We have a nine game slate this Monday evening, but outside of Brandon Woodruff, there aren’t many pitchers that command a huge chunk of your salary. Therefore, you have the ability to add that extra stud bat, or pay up for Woodruff if you choose. There’s a lot of great value bats on the slate, including one majorly mispriced player on FanDuel that you must roster today. There’s also a southpaw on the slate that is in a great spot to be your SP1 or SP2 on DraftKings today. Without further ado, let’s jump into today’s Value Vault!
Both Sites:
Gavin Sheets, 1B/OF CWS ($2,800 FD/$2,600 DK) - Sheets has an impressive 1.042 OPS on the year, and a massive .558 wOBA versus right-handers. He’s hit safely in five of six big league games, homering twice and driving in eight runners. Bailey Ober has struggled this year, especially against lefties, and Sheets should thrive in this matchup. The higher he hits in the order the better, as the bats behind him should be able to bring him home.
Bobby Dalbec, 1B/3B BOS ($2,900 FD/$2,800 DK) - Los Angeles’ Jose Suarez is sporting some reverse splits, as he’s been tough on righties, but he hasn’t met Bobby Dalbec yet. Dalbec is the lefty crusher, hitting five home runs and driving in 15 runners in just 80 at-bats. Dalbec has a .344 wOBA against southpaws, and he’s hitting .385 with a 1.000 OPS over the last week. For what it’s worth, against the Angels this year, Dalbec has a 1.289 OPS, which is his second-highest mark against any team.
FanDuel:
Wander Franco, SS TB ($3,000 FD) - Cleveland’s Logan Allen has an 8.38 ERA on the year, and away from his home park, his ERA sits above 13, thanks to allowing three earned runs in just two innings of work. Lefties have crushed him, to the tune of a 1.083 OPS this season and Franco is 7-for-17 with two home runs against southpaws in 2021. It should be a big day for Franco, as well as some other guys in the lineup, including…
Mike Zunino, C TB ($2,500 FD) - You can play a catcher on FanDuel today, and Zunino is a great option. He’s hitting .323 against southpaws this year and has a whopping nine home runs in just 65 at-bats! He loves his home park, as he’s hit eight home runs in just 72 home at-bats! Logan Allen has been worse against lefties, but I wouldn’t call him dominant against righties by any means. Omar Narvaez is also in play behind the dish tonight.
Anthony Rizzo, 1B CHC ($2,900 FD) - The one batter that Philadelphia’s Matt Moore does not want to see is Rizzo. The Chicago first baseman has Moore’s number, going 4-for-5 with two home runs against the southpaw. Rizzo is sporting a .359 average against southpaws this year and he has a .283 batting average at his home park. Rizzo is one of my favorite plays of the day, and I can’t believe this price point on FanDuel, considering he’s over $5,000 on DraftKings!
DraftKings:
Max Fried, SP ATL ($8,500 DK) - Fried is just the fifth-highest priced pitcher on the slate and he gets a Pittsburgh team he went seven innings against back in May. He only struck out two batters, so his point total was underwhelming, but since the start of June, he has punched out 28 batters in 27.2 innings of work. He should fare better in the strikeout department today, en route to a solid outing overall.
Brian Goodwin, OF CWS ($3,100 DK) - How is he still this cheap!? He’s hitting .357 against righties, and Minnesota’s Bailey Ober has served up a .404 average and .507 wOBA to left-handed hitters! Goodwin has 10 or more DraftKings points in four of his last five contests, and he’ll be looking for another big day today. Oh, Ober’s 5.84 ERA looks good compared to his 6.75 ERA at home this year.
David Fletcher, 2B LAA ($3,100 DK) - I like picking on Martin Perez more when he’s at home than on the road, but I like Fletcher in this spot. Fletcher is hitting .333 against southpaws in 2021, and he’s sporting a .340 average and .789 OPS over the last month. Furthermore, at home, Fletcher is hitting .307 on the year, and he has an eight game hit streak at home. Hitting in front of Shohei Ohtani and Co. should be lucrative this evening for Fletcher.
Player News
Max Scherzer (thumb) threw 50 pitches over three innings in a simulated game at the Blue Jays’ spring training complex on Sunday.
Daulton Varsho was one of the hitters that took swings against him on Sunday and wound up tagging him for a home run. He will throw his normal side session in a couple of days and depending on how he feels from there the Jays will make a decision on whether or not he’ll require a minor league rehab start or if he’ll be cleared to return to the Blue Jays’ rotation.
Nationals optioned INF Nasim Nuñez to Triple-A Rochester.
The Nats plan to promote Andrés Chaparro from Triple-A Rochester on Monday and they needed to clear a spot on the active roster to do so, which pushed Nuñez back down to Triple-A. The 24-year-old infielder slashed just .195/.283/.244 with zero homers, five RBI and seven stolen bases in 47 plate appearances with the big league club.
Andrew Golden of the Washington Post reports that the Nationals plan to promote Andrés Chaparro from Triple-A Rochester on Monday.
The 26-year-old slugger has appeared in 19 minor league games after returning from his oblique injury this season, slashing .288/.390/.576 with five homers, 19 RBI and a 17/10 K/BB ratio across 77 plate appearances. Nasim Nuñez was optioned to Triple-A Rochester after Sunday’s game to clear a spot on the active roster.
Blue Jays optioned RHP Paxton Schultz to Triple-A Buffalo.
The Blue Jays needed to free up a spot on their active roster for the arrival of Spencer Turnbull and Schultz drew the short straw this time around. The 27-year-old hurler has done a nice job in seven appearances for the Jays this season, registering a 3.24 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 21/4 K/BB ratio across 16 2/3 innings of work. It shouldn’t take long for him to earn another opportunity with the big league club.
Blue Jays recalled RHP Spencer Turnbull from Triple-A Buffalo.
The 32-year-old hurler made five minor league starts with the Jays as he was getting stretched out, posting a miserable 7.13 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and a 14/9 K/BB ratio over 17 2/3 innings. Turnbull is expected to make his Blue Jays’ debut on Wednesday against the Cardinals in St. Louis. We have seen Turnbull be a viable fantasy option in the big leagues before, but you’d like to see him have some sort of success before trying to trot him out there in your lineups. He makes for an intriguing stash in all formats, but wait to see what he looks like before risking the ratio damage that he could inflict.
Angels designated RHP Michael Darrell-Hicks for assignment.
The Angels needed to clear a spot on the club’s 40-man roster for the addition of LaMonte Wade Jr. on Sunday and unfortunately Darrell-Hicks was the odd-man out this time around. The 27-year-old right-hander appeared in six games with the Halos, registering a 9.39 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and a 6/4 K/BB ratio over 7 2/3 innings. There’s a decent chance that he’ll pass through waivers unclaimed and continue to function as extra bullpen depth for the Angels.