With eyes on tonight's ten-game slate for MLB DFS action, be sure targets land in the lineup. When identifying the value plays, they come with risk attached due to spots in the batting order, potential for a late inning substitution and the Pirates game will be a doubleheader nightcap lasting seven innings, which usually equates to less at-bats, and less DFS points. During any build, use a bargain option or two freeing up space for top end talent. Best of luck value hunters!
Both DraftKings and FanDuel
Austin Slater, San Francisco - OF ($2,500 on each site)
Unlike many value plays, Slater usually hits lead-off versus southpaws for the fluid Giants lineup. He produced three hits in five at-bats on Friday night with two doubles and two runs scored against Austin Gomber. Tonight, Kyle Freeland takes the mound putting Slater right back on the DFS map. Facing left-handed pitching, he's recorded seven doubles and seven home runs with 35 runs plus RBI this year. Plus, in past match-ups, he's 6-for-18 with a home run fueling a .318 xBA and .527 xSLG, adding to his allure on this slate.
Lars Nootbaar, St. Louis - OF ($2,000 on each site)
Be sure he's in the lineup, but Nootbar's launched pinch hit home runs in each of his last two appearances for the Cardinals and gets a right-handed pitcher on the mound tonight with a shot at being the designated hitter. Versus righties this year, he owns a robust .320 isolated power with a .957 OPS and .400 wOBA with more walks (3) than strikeouts (2) over 20 plate appearances. If he makes the lineup, he should be in a GPP build or two.
DraftKings Only
Jorge Polanco, Minnesota - 2B ($2,900)
Not sure what he did to this site, but seeing a hitter with a .327/.370/.643 slash line through 26 games in the second half with nine home runs and a .337 isolated power over 108 plate appearances seems too good to be true. But, Polanco projects to bat third in a game with a double digit run total putting him in a prime spot to produce.
Darin Ruf, San Francisco - 1B ($2,800)
Although he's not overpriced on either site, prefer being able to deploy Ruf at first base since there's value to be mined in the outfield in other spots, including his teammate above. Now, he's not thrived versus Freeland in past meetings but one cannot ignore Ruf's seven home runs in 81 at-bats (one every 11.6) against left-handed pitchers with a .321 isolated power, 1.105 OPS and .420 wOBA. This could be a very quiet DFS productive game, so getting some shares may make sense at low ownership.
FanDuel Only
Brendan Rodgers, Colorado - 2B/SS ($2,800)
A hot hitter in a smash spot could be low owned since he's not in Coors and can be used at multiple positions? Giddy up. Here's the deal, Rodgers has generated 10 extra-base hits (four doubles, six home runs) versus southpaws this year and gets Sammy Long on the mound tonight in San Francisco. For the season, Rodgers possesses a .367 isolated power, a 1.053 OPS and .574 wOBA facing left-handed pitching. On the road, he's launched five of his six home runs with a .429/.467/1.000 slash line and an eye popping .571 isolated power along with a 1.467 OPS.
Kevin Kiermaier, Tampa Bay - OF ($2,100)
At $100 over minimum pricing, one can roster a player with five hits over his last nine at-bats, three runs, an inside the park home run, four RBI and a stolen base hitting .556/.600/1.000 in them. Can he sustain this level of success? No. But, Kiermaier's one of the few Rays one can trust being in the lineup due to his defense and Kenta Maeda's not the same pitcher you remember from last year. This game owns a sneaky double digit run total, so why not buy in at the floor with room for upside? On FanDuel, he's generated over 20 points in each of his last two starts, or in layman's terms, 10 times above investment.
Player News
Denzel Clarke is day-to-day with a left shoulder contusion.
Clarke somehow managed to avoid serious injury when he collided with the left-center field wall to make a brilliant catch during Friday’s contest against the Orioles. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the 25-year-old rookie get a break this weekend to rest and recover, but he seemed upbeat and optimistic that he wouldn’t need much time off while speaking to reporters after his early exit from the game. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.
Phillies INF José RodrÃguez has elected free agency.
RodrÃguez lost his spot on Philadelphia’s 40-man roster earlier this week when his one-year suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy wrapped up. He’ll likely wind up latching on somewhere else as organizational depth.
Diamondbacks designated RHP Scott McGough for assignment.
McGough was removed from Arizona’s 40-man roster earlier this week after Andrew Saalfrank’s one-year suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy concluded. The 35-year-old righty figures to pass through waivers unclaimed and remain with the club as extra relief depth.
Diamondbacks activated LHP Andrew Saalfrank from the restricted list; optioned him to Triple-A Reno.
Saalfrank returned earlier this week on Thursday from a one-year suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy. The 27-year-old southpaw will remain with the organization as extra relief depth.
X-rays came back negative for any fractures in Gabriel Moreno’s right hand.
It’s a positive development for the Diamondbacks as losing Moreno for an extended period would’ve put some strain on their catching situation. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told reporters postgame that Moreno’s removal was for precautionary reasons due to swelling that occurred after he was struck by a wild pitch in his throwing hand. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.
Logan Gilbert (elbow) will make another minor league rehab start.
The biggest takeaway here for fantasy managers is that Gilbert won’t be returning to Seattle’s rotation next week. There isn’t an exact date for his third rehab outing yet, but it figures to take place on Tuesday at one of the club’s minor league affiliates. The 28-year-old fantasy ace threw 60 pitches on Wednesday in his latest rehab start, and dealt with some diminished velocity over the course of that outing, which is presumably why he’s being given another tune-up before returning to Seattle.