MLB DFS Value Plays September 22: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Tonight’s MLB DFS coverage is for the big sized 11-game main slate that starts at 7:05 pm ET on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Starting pitching is headlined by Pablo Lopez and Framber Valdez. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Mookie Betts are the most expensive hitters at our disposal, and for good reason as Acuna 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
Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals (DraftKings: $7,800)
Everyone in the world is going to be looking at Sawyer Gipson-Long as their spend-down at SP and I can get behind that, but I think Ragans makes for a great alternative option today as someone who will go extremely low-rostered. He has been a strikeout machine with 100 across 83.2 innings this year and is averaging 23.2 dk points per game over his last 10 games (2.43 ERA in that span). He has at least 5 Ks in nine straight starts and has at least 7 Ks in seven of those starts.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Mark Vientos, 3B, New York Mets (DraftKings: $2,700 / FanDuel: $2,800)
Vientos is scorching right now and these sites continue to simply not care. They have moved onto football and we can take advantage of bad pricing. He has three bombs in his last two games and is hitting .333 over his last 10 games, averaging 10.2 dk ppg in that span. He also has 7 RBI and 7 runs scored over that timeframe. He has 8 home runs in 57 games now, but has really started to figure out big league pitching lately.
Jordan Lawlar, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks (DraftKings: $2,000 / FanDuel: $2,700)
On the flipside of Vientos, we have an ice cold Lawlar, who hasn’t done anything since joining the big league club. There’s a good chance he won’t be in the lineup, but I like him if he is as this matchup with Luke Weaver is a tasty one. Weaver has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball this year with a 6.77 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 114.1 innings while allowing 27 home runs. Lawlar has some pop and some speed so at the minimum price, it’s worth a shot if he plays.
Michael Conforto, OF, San Francisco Giants (DraftKings: $3,100 / FanDuel: $2,900)
Conforto is also not swinging a great bat right now since coming off IL, but I like him in this spot. Gavin Stone has been horrendous through 26.2 innings this year, giving up 6 bombs and pitching to a +9.45 ERA with a 2.03 WHIP. Conforto has 15 home runs this year, despite multiple IL trips, and I like his chances to do some damage against Stone 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.