MLB DFS Value Plays September 18: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Tonight’s MLB DFS coverage is for the medium sized 8-game main slate that starts at 7:05 pm ET on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Starting pitching is headlined by Freddy Peralta and Zack Wheeler. Corey Seager and Mookie Betts are the most expensive hitters at our disposal, but Fernando Tatis Jr.. Jr. is probably my top spend-up option on this slate. Henry is on the playbook today, make sure to give that a read, and don’t forget to check out the MLB Lineups page, Vegas Odds, and all of our MLB DFS Tools. Let’s dive into some of my favorite value options of the day and some we can fit into our cash and tournament lineups!
MLB DFS Value Pitcher
Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners (DraftKings: $7,200)
This feels pretty obvious right? Woo has had a nice rookie campaign, pitching to a 4.16 ERA with 76 Ks across 75.2 innings of work. He is coming off a game in which he tossed 5.2 shutout innings with 8 Ks and finished with 30.4 dk points. He faced the A’s a couple starts ago and fired six shutout innings with 5 Ks to finish with 25.1 dk points. The A’s offense is bad. It all lines up for Woo tonight to once again shut this team down.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Jurickson Profar, 1B/OF, San Diego Padres (DraftKings: $2,900 / FanDuel: $2,800)
Profar signed on with the Padres after being let go by the Rockies and was supposed to be more of a utility player, but he has been getting consistent at-bats and playing pretty well, hitting .310 with a dinger over his last 10 games. The Padres are my favorite stack of the day today, and getting some cheap exposure to it with someone like Profar makes it easier.
Evan Carter, OF, Texas Rangers (DraftKings: $3,600 / FanDuel: $2,700)
I like what I have seen from Evan Carter thus far in the Majors, as he has hit .280 with a home run and two steals through his first 10 games while already scoring 7 times. Being a part of a strong Rangers offense certainly doesn’t hurt his DFS scoring, but that works well for us, especially at this price tag, even though it’s starting to climb a bit.
Mark Canha, OF, Milwaukee Brewers (DraftKings: $3,200 / FanDuel: $2,900)
Canha is scorching how right now, hitting .378 with a .993 OPS over his last 10 games. He has 2 home runs and 2 steals in that timeframe with 9 RBI as well. He has now hit double-digits in both home runs (11) and steals (10), offering up a little upside in both ways. Today he gets to face the washed up veteran that is Adam Wainwright, who has an unsightly 7.95 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, and has given up 20 home runs across 94 innings. The Brewers are right there with the Padres for top stacks for me tonight.
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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.