MLB DFS Value Vault July 12: Mitch White Provides Solid Upside Against the Cardinals
While we do have Coors Field to contend with tonight, we also get a 14 or 13-game MLB DFS main slate so there is no shortage of options out there. Weather is going to come into play tonight on the east coast so while that is another variable to contend with, our MLB weather page is ready to go as a resource. Leading up to lock, it is also important to keep an eye on the latest MLB news and MLB lineups. Now let’s take a look at some MLB DFS value options.
DFS Value Pitchers
Mitch White (LAD); DraftKings - $7,800; FanDuel - $6,900; Yahoo - $34
White is coming off a strong outing for the Dodgers in which he struck out six batters in 5.1 innings while only allowing one hit and one run (unearned). While White’s four walks were not ideal, he has managed to be solid on that front so far with 3.38 per nine innings while striking out close to a batter per inning. St. Louis played last night in Philadelphia so it is possible they are not at peak energy tonight and White has a solid 3.38 ERA through 40 innings so far this year. The strikeouts provide the upside and the right-hander has shown the ability to get out of trouble and avoid true trouble so far this year.
Corey Kluber (TB); DraftKings - $8,000; FanDuel - $8,400; Yahoo - $38
It is a tough night when it comes to value pitching so the thought process here is to go with the solidly priced option who has had a fair amount of success this season. Kluber is averaging 15 DK points in his last 10 starts and he takes a 3.62 ERA and 1.11 WHIP into tonight’s start against Boston. In his last start, Kluber threw six shutout innings while scattering just three hits, not walking a batter, and striking out five. Kluber’s ERA metrics (3.44 FIP) like the fact that he is only walking 1.43 batters per nine innings to go along with 7.9 strikeouts. With just a 6.9%-barrel rate, opposing hitters have not done the best job of squaring up on Kluber which also helps here.
DFS Value Hitters
Adam Duvall, OF (ATL); DraftKings - $3,300; FanDuel - $2,700; Yahoo - $16
David Peterson struggles against Atlanta and Duvall has had success in a small sample size against the left-hander so it could be a recipe for success for the outfielder. In six at-bats against Peterson, Duvall has four hits which include two doubles and a home run. The platoon advantage works for Duvall as six of his 10 home runs have come against southpaws (in 67 at-bats) so far this season and the batting average is also better here; .239 vs. 195. With a 23.1-degree launch angle, it is no secret what Duvall is trying to do at the plate and his 12.6%-barrel rate also helps here.
Willi Castro, OF/3B/SS (DET); DraftKings - $2,000; FanDuel - $2,300; Yahoo - $11
Let’s follow the BVP train here as Castro has gone deep twice in 11 at-bats against Kris Bubic with four hits in total. Castro is coming off a two-hit effort last night to bring his batting average up to .260 on the year. We get a slight advantage for Castro against southpaws, .278 compared to .254, and Bubic is simply bad all around with his 6.84 ERA (5.76 FIP) thanks in part to the fact that he walks close to six batters per nine innings while allowing 1.66 home runs per nine.
Jared Walsh, 1B (LAA); DraftKings - $3,700; FanDuel - $2,500; Yahoo - $9
Luis García is a pretty solid pitcher but it is hard to ignore the success Walsh has had against the right-hander in his career. While the price on DK is reasonable for Walsh tonight, I had to do a double-take upon seeing his price on FD and Yahoo. In 19 plate appearances against Garcia, Walsh has five walks and is hitting .500 with two home runs and two doubles. With a .247 batting average on the season, Walsh is not doing much to stand out from the crowd, and a 30% strikeout rate does not help, but with 13 home runs and 40 RBI, there is some power and run production to work with here.
Leody Taveras, OF (TEX); DraftKings - $2,000; FanDuel - $2,500; Yahoo - $11
This is a case of riding the hot hand here as Tavares picked up three hits last night after going for two hits the night before. In facing James Kaprielian tonight, the Rangers are expected to score close to five runs so that means it should be another busy night for Tavares. In his last 10 games, 28 at-bats, Tavares is hitting .393 to bring his mark for the season up to .317 in 66 plate appearances.
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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.