MLB DFS Value Plays August 22: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
We have a 12-game MLB DFS main slate on Tuesday, August 22nd, on DraftKings and FanDuel. There are plenty of elite bats to spend up on today including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Fernando Tatis Jr. so we need some value options in order to afford those elite players. Be sure to check out all of our tools including the MLB Lineups page, MLB DFS Projections – powered by FanJections – MLB DFS Ownership, and all of our tools HERE! Let’s dive into our favorite daily fantasy baseball value plays of the day.
MLB DFS Value Pitchers
Grayson Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles (DraftKings - $6,100, FanDuel - $8,200)
It looks like the former top prospect is hitting his stride. Rodriguez is coming off a dominant outing against the Padres and has now allowed three or fewer runs in five consecutive starts. He’s put up double-figure DK points in each of those five games and his price has actually decreased over that span. Rodriguez faces the Blue Jays here and the Jays offense is in a tailspin. During the month of August, Toronto ranks 26th in OPS and wOBA against right-handed pitching. Rodriguez has serious upside at this price point.
Jon Gray, Texas Rangers (DraftKings - $6,700, FanDuel - $9,200)
It’s now been back-to-back quality outings for Gray as he’s reverting back to the pitcher he was earlier in the year. He’s allowed just four earned runs over the past 19.1 innings, a span of three starts, with a 17:4 K:BB ratio. Gray faces off against the Arizona Diamondbacks here and the DBacks are definitely in the midst of their worst offensive output of the year. During the month of August, Arizona ranks 24th in OPS and wOBA against right-handed pitching. The price tag, especially on DraftKings, looks really good.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Stone Garrett, Washington Nationals (DraftKings - $3,600, FanDuel - $2,600)
It’s been a good season for Stone Garrett against left-handed pitching and he has a match-up against Carlos Rodon here. Rodon is coming off the injured list and has been bad overall. Righties have a .247 ISO and a .362 wOBA against Rodon. Garrett is batting .412 with a 1.171 OPS over his last 10 games. Garrett has a .248 ISO and a .363 wOBA against left-handed pitching this year and is a great value option here.
James Outman, Los Angeles Dodgers (DraftKings - $3,400, FanDuel - $2,900)
This is just simply a fantastic spot for anyone walking to the plate with a bat at this point. Noah Syndergaard has been a shell of a shell of himself, and maybe I should’ve added one more shell to that. Lefties have a .242 ISO and a .375 wOBA against Syndergaard this year, so insert James Outman. He’s so cheap and has a .218 ISO and a .350 wOBA against righties. Over his last 30 days, he’s notched a .262 ISO and a .438 wOBA against RHP. Outman is one of the best values of the day.
Ji Hwan Bae, Pittsburgh Pirates (DraftKings - $2,700, FanDuel - $2,800)
Adam Wainwright has been one of the league’s worst pitchers this year and the Pirates deploy Bae as their leadoff hitter since his return from the injured list. Bae has double-digit fantasy points in two of the three games since being back and we know his ability to swipe a bag, stealing 15 against right-handed hurlers this year. Lefties have a .281 ISO and a .465 wOBA against Waino this season.
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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.