MLB DFS Value Plays July 30: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Get ready for some Sunday baseball! Should be a great end to the weekend with a full day of games and hopefully a decently hot stove as we get more trade news throughout the day. We get an 8-game main slate starting at 1:35 PM EST on DraftKings, with the same start time for the FanDuel slate, but it has a 9-game slate with it giving you a bonus game in Coors Field with the Colorado Rockies facing the Oakland Athletics at 3:10 PM EST. Today’s slate is highlighted by Jesus Luzardo and Tyler Glasnow on the pitching side as they are set to face the Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros, respectively. On the offensive side, some of the best lineups to target today include the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, and the St. Louis Cardinals. Let’s get right into the info you need to create some winning MLB DFS lineups today with my favorite value options of the day!
MLB DFS Value Pitchers
Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers (DraftKings: $8,700 / FanDuel: $9,300)
Tarik Skubal didn’t take long to get going since his return from the IL. In his last start, which was just his 4th of the season, he piled up 9 strikeouts in 5 innings against the San Francisco Giants while only giving up 2 hits and not surrendering a run. He gets another good matchup today getting to face the Miami Marlins in Miami, and I don’t see why we wouldn’t get another high-strikeout, quality start from him today.
Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies (DraftKings: $7,200 / FanDuel: $8,800)
Christopher Sanchez has been solid for the Philadelphia Phillies lately. He is coming off a season-high 8 strikeouts against the Baltimore Orioles, where he went 7 innings, only giving up 2 runs, each of which came off solo home runs. He gets a much easier matchup today getting to face the Pittsburgh Pirates, which should be a great opportunity to put together back-to-back high strikeout games.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Carlos Santana, 1B Milwaukee Brewers (DraftKings: $3,500 / FanDuel: $3,200)
Carlos Santana has 7 hits over his last 5 games, including 3 homers accompanied by 4 runs and 8 RBIs. He is also a better hitter against lefties over his career, so I am assuming that he gets his first start with his new ball club today and hopefully can prove himself quickly to being an asset for the Milwaukee Brewers at the plate.
Nolan Gorman, 2B St. Louis Cardinals (DraftKings: $4,300 / FanDuel: $3,600)
Nolan Gorman is red-hot at the plate right now. Over his last 12 games, he has slashed .357/.413/.810, along with 5 homers and two steals. While Kyle Hendricks has been pitching pretty well, he certainly isn’t someone I am avoiding, and Gorman should be put high up in the lineup against him today and be able to return this value at second base easily.
Patrick Wisdom, 3B Chicago Cubs (DraftKings: $3,000 / FanDuel: $3,000)
Other than some hot streaks, Patrick Wisdom hasn’t had a great season at the plate. He does have 18 homers, but that comes along with a .195 average which is not great. He has 4 homers since the all-star break, though, and while this is definitely one of my riskier value plays, I like the chances for Wisdom to get another home run today facing Steven Matz.
Lars Nootbaar, OF St. Louis Cardinals (DraftKings: $4,000 / FanDuel: $3,500)
Lars Nootbar has been amazing all month. In July, he has slashed .307/.419/.568 and has consistently hit near the top of the Cardinals lineup. Nootbaar already has a career-high 7 stolen bases and is on pace to set a career-high in homers this season as well. I think Noorbaar is a great hitter and is definitely in a great spot to provide value today in the outfield.
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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.