MLB DFS Value Vault August 8: Luis Guillorme a Cheap Play For a Mets Stack
Is there any better way to begin a week than finishing in the green? Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate gives us seven games to work with, and to say it is an overall underwhelming pitching slate might be an understatement. The highest priced pitcher on DK is $9,300, and there are just three other options above the $8k mark, so it will be all about the offense as well as finding the right option(s) on the mound. While setting your lineups, keep an eye on the MLB news, MLB lineups, and MLB weather. Now, let’s take a look at some MLB DFS value picks.
DFS Value Pitchers
Keegan Thompson (CHC); DraftKings - $6,700; FanDuel - $8,000; Yahoo - $33
If you want to talk about hit and miss, that certainly explains Thompson over his last four starts with his corresponding DK point totals; 26.4, (6.1), 31.4, and (4.7). To say we are talking about extremes here would be an understatement, as Thompson alternated between not allowing a run and allowing five earned runs. On an overall basis, Thompson has a 3.48 ERA and 1.27 WHIP while picking up eight victories and tonight he has a favorable matchup against a Washington team that has been quite weakened recently. It should also be noted that Thompson has an ERA of just 2.50 at home this season, where he pitches tonight, compared to 5.09 on the road.
Cole Irvin (OAK); DraftKings - $8,200; FanDuel - $9,100; Yahoo - $43
Let’s stick with the theme of home/road splits, as stop me if you have heard this before, Irvin is well worth targeting when he pitches in Oakland. In case you could not tell, that takes place tonight as Irvin takes the mound against an Angels team that leaves something to be desired offensively these days. In 62.1 innings at home this year, opposing hitters have hit just .195 against him leading to a 1.73 ERA with just one home run allowed.
DFS Value Hitters
Luis Guillorme, 2B/3B/SS (NYM); DraftKings - $2,500; FanDuel - $2,200; Yahoo - $11
We are not going for the home run here, but instead it is all about the Mets’ stack at home against Justin Dunn. Guillorme fits perfectly into that stack as we can expect to see in the lineup against the right-handed pitcher against whom he is hitting .310 with two home runs and 25 runs scored in 192 plate appearances. New York’s offense is rolling at the moment, and the utility infielder has certainly found himself swept up in the excitement.
J.D. Davis, 3B/1B (SF); DraftKings - $2,200; FanDuel - $2,400; Yahoo - $10
Davis has wasted no time settling into the middle of the order for San Francisco, and that is where he should find himself again tonight against Blake Snell. In two of his last three games, Davis has gone deep with the Giants as he looks to get more results from the quality contact, he has been making all season; 13.6%-barrel rate and 57.6% hard hit rate.
Frank Schwindel, 1B (CHC); DraftKings - $2,300; FanDuel - $2,400; Yahoo - $12
One of the popular pitchers to target tonight is going to be Aníbal Sánchez and the 2.70 home runs he has allowed per nine innings so far this year after also struggling with the longball last season as well. After hitting 14 home runs in 64 games last season, Schwindel has taken a step back with eight this year in 75 games. While I would not recommend the first baseman in seasonal leagues, this is the perfect DFS spot to target him in as a Cubs stack is going to be a viable option tonight.
Jesse Winker, OF (SEA); DraftKings - $3,800; FanDuel - $2,700; Yahoo - $15
Jameson Taillon’s ERA has gotten increasingly worse this season, 4.59 in June, 5.04 in July, and 9.64 in August, which makes him a fine option to target. It has not been the best of seasons for Winker in Seattle, but he is hitting .308 in five games so far in August along with a home run yesterday. The track record is there for Winker as we look for the outfielder to continue to build on his success.
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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.