MLB DFS Value Plays August 31: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks

We’ve got a unique Thursday of baseball today with the smallest slate of games I have ever covered! With only 4 games across the entire league today and one of them happening this afternoon, we have a 3-game main slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel starting at 7:05 PM EST. For today’s slate, we have the Miami Marlins facing the Washington Nationals, the San Francisco Giants against the San Diego Padres, and a clash of top offenses to end the night with the Atlanta Braves taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Today’s slate has one ace on it with Spencer Strider, and beyond that, every starter comes with some decent risk. On the offensive side, we will also be extra limited because if you are avoiding your pitchers, you will only have 4 (5 on FanDuel) offenses to choose from. It's a different slate than normal, but there are still some good value plays to help build a winning MLB DFS Lineup, so let’s dive into some of my favorite value options of the day!
MLB DFS Value Pitchers
Braxton Garrett, Miami Marlins (DraftKings: $8,200 / FanDuel: $8,700)
Braxton Garrett has not been pitching great lately. He does have quality starts in 4 of his last 6 outings while going 5 innings with 3 or fewer earned runs in his other two, but through those 6 starts, despite the 2.91 ERA, he only has 24 strikeouts through 34 innings. Hopefully, he can get some of the strikeouts back today against the Washington Nationals (though he only struck out 3 against them in his last outing), but either way, he should be in line for a win, and he has way less blowup potential today of all the pitchers outside of Spencer Strider.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Gary Sanchez, C San Diego Padres (DraftKings: $3,800 / FanDuel: $2,600)
Gary Sanchez continues to provide power for the San Diego Padres at catcher. He may only be hitting .214, but with a career .224 batting average, that is about what you expect; it has come with 18 homers through 69 games which is pretty great as that pace would be 42 homers through 162 games (though obviously, Gary Sanchez would never log 162 games played in a season), with him getting a homer roughly every 3 or 4 games he is a pretty decent bet at catcher to get some value, especially in a matchup like today where he is facing Sean Manaea.
Carter Kieboom, 3B Washington Nationals (DraftKings: $3,100 / FanDuel: $2,900)
While Carter Kieboom has an 80-grade name, it hasn’t translated into major-league talent as fast as the Washington Nationals had hoped. After struggling with injuries over the past two years and spending most of his time in the minors, he finally gets another shot in the big leagues. In what feels like his last chance to prove himself, Carter Kieboom is delivering so far with 3 homers in his first 6 games. He has quickly provided value to the Nationals lineup and can do the same for our lineups with him hitting well and coming in at a very low price.
Joc Pederson, OF San Francisco Giants (DraftKings: $4,000 / FanDuel: $2,600)
Joc Pederson has slashed .438/.526/.813 over the last week, and most surprisingly, that has been with only one homer, which is usually how he does his damage. He has served as a pinch hitter over his last 3 games, but against the righty Pedro Avila, he should be getting the start today, and I like his chances to have a big game in San Diego today in this matchup.
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Player News
Giants optioned RHP Hayden Birdsong to Triple-A Sacramento.
Birdsong will head back to Triple-A after losing the strike zone and giving up five runs without retiring a batter last night. He had a 2.79 ERA in five starts and 11 relief appearances through June 12, but he’d since given up 20 earned runs and walked 18 in 17 1/3 innings over his last five starts. Carson Seymour was called up and could jump into the rotation in his place next week. Carson Whisenhunt could also be an option, and there’s the chance the Giants could trade for a starter before the deadline.
Giants optioned RHP Tristan Beck to Triple-A Sacramento.
Because he wasn’t going to be available to pitch tonight, Beck loses his spot despite having pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings since the All-Star break. He has a 5.68 ERA overall in 19 innings this season, though half of the runs he allowed came in one outing in a game the Giants weren’t winning anyway.
Giants recalled RHP Carson Seymour from Triple-A Sacramento.
It’s Seymour’s second major league stint after he allowed two runs over four innings in two relief appearances last month. A starter with a 3.86 ERA in Triple-A, he’ll be available to pitch several innings tonight if needed. With Hayden Birdsong getting demoted, Seymour could also be a candidate to pitch next time the Giants need a fifth starter.
Giants recalled RHP Sean Hjelle from Triple-A Sacramento.
MLB still hasn’t had anything to say about the abuse allegations made by Hjelle’s wife last month, and he apparently remains in good standing with the Giants organization. He’ll return to his middle relief role after amassing a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings since being shipped out last month.
Orioles C/1B prospect Samuel Basallo (oblique) has begun a hitting progression.
Basallo suffered an oblique injury last week. It was thought to be minor at the time, and it appears that it actually is. He is likely to return to Triple-A Norfolk this weekend. The 20-year-old is pushing hard for an MLB call-up, but there is no spot for him behind the plate, and the Orioles have played him at DH and first base as much as they have at catcher while he’s been at Triple-A. Perhaps Basallo could get called up to fill the first base and DH roles after the trade deadline if players like Ryan O’Hearn are no longer in Baltimore.
Jerar Encarnacion (oblique) had his rehab assignment transferred from the Arizona Complex League to Triple-A Sacramento.
Encarnacion was placed on the IL on June 17 after going just 3-for-22 in eight games following a return from wrist surgery. He now no longer has a designated hitter spot with Rafael Devers in town, but Encarnacion was working out at first base during his first rehab assignment, so that could perhaps be a path to get him into the lineup for the Giants.