings Tuesday in a victory over the Orioles.
One of the easiest wins of Rodón’s career saw him given six runs in the first and 12 runs through five. He took a no-hitter into the sixth before losing that on a Jorge Mateo double. Gunnar Henderson later homered. Rodón finished with seven strikeouts for the sixth time in seven starts this season. He’ll take a 4-3 record and a 3.43 ERA into his next outing against the Padres.
Kyle Gibson was pounded for nine runs in 3 2/3 innings by the Yankees in his 2025 debut.
Maybe throwing Gibson into the fire like this after just 12 innings in the minors was a bad idea. The 37-year-old righty gave up four homers in the first and one more in the second and became the first Orioles pitcher to give up nine runs since he did so in his previous stint with the team in 2023. It’s the first time he’s ever given up five homers. He’ll likely face the Twins next.
Pitching on two days’ rest after making his first bullpen appearance Saturday, Charlie Morton allowed one unearned run over 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees on Tuesday.
Morton threw 80 pitches as a bulk guy on Saturday, so this was a big ask from the Orioles, especially given that he’s so completely unaccustomed to relieving. Still, he gave the team some much-needed innings after Kyle Gibson was lit up for nine runs. The outing probably rules him out as a starter Friday, though with off days Thursday and Monday, the Orioles have quite a bit of flexibility for the next several days.