With this a small of a slate, you have to chase upside. There’s only a handful of games from which to choose, so don’t be afraid to get creative. Is there some chalk? Sure, but not a lot, and zigging where others zag is imperative on these smaller slates. Below, I provide some of my favorite plays of the day that afford you some financial flexibility to get some of the higher-priced players on the slate.

Let’s jump on in and see what arms and bats made today’s Value Vault!

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Nicky Lopez, 2B/SS KC ($3,000 FD/$3,300 DK/$15 Yahoo) - Until his price gets higher where it should be, I’m leaving Nicky Lopez in here and not looking back. He’s hitting .500 over the past week, and a smooth .418 over the last two weeks. Sure, he’s not homering a bunch, but he’s been a consistent source of fantasy points, hitting safely in nine of his last 10.

Harold Ramirez, OF CLE ($2,400 FD/$2,100 DK/$11 Yahoo) - If Ramirez doesn’t crack the lineup tonight, you can always pivot to Oscar Mercado in this matchup. However, if Ramirez plays, he’s a guy I want in all of my lineups. He’s hitting .289 with an even .800 OPS against southpaws, and he’s posted a quality .379 with a .931 OPS in 29 at-bats against Kansas City pitching this year.

Yahoo!

Javier Báez, 2B NYM  ($13) - On a small slate, you have to risk it for the biscuit. He’s hit safely in five of his last six games, and over the last two weeks, he’s hitting .267 with an .879 OPS. Yes, those numbers may not jump off the page, but the pop is there and while Zack Thompson can make for a good play tonight (see below), his strikeout numbers of late have been underwhelming. If you aren’t rostering Thompson, Baez is a solid play in terms of chasing upside.

Ryan McMahon, 3B COL ($13) - McMahon has an .827 OPS versus right-handers this year, and like most Colorado hitters, he loves hitting in his home park. He has an .860 OPS at home this year, not to mention a .502 slugging percentage. McMahon has been cold of late, but he has upside at his home park that you typically don’t get for this cheap. On a small slate, you go for upside, and McMahon’s 20 home runs and 23 doubles on the year show that he can rack up fantasy points quickly, especially against right-handers.

FanDuel

Ian Happ, 2B/OF CHC ($3,000) - Happ is 5-for-8 in his career against Mitch Keller with not one, but two home runs. Keller has routinely struggled at the big league level, especially with left-handers. Left-handed hitters are hitting .350 with a .411 wOBA against Keller in 2021, and while Happ has uninspiring numbers against right-handers this year, this particular right-hander hasn’t been much of a challenge for Happ. The switch-hitting Happ has a .310 batting average over the last two weeks to go along with a 1.046 OPS.

Oscar Mercado, OF CLE ($2,400) - Mercado has been better against southpaws this year than righties, posting a .279 batting average and .765 OPS. The Cleveland outfielder is hitting .333 over the past two weeks with a .948 OPS and just two strikeouts in 24 at-bats! Furthermore, he’s 5-for-12 with a home run and two stolen bases against Kansas City pitching this year, which is good for a .417 batting average and 1.250 OPS.

DraftKings

Sandy Alcantara, SP MIA ($8,200) - I originally had Zach Thompson here, as I thought he would start, but we are treated to Sandy Alcantara at less than $1,000 more expensive than what Thompson was! The Mets have posted the 11th-highest strikeout rate over the last two weeks and 13th-highest mark in the month of August. Alcantara has seven or more strikeouts in five of his last six outings, and and in four straight. He has at least 26 DraftKings points in his four most recent starts, and he instantly becomes my favorite arm of the day.

Bobby Dalbec, 1B BOS ($3,100) - Shane McClanahan is a tough foe, but I’ll still go with Dalbec against a lefty. Dalbec has a .267 batting average and .787 OPS against southpaws in 2021 and he’s hitting a savory .412 over the past week. If you look at the past two weeks, he’s sitting at a .321 batting average and 1.246 OPS. He has an .821 OPS against Tampa Bay pitching this season, but what I love to see is that he has just seven strikeouts over the past two weeks. If he’s not swinging and missing, watch out.