MLB DFS Value Vault September 1: Logan Gilbert Looking to Get Back On Track Against Tigers
Today’s slate is a bit of a mess. We have a split slate of games, both of which are small slates, but the 1:10 pm ET slate provides the most action with four games. DraftKings and FanDuel are using the same slate, but in typical Yahoo! fashion, they are using the rest of the games to bump their total to an eight-game slate.
Finding value on this slate doesn’t actually feel all that important, as there’s not really great spend-up spots, but at the same time it can be if trying to build unique lineups. We don’t appear to have any MLB weather concerns on this slate, which is nice, but still 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
Logan Gilbert, Mariners
(DraftKings - $7800 / FanDuel - $9000)
Gilbert has been awful lately, failing to score more than 12.1 DraftKings points in any of his last five starts, but a cure for that can be a matchup with the Tigers. He still has a good stat line on the year with a 3.49 ERA and 10-5 record. He has been slightly better on the road too with a 3.15 ERA and 16.1 DraftKings PPG, compared to a 3.94 ERA and 15.6 DraftKings PPG at home. Detroit ranks dead last in scoring this year and they have the fourth-highest strikeout rate.
Ken Waldichuk, A’s
(DraftKings - $5000 / Yahoo - $27)
Waldichuck will make his MLB debut tonight and it’s in a good spot against the Nationals. He has pitched well in the minors this year with a 2.84 ERA across 95 innings with 137 strikeouts. At such a cheap price, it won’t take a whole lot for him to be a nice value. On a slate with very few options to choose from, he’s a play I can get behind as the Nationals rank 26th in runs per game this season.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Sam Haggerty, Mariners
(DraftKings - $2000 / FanDuel - $2100 / Yahoo - $10)
Haggerty is having a good season, hitting .301 with four home runs, 10 steals, and 37 total R+RBI across 123 at-bats (58 games). He has been far better on the road, slashing .345/.400/.517 than he has been at home where he has slashed .262/.304/.446. He is also slashing a ridiculous .463/.511/.829 against lefties this season with three of his four home runs. That’s far too many reasons to like a min-priced player for me to avoid him on a small slate like this.
Gavin Sheets, White Sox
(DraftKings - $2600 / FanDuel - $2800)
Sheets is hot right now, slashing .387/.429/.742 over his last 10 games with three dingers and 17 R+RBI. He is now hitting .256 on the year with 12 homers. He has been amazing at home this year with a .956 OPS and ALL 12 of his home runs, compared to a .532 OPS on the road. Today he gets to face Daniel Mengden, who we know is not a good pitcher. Mengden has produced a 4.55 ERA and 1.47 WHIP at AAA prior to being called up for today’s start.
Michael A. Taylor, Royals
(DraftKings - $2100 / FanDuel - $2600 / Yahoo - $8)
Taylor is riding a three-game, multi-hit streak, going 7-for-14 with two dingers, a triple, seven RBI, a steal, and four runs scored in that span. He has scored 26, 30, and 13 DraftKings points in that timeframe, while batting leadoff and cleanup. Taylor has reverse splits this year, slashing .279/.341/.373 against righties with three steals, compared to .238/.306/.386 against lefties with no steals. Johnny Cueto also has reverse splits as righties are slashing .266/.304/.407 against him, compared to .240/.292/.385 line lefties have produced.
Other Potential DFS Value Plays
- Kerry Carpenter, Tigers
(DraftKings - $2000 / FanDuel - $2300 / Yahoo - $11) - Nick Pratto, Royals
(DraftKings - $2000 / FanDuel - $2500) - Seth Brown, A’s
(DraftKings - $3100 / FanDuel - $2500 / Yahoo - $12) - Rafael Devers, Red Sox
(Yahoo - $11) - Ty France, Mariners
(Yahoo - $10)
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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.