MLB DFS Value Plays September 12: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks

Another great day of baseball is upon us with a 10 game main slate on DraftKings and a nine game main slate on FanDuel following a schedule change for the Royals vs White Sox game. We have some elite arms in interesting spots on this slate and a ton of expensive hitters in great spots. The Chicago Cubs are in possibly their best spot on the season in Colorado against Chris Flexen and his 7.36 ERA while the red hot Houston Astros are matched up against Oakland's JP Sears who has allowed the fifth most home runs in the league. Let's look at some of my favorite value plays on the board that will help us afford as many of these bats as possible. 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
Kutter Crawford, Boston Red Sox (DraftKings - 5,700)
Kutter Crawford is in a very interesting spot against the Yankees who over the last 30 days hold a league high 28.1% k-rate against right handed pitchers and are last in most offensive categories. The last time he saw the Yankees on 8/19 he went six innings and only allowed one run while posting 23.1 DK points. The fact 6.60 ERA Carlos Rodon is on the other side of this matchup should give Crawford some win equity and compared to all the other value pitchers on this slate, he should be in the best spot.
Zack Littell, Tampa Bay Rays (DraftKings - $6,700, FanDuel - $7,000)
With the Red Sox game not being on the DraftKings main slate, Zack Littell becomes an interesting value pitcher on FanDuel. He's coming off an eight inning one earned run performance against the Mariners and draws a matchup against the Twins who have the highest k-rate to right handed pitching on the year at 27.3%. I would likely not play him on DraftKings and found myself paying up for someone like Verlander on FanDuel, but Littell could be an interesting punt play if few players roster him.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Nolan Schanuel, Los Angeles Angels (DraftKings - $3,400, FanDuel - $2,800)
Nolan Schanuel may not light up the stat sheet, but he has also had fantasy points in every game played this season. He's had at least one hit in 14 of his 17 games and is in a good spot here against Bryan Woo. Woo has been a decent pitcher but really struggles against left handed bats, allowing a .415 wOBA, .588 SLG, and 2.20 HR/9 on the year. The Angels may have a pretty depleted roster but Schanuel is a fairly priced leadoff hitter on this slate.
Willi Castro, Minnesota Twins (DraftKings - $3,100, FanDuel - $2,700)
In the seven games since Willi Castro has returned to the lineup, he's collected a home run, three extra base hits, two steals, and two RBI's. He doesn't hit for a lot of power, only having six homers on the year, but he does hold a .174 ISO against righties and Zack Littell is by no means a scary pitcher. Castro has 31 steals on the year and can easily pay off the price tag if he gets on base.
Mike Yastrzemski, San Francisco Giants (DraftKings - $3,400, FanDuel - $2,900)
Mike Yastrzemski has been heating up lately, having hits in five straight games. Over his last 10 games he is batting .448 with three home runs and seven runs batted in. He gets a decent matchup against Cal Quantrill who allows a .353 wOBA and .434 SLG to left handed bats on the year and looks to be a great value play given his price.
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.