MLB DFS Value Vault August 22: Albert Pujols is Unstoppable
MLB DFS 8/22 – Tonight’s slate is consistent across the board as DraftKings, Yahoo, and FanDuel will all use an 8-game slate that starts at 7:05 pm ET. Edward Cabrera is underpriced with his upside and matchup, while Tucker Davidson is my favorite arm on the cheap side of things. My top value plays on offense are all hot bats who haven’t seen enough of a price change yet. We appear to have a couple mlb weather concerns on this slate, so make sure to check the weather center leading up to first pitch. Lastly, don’t forget to check out mlb implied runs totals using our Vegas Odds link and to use our mlb dfs lineup generator. Let’s dive into our mlb dfs picks today!
MLB DFS Value Pitchers
Edward Cabrera, Marlins (DraftKings - $8800 / Yahoo - $38)
Cabrera’s price doesn’t exactly scream “value play” but I think he is simply too cheap. He would be #2 pitcher on today’s slate (just behind Scherzer) and yet he is FAR cheaper than someone like Urias. Cabrera has scored 25.5, 25.98, and 19.4 points on DK over his last three starts and he now has a 1.78 ERA on the year with 36 strikeouts across 30.1 innings of work. The A’s are a prime matchup as they are 29th in runs per game and have the 11th highest strikeout rate.
Tucker Davidson, Angels (DraftKings - $6600 / FanDuel - $6800 / Yahoo - $28)
Davidson is far more of your value type of price. He has really struggled this season, but he did have a strong start in his last outing as he scored 16.5 dk points. The Rays are a good matchup as they rank 23rd in runs per game this season and have the 6th highest strikeout rate in the league.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Albert Pujols, Cardinals (DraftKings - $2100 / FanDuel - $2600)
Pujols is literally going bananas right now, slashing .556/.600/1.259 over his last 10 games, good for a 1.859 OPS. He has six home runs in that span with 13 RBI. Just silly production, as he is looking more like vintage Pujols. He now has a .273 average on the year and 13 long balls. He has been CRAZY good against lefties, slashing .388/.429/.777 against them with nine home runs in 85 at-bats, compared to a .186/.287/.319 slash against righties with four home runs in 113 at-bats.
Jake Fraley, Reds (DraftKings - $2500 / FanDuel - $2600)
Fraley is super hot right now, slashing .342/.451/.756 over his last 12 games with FIVe home runs, a steal, 11 RBI, and 14 runs scored (averaging nearly 13 dk ppg in this span). Four of those home runs have come in the last six games, as he is on a power binge right now. All of his production this year has come against righties as he is slashing .288/.383/.600 against them with all seven of his home runs and all four of his doubles, compared to a .105/.191/.105 slash line against southpaws.
Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals (DraftKings - $2500)
Why is Nootbaar still priced this way? I went away for a cruise for a week and Nootbaar continued to be great all week and I come back and he’s still priced this way… I don’t understand. He has scored 10, 27, 4, 30, and 20 dk points over his last five games, going 6-20 with nine walks, a triple, two dingers, and 11 (!) runs scored in that span. He averages 6.9 dk points on the road this year with a .921 OPS, compared to 4.9 dk points per game at home with a .687 OPS.
Other Potential Value Plays
Vaughn Grissom, Braves (DraftKings - $2100)
Brett Baty, Mets (DraftKings - $2400 / FanDuel - $2800 / Yahoo - $12)
Greg Allen, Pirates (DraftKings - $2000 / FanDuel - $2500 / Yahoo - $8)
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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.