A six game slate to kick off the week is just what the doctor ordered! Lance Lynn and Alek Manoah will cost a pretty penny if you want one of them in your lineup, and after that, there’s a lot of arms on the slate that do not generate a ton of strikeouts. We are going to chase upside with some value bats, and I have plenty of guys below that can help you out. Be sure to check out the pitching coach and playbook for other plays, but in terms of value plays, I got you covered!
Let’s jump in and take a look at the best value bats available for tonight’s six game main slate!
All Sites:
Nicky Lopez, 2B/SS KC ($2,700 FD/$2,700 DK/$13 Yahoo) - Nicky Lopez is getting it done! He’s still so cheap and isn’t priced appropriately given how he’s played of late. He’s hitting .282 in the month of August, but over the last week, he’s hitting .440 with a .500 OBP and 1.100 OPS! Over the last two weeks, he’s hitting .308 with a .357 OBP and 10 stolen bases! He’s hit safely in six of his last seven games, homering once, driving in four runners, scoring six times and going a perfect 8-for-8 on the base paths. Greinke has been tough on lefties this year, but Lopez is swinging a hot bat and has put up fantasy points in a myriad of ways over the last week or two. Trust the hot bat and fast feet.
Taylor Jones, 1B/3B/OF HOU ($2,000 FD/$2,000 DK/$11 Yahoo) - If Jones cracks the starting lineup tonight, you must play him. Kansas City’s Daniel Lynch has allowed a .294 batting average to right-handed hitters and in 27 at-bats against southpaws this season, Jones has a .370 average and .935 OPS. Furthermore, his batting average at home is 100 points higher than on the road, and he’s hitting .407 with a 1.171 OPS over the last two weeks. If he’s in Houston’s lineup, he needs to be in yours.
FanDuel:
Bryan Reynolds, OF PIT ($3,200) - The first of three Pirates in the series today! Humberto MejÃa may have kept left-handed hitters to a low batting average in the minors, but the power numbers were absurd. He allowed five home runs against lefties in under 14 innings pitched against them! Reynolds has a .909 OPS against righties this year, and he has three home runs and a .902 OPS in the month of August.
Aledmys DÃaz, 2B HOU ($2,700) - I can’t quit Diaz! He’s super affordable AGAIN and has a great matchup against Daniel Lynch, a Kansas City southpaw who has served up a .294 batting average and .359 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Diaz is hitting .329 with a .945 OPS against southpaws and over the last two weeks, not only is he hitting .360 with an .896 OPS, but over his last 13 games, he’s averaging 10.8 FanDuel points per game. His average points per game over the last two weeks is 4x his salary tonight!
DraftKings:
Yan Gomes, C OAK ($3,300) - Yan Gomes has a .928 OPS against southpaws this year and Seattle’s Marco Gonzalez has allowed a .278 batting average and .375 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Gomes hasn’t exactly set the world on fire of late, but he’s reasonably priced on DraftKings where you have to start a catcher. He had an excellent month of July, and he has hit safely in three of his last four outings.
Ben Gamel, OF PIT ($2,700) - A Pittsburgh stack, mainly of left-handed hitters, is firmly in play. In just 14 innings pitched in the minors this year, Humberto MejÃa served up five home runs to left-handed hitters! Gamel has a .764 OPS against right-handers this year and when playing in his home park, he’s sporting an .872 OPS. He has a .716 OPS in the month of August, and while he’s yet to homer this month, there’s numerous reasons to believe that that will change this evening.
Yahoo:
Colin Moran, 1B/3B PIT ($7) - I mentioned it with Gamel above, but Pittsburgh left-handers have caught my eye this evening, largely due to Mejia’s struggles keeping lefties in the park. Moran has a .777 OPS against righties in 2021, and he has a .729 OPS over the last two weeks. Moran loves his home park, hitting .288 with a .772 OPS this year, and his .293 batting averages in night games far exceeds his .250 mark in afternoon contests.
Whit Merrifield, 2B KC ($12) - This price point is shocking. Merrifield is 4-for-8 with a home run and .625 wOBA against Zack Greinke in his career. The Houston right-hander has allowed a .271 batting average to right-handed hitters this year, and Merrifield is hitting .344 over the last week, and .333 over the last two weeks. He’s 5-for-18 against Houston pitching this year, and for just $12 on Yahoo, I’ll ride with Merrifield today.
Player News
CJ Abrams is not in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Rangers.
Abrams will head to the bench for a rare day off with lefty Jacob Latz kicking off a bullpen game for the Rangers. The 24-year-old shortstop could use a break since he’s hitting .136 (8-for-59) with zero homers and two steals over his last 15 games. It’ll be Nasim Nuñez getting an opportunity at shortstop on Sunday afternoon in his place.
Athletics acquired C Austin Wynns from the Reds for cash considerations.
Wynns helps shore up the Athletics’ glaring hole at catcher after losing starter Shea Langeliers to an oblique strain earlier this week. The 34-year-old journeyman has been swinging a hot bat this season, hitting .400 (16-for-40) with three homers and 11 RBI across 18 games this season in the big leagues. He’s a non-factor for fantasy purposes, but should get a chance to play regularly while Langeliers is on the shelf.
Athletics designated RHP Carlos Duran for assignment.
Duran has been booted from the Athletics’ 40-man roster to make room for journeyman catcher Austin Wynns. The 23-year-old righty made his major-league debut back on May 22 before being shipped back to the minors. He was acquired from the Dodgers in the Esteury Ruiz trade back in early April.
Diamondbacks designated C Aramis Garcia for assignment.
Garcia’s stint with Arizona winds up lasting roughly 24 hours as he entered Saturday’s contest against the Reds as a defensive replacement. The 32-year-old journeyman figures to pass through waivers unclaimed and elect free agency, unless he decides to stick around at Triple-A Reno.
Jose Altuve is not in the lineup for Sunday’s showdown against the Guardians.
It appears to be a routine off day for Altuve, who has started pretty much every game for Houston over the last three weeks. The 35-year-old veteran has also gone deep five times in his last 15 games. It’ll be top prospect Jacob Melton, who is 3-for-15 with one steal in six games since being called up from Triple-A Sugar Land, taking over in left field on Sunday afternoon in his place.
Cam Smith (illness) is back in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Guardians.
Smith returns to right field and will bat sixth on Sunday afternoon following a two-game absence due to illness. The 22-year-old top prospect has gone through the typical ebbs and flows in production as he acclimates to everyday life in the majors roughly one year removed from playing at the collegiate level. He remains one of the most promising young players in the fantasy landscape, even if the on-field production hasn’t quite backed up the hype at times.