MLB DFS Value Vault July 11: Eric Hosmer & The Padres Are Too Cheap For Coors Field
MLB DFS 7/11– Tonight’s slate is pretty consistent across the board as DraftKings, Yahoo, and FanDuel will all start at 7:10 pm ET. Yahoo and FanDuel will both use a 7-game slate, while DraftKings will include the second game of the Royals vs. Tigers doubleheader to make their slate eight games. This slate has some crazy value plays in the Coors Field game between the Padres and Rockies. On the pitching end I like both Brayan Bello and Spencer Howard as basically minimum priced arms in good matchups. Another positive is that it appears that we have no serious mlb weather concerns to worry about, but still keep up with 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 Pitchers
Brayan Bello, Red Sox (DraftKings - $5000 / FanDuel - $6000 / Yahoo - $25)
Bello’s MLB debut didn’t exactly go as planned as he was tagged for four runs in four innings while striking out just two. Today he faces the same Rays team that did that to him in his last start; however, I am still going to choose to focus more on the pitcher who posted a 2.33 ERA across 85 innings in the minors prior to his call-up with 114 strikeouts. You should be able to get him at lower rostership this time too after he left a bad taste in people’s mouths last time. The Rays are 23rd in runs per game this season and they have the 6th highest strikeout rate in the league.
Spencer Howard, Rangers (DraftKings - $5800 / FanDuel - $5900 / Yahoo - $25)
Howard has simply not shown that he can get MLB hitters out. On the bright side though, he faces the A’s today and well, they don’t really have any MLB caliber hitters. He also has 14 Ks in 10.2 innings this season, so there is upside. Oakland is dead last in scoring this season, averaging just 3.14 runs per game and they have the 10th highest strikeout rate in the league.
MLB DFS Hitters
Eric Hosmer, Padres (DraftKings - $2100 / FanDuel - $3000 / Yahoo - $12)
Hosmer is having another Hosmer-like season, hitting .276 with six home runs and 33 RBI. The ole’ sayig of good not great. He has been good at Coors Field in his career though, slashing .287/.363/.426 there across 33 games of action with 44 total R+RBI. This matchup against Urena is a good one as lefties are slashing .283/.351/.480 against Urena in his career, compared to the .246/.319/.380 line that righties have produced.
C.J. Abrams, Padres (DraftKings - $2100 / FanDuel - $2500 / Yahoo - $10)
Abrams has been a completely different player when facing righties compared to lefties this season as he is slashing .263/.315/.350 against righties, compared to a very lousy .111/.143/.148 against lefties. We already mentioned how lefties have been far better against Urena in his career, but really he’s just a good pitcher, I mean we are talking about a guy with a career ERA of 4.73 with a career WHIP of 1.380.
Nomar Mazara, Padres (DraftKings - $2000 / FanDuel - $2600)
One last Padres bat, because how can you not? None of these guys should be this cheap when they are playing at Coors Field facing an awful pitcher like Urena. Mazara is slashing 0.333/.379/.481 over his last 10 games with a home run and 9 total R+RBI. He is now hitting .303 on the year with 15 RBI across 30 games of action. Urena has pitched in Coors Field just twice in his career thus far, but that has resulted in opposing batters slashing .308/.391/.487 against him in those two games with a 5.73 ERA.
Nolan Jones, Guardians (DraftKings - $2000 / FanDuel - $2600)
Jones is off to a fantastic start to begin his big league career. He is 5-10 with a home run, double, three walks, and four RBI through his first three games of action. Lynn is a bit of a tough matchup, but at the minimum price, Jones is very much worth a shot. Lefties have crushed Lynn this season, slashing .327/.362/.527 against him with three home runs, compared to the .204/.279/.315 line that righties have produced with just one home run.
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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.