MLB DFS Value Vault September 26: Roansy Contreras is Too Cheap
With the 2022 MLB season winding down, we have one of the smallest slates of the year with just four games on the docket for tonight. It is quite a manageable MLB DFS main slate to work through, but that does not make it any less important to follow along with the latest MLB weather, MLB news, and MLB lineups. Let us jump right into some MLB DFS value options for tonight.
DFS Value Pitchers
Roansy Contreras (PIT); DraftKings - $7,500; FanDuel - $8,200; Yahoo - $36
While there is some volatility in play here with Contreras, the strikeout upside does make up for it. In his last start against the Yankees, Contreras allowed six runs in 4.2 innings but by striking out 10 batters, he still managed to finish with 14 DK points. The overall body of work has been solid this season, 3.68 ERA, as the right-hander has struck out about a batter per inning and things should be a little easier for him tonight against the Reds.
Bryce Elder (ATL); DraftKings - $8,400; FanDuel - $8,900; Yahoo - $31
While Elder is a little more expensive than we might like tonight, with only four games on the slate, we have to work with what we have. Earlier this month, Elder threw six shutout innings scattering two hits and two walks while striking out six before facing the Nationals in his last start. This time, Elder limited Washington to one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six once again. There is nothing wrong with attempting to pick on the Nationals. After a strong 2021 campaign in which he started in High-A and ended in Triple-A, Elder had a 4.46 ERA in 18 games this season, and to this point, pitching in pennant race has not proved to be too large of a task for him.
DFS Value Hitters
Triston Casas, 1B (BOS); DraftKings - $2,100; FanDuel - $2,400; Yahoo - $13
With a .125 batting average on the season, this is plain and simple about one thing; chasing a home run. Three of Casas’ four home runs have come over the last 10 days and all four have come against right-handed pitching. From a matchup perspective, Lyles is a lot worse on the road (5.48 ERA) and that is where he has allowed 18 of his 24 home runs.
Terrin Vavra, 2B/SS/OF (BAL); DraftKings - $2,100; FanDuel - $2,100; Yahoo - $151
While he has just one extra base hit over his last 10 games, Vavra is hitting .381 in that stretch with two RBI and five runs scored. Connor Seabold should not offer much in the way of resistance for Baltimore tonight and Vavra is pretty close to a minimum price option. After hitting .324 in 45 games at Triple-A this season, the utility player is hitting .279 with the Orioles through 80 plate appearances.
Oswaldo Cabrera, SS/3B/OF (NYY); DraftKings - $2,900; FanDuel - $2,900; Yahoo - $15
Cabrera has turned himself into a valuable part of the Yankees seemingly out of nowhere as he plays everywhere and no moment seems too big for him. Over his last 10 games, which is all we really care about at this point, Cabrera is hitting .294 with three home runs, 10 runs scored, nine RBI, and eight walks. Since September 4th, Cabrera has just three games in which he has not picked up a DFS point and it is hard to argue with that level of consistency as well.
Eddie Rosario, OF (ATL); DraftKings - $2,500; FanDuel - $2,100; Yahoo - $7
Cory Abbott is certainly a pitcher we can feel comfortable targeting and Rosario is cost-effective piece of any Braves stack we put together tonight. In his last 29 at bats, over 10 games, Rosario is hitting .414 with seven runs scored and the veteran does have a track record in place even if this has been a rough year for the outfielder.
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 this week with our DFS Playbook, Core Plays, Podcasts, Lineup Generator, Player Projections, & Draft Percentage Forecaster.
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.