MLB DFS Value Plays August 3: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks

Happy Thursday, everyone! We have a standard Thursday of baseball that includes some day games and a few teams getting the day off, giving us a smaller main slate to focus on. We’ve got a 6-game main slate starting at 7:15 PM EST on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Today’s slate is highlighted by Shohei Ohtani taking the mound against the Seattle Mariners. He is certainly worth paying for as the best pitcher of the day with a solid matchup against a struggling Mariner’s offense. We have some solid value options as well on the pitching side to either pair up with Ohtani or completely pivot away from him. Some great value options on the hitting side as well to help build some winning MLB DFS lineups. On the offensive side, some of my favorite lineups to target today include the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Astros. It should be a great day for baseball, so let’s dive into my favorite value options of the day!
MLB DFS Value Pitchers
JP Sears, Houston Astros (DraftKings: $6,800 / FanDuel: $8,200)
I think this may be the first time recommending an Oakland starter all year. This must be prefaced with the fact that this pick comes with some risk. Sears has basically no win potential here, and there is the potential for a blowup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Sears did survive Coors Field, giving up only 1 earned run off a solo shot and striking out 5 batters. He has shown some strikeout upside this season with a fantastic fastball and slider working for him, and I am willing to take the risk that comes with some great upside at a really good price.
Adrian Houser, Milwaukee Brewers (DraftKings: $5,200 / FanDuel: $7,400)
Adrian Houser just got through a rough stretch of games having to pitch in Cincinnati and then back-to-back starts against the Atlanta Braves. He gave up a fair amount of runs over those three games, but that is expected against those opponents. He still had 18 strikeouts through 15.2 innings, including a 10-strikeout game against the Atlanta Braves. The Pittsburgh Pirates should be a great matchup for him after suffering through that tough schedule, and I think he easily returns the value for what is an extremely low price today.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Yan Gomes, C Chicago Cubs (DraftKings: $3,200 / FanDuel: $2,700)
Yan Gomes is on a 10-game hitting streak over which he is slashing .385/.415/.641 and has 4 multi-hit games as well as 8 extra-base hits. He had another 3-hit game just before this hit streak started as well. He is locked in at the plate and should have no problem keeping the hitting streak going today against Luke Weaver, who has struggled to get guys out all season long.
Jeimer Candelario, 3B Chicago Cubs (DraftKings: $4,200 / FanDuel: $2,900)
Good luck finding anyone as hot over the last couple of days as Jeimer Candelario. Since becoming a Chicago Cub, he has gone 8 for 10 with back-to-back 4-hit games. He also has a 1.353 OPS over his last 9 games. While I’m not saying we are going to get 3 straight 4-hit games out of Candelario, there is a chance, and I certainly think he returns his value today either way.
Tyler O'Neill, OF St. Louis Cardinals (DraftKings: $3,700 / FanDuel: $2,600)
Tyler O’Neill has been looking solid ever since returning from the IL on July 20th. He only has two games without a hit over that stretch and has slashed .310/.408/.548, and has now hit homers in back-to-back games. Doesn’t have the easiest matchup today against Sonny Gray, but not one I am shying away from, and with him tapping into his power the last couple of days, I don’t see why we wouldn’t expect him to return this kind of value in the outfield today.
Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis Cardinals (DraftKings: $4,400 / FanDuel: $3,500)
Guess who leads the league in OPS over the last 10 games with an OPS of 1.517. Yep, it’s Lars Nootbaar. He has 15 hits over the last 10 games, with 5 of them being homers. He may be my highest-priced position player on this list, but nobody is hitting the ball like Lars Nootbaar right now. He doesn’t have to keep leading the league in OPS to be worth this price, and I will happily continue to ride this hot streak for as long as it lasts.
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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.