To deGrom or not to deGrom? That’s the question about every five days or so. On FanDuel, there are six pitchers who are at least $10,000, meaning that pitching likely isn’t going to be very cheap today, headlined by deGrom all the way up at $11,800. With all of the high-priced arms on the slate today, we are going to look at bats specifically, and provide some bargain bats that you can fit and squeeze around your high-priced arm(s). Without further ado, let’s take a look at the bats in today’s Value Vault!

Both Sites

Austin Hays, OF BAL ($2,700 FD/$3,000 DK) - Over the last two weeks, Hays is hitting .313 with an .819 OPS. He’s punished lefties this year, to the tune of a .358 average and .998 OPS, while Toronto’s Steven Matz has been worse against right-handed hitters, allowing a .784 OPS! Matz’s numbers are far better on the road than at home this year but he’s posted an ERA north of 6.00 since the start of June. You could also look at Maikel Franco, Cedric Mullins and/or Ryan Mountcastle, but Hays is my preferred Oriole this evening.

Myles Straw, OF HOU ($2,800 FD/$3,100 DK) - Straw is hitting .284 against right-handers this year and he’s hit safely in 11 of his last 13 contests, including four straight! Oakland’s Chris Bassitt’s ERA on the road is nearly a full run higher on the road, and he’s allowed seven earned runs (3 HR) in his last 17 road innings. I’m not sure if I’ll be going with a full-on Houston stack, but Straw can manufacture fantasy points in a multitude of ways.

FanDuel

Jake Fraley, OF SEA ($2,700) - Jameson Taillon struggles with left-handers, as he’s allowed them to post a .271 average and .878 OPS. Furthermore, in five road starts this year, Taillon is 0-3 with a massive 11.12 ERA! Across his last four starts overall, he’s allowed opponents to hit .333 and he has a 6.48 ERA overall. In 2021, Fraley has a 1.066 OPS, and six home runs in just 59 at-bats. If you’re looking at Seattle today, start with the left-handed hitters, as the left-handed variety have been Taillon’s kryptonite this season.

Aristides Aquino, OF CIN ($2,200) - His batting average against southpaws may not jump out at you, but three of his four hits have sailed over the fence against them, and his OPS resides at .965! He’s hitting .333 with a 1.389 OPS over the last week, and he has a .929 OPS on the road this year. He has massive upside as one swing of the bat could be a boatload of points, and provide a quality return on investment.

DraftKings

Starlin Castro, 3B WAS ($2,900) - San Diego’s Ryan Weathers has been excellent against lefties, but righties can do some damage, at least compared to lefties. Righties have an OPS near .740, and a .321 wOBA against Weathers in 2021. Now, what is enticing is how good Castro has been versus southpaws this year. In fact, Castro is hitting .347 against lefties alongside a .796 OPS. Additionally, Castro is white hot right now, hitting .435 over the past week, and .367 with a .947 OPS over the last two weeks! He’s too cheap today on DraftKings.

Jonah Heim, C TEX ($2,500 DK) - Texas bats should be popular today against Detroit’s Jose Urena, and while Heim hasn’t been overly spectacular against righties this year, he does have three home runs against them, and over the last month in particular, he’s hitting .289 with an .800 OPS. Additionally, the Rangers are at home, and Heim’s .741 OPS blows out his .617 road OPS. He’s hit safely in six of his last nine games, raising his batting average by roughly 20 points. Update: Heim isn't playing. John Hicks is a fine pivot, as he's hot right now, but you can also look to Toronto's Reese McGuire or even Philadelphia's J.T. Realmuto.