MLB DFS Value Vault June 26: On Board With Jack Flaherty's Price Tag
There is nothing like a Sunday filled with day baseball and both DraftKings and FanDuel offer up solid nine-game MLB DFS main slates while Yahoo goes for the full 14 games. Stay on top of the latest MLB Weather, MLB Lineups, and MLB News throughout the day as we work towards setting a profitable lineup. Here are some MLB DFS value options that can help you fit some high-priced studs into the salary cap.
DFS Value Pitchers
Jack Flaherty (STL); DraftKings - $6,600; FanDuel - $8,200; Yahoo - $33
This might be a case of name recognition here but we most likely are not going to see him any cheaper due to the delayed start to the season for the right-hander. Flaherty has only made it through three innings in each of his two starts but he did get up to 71 pitches in his last outing (he had a 75-pitch limit). I would expect to see that number increase today against the Cubs and his control should improve after walking five against Milwaukee on Tuesday. At this point, looking at Flaherty’s stat line through his first two starts is essentially pointless and instead this is a bet solely on his track record.
Jordan Lyles (BAL); DraftKings - $7,300; FanDuel - $7,600; Yahoo - $27
While Lyles has a 4.92 ERA and 1.52 WHIP so far this season, and there is nothing attractive about that, we are shopping in the value bin. Lyles does enter today on the heels of two straight solid starts of 17.2 and 13.5 DK points, respectively while striking out 11 batters in 11.2 innings. The White Sox aren’t exactly working from a position of strength when it comes to health and we should get about five or six innings out of him at a minimum. If you are looking for some upside though, Lyles does have a 4.31 FIP.
DFS Value Hitters
Jake Meyers, OF (HOU); DraftKings - $2,000; FanDuel - $2,000; Yahoo - $10
Meyers just returned off the Injured List and it appears he has settled into the role as Houston’s everyday center fielder. For now, we still get the outfielder as a minimum priced option and while Nestor Cortes has had success this season, Meyers does get the platoon advantage. In his second start of the season on Saturday, Meyers picked up two singles as he looks to continue his success over 49 games (163 plate appearances) last season with a .260 batting average, six home runs, 28 RBI, and 22 runs scored.
Taylor Walls, 2B/SS/3B (TB); DraftKings - $2,300; FanDuel - $2,100; Yahoo - $7
A look at Walls .168 batting average on the season is enough to send you running for the hills, but we have to judge him on more than that. Walls’ BABIP is just .219 so it does indicate there should be better days on the horizon although his 26% strikeout rate does make things a little difficult. However, in this situation, it’s really the short-term performance and outlook that we are focused on, and Walls checks that box. The infielder is working on a modest four-game hit streak and Walls is coming off a two-hit effort on Saturday as he continues to get regular playing time for Tampa Bay.
Seth Brown, 1B/OF (OAK); DraftKings - $3,500; FanDuel - $2,500; Yahoo - $14
Targeting Brady Singer has been a solid strategy these days, and Brown is a powerful bat who hits in the middle of Oakland’s lineup. While Brown struggles to hit for average regardless which hand the pitcher throws with, his power and run production are heavily weighted towards the platoon advantage which he does in fact have today. Brown has hits in five straight games and is hitting nine-of-21 over that stretch. With nine home runs and 35 RBI so far this season, we are working with some power upside and Brown gives us a low cost shot at a long ball along with a chance for some RBI.
Kole Calhoun, OF (TEX); DraftKings - $3,900; FanDuel - $2,500; Yahoo - $14
Stacking Rangers’ today against Jackson Tetreault is going to be a popular, and likely profitable, strategy and Texas’ cleanup hitter is a good place to start. Overall, it has been an underwhelming season for Calhoun with a .235 batting average, but he is a professional hitter with eight home runs and 29 RBI on the season. Perhaps even more importantly, Tetreault has a 5.73 ERA (6.61 xERA) and has allowed 2.45 home runs per nine innings.
Fantasy Alarm is the home of expert MLB Fantasy content. We also bring you all of the best online sportsbook free bets & promo codes and fantasy sports bonuses.
Dominate your MLB DFS contests with our DFS Playbook, Core Plays, Podcasts, Lineup Generator, Player Projections, & Draft Percentage Forecaster
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.