MLB DFS Value Plays August 28: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
We have a 12-game MLB DFS slate on Monday, August 28th, on DraftKings and FanDuel. Monday’s slate features the first $7,000 position player of the year as Ronald Acuna Jr. and the Braves head into Coors Field. In order to spend up on the Braves, who have six players north of $5,100, you’re going to need to find some value options to get to. 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 Pitcher
Grayson Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles (DraftKings - $7,500, FanDuel - $8,700)
Over his last six starts, Grayson Rodriguez has pitched to a 2.70 ERA along with a .197 BAA and a 22% K-rate. He’s tossed up four quality starts in five outings and has 16+ DKP in four of his last six starts overall. He faces the White Sox here and has as high of a ceiling as he’s had all year. The White Sox have a 25% K-rate against right-handed pitching this season and they’re 24th in OPS and 26th in wOBA during the month of August. Rodriguez is quite possibly my favorite per dollar play at the pitchers position.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Garrett Cooper, San Diego Padres (DraftKings - $2,700, FanDuel - $2,400)
Over his last 10 games, Cooper has a .357 AVG with a .902 OPS and has really settled into his new threads with the Padres. On the year, Cooper has a .180 ISO against right-handed pitching and has had a great month of August posting a .295 AVG and .835 OPS and a .365 wOBA. He faces Adam Wainwright tonight who’s been a shell of himself allowing a .219 ISO and a .421 wOBA against righties. Over the last 30 days, righties have posted a .396 ISO and a .571 wOBA against Waino. Cooper is a cheap home run option tonight.
Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs (DraftKings - $3,600, FanDuel - $2,800)
Continue to ride the hot hand, right? Suzuki had another two-hit afternoon on Sunday and over his last 10 games, he’s not batting .432 with an OPS of 1.260. Suzuki has been fantastic the entire month of August batting .368 with an OPS of 1.100. Through his first two campaigns at the major league level, Suzuki has a .173 ISO and .339 wOBA against southpaws. Over the last 30 days, Brewers starter Wade Miley has been hit pretty hard by righty batters as they’ve posted a .167 ISO and .322 wOBA. Suzuki is still so cheap across the industry and one of the best values on the board.
Ryan Noda, Oakland Athletics (DraftKings - $3,200, FanDuel - $2,900)
I actually really like Bryan Woo tonight, but there has been a clear issue with him and it’s facing left-handed bats. On the year, left-handed hitters have given Woo fits posting a .330 ISO and a .474 wOBA against him. Insert Ryan Noda who’s hitting .345 and an OPS of 1.073 over his last 10 games. Noda has a .170 ISO and .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this season, so sometimes things just line up nicely. He’s another very cheap option that could help get Braves bats.
Joshua Palacios, Pittsburgh Pirates (DraftKings - $2,400, FanDuel - $2,200)
This is one of the weird ones because Palacios hasn’t exactly been great at much, but he’s been really good at driving in runs. Palacios may only be hitting .140 in August and .171 over his last 10 days, but what he’s done is show massive upside when he’s done any sort of damage. Over the last week, he has a .240 ISO and three times over his last seven games he’s put up 13+ DKP. He has a .171 ISO over 30 days against right-handed pitching. He faces Zack Greinke here and he’s allowed a .259 ISO and a .407 wOBA to left-handed bats. This is an interesting spend down as Pittsburgh’s value presents an opportunity to pair with the Braves.
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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.