MLB DFS Value Vault May 6: Jordan Hicks On the Mound
Friday is already one of the best days of the week, and DFS baseball often makes it better. We have a packed 13-game MLB DFS main slate across all three sites tonight, which means there are plenty of studs to roster from the top of daily fantasy baseball rankings. There are also tons of value options to comb through before you set those MLB DFS lineups. Unfortunately, that 13-game slate has turned into 11 thanks to inclement weather – so be sure to check in with our MLB weather report page throughout the day as you build those MLB daily fantasy lineups. Let’s dig into some of the MLB DFS top value picks that can help to save some salary cap space as we build some rosters for tonight’s main slate.
MLB DFS Value Pitchers
DraftKings - $5,100; FanDuel - $7,000; Yahoo - $29
Weather is something to watch on the East Coast tonight but if the forecast changes, both pitchers from the Baltimore game are viable value options. Jordan Lyles is the perfect value tonight, especially on DK as your second pitcher since you will ultimately roster at least one hitter that is more expensive than the right-hander. Per wRC+, the Royals are the second-worst offense in the league with a mark of just 80 as they are hitting just .218 on the season. Lyles is coming off a six-inning, one-run performance against Boston while he struck out six and picked up the victory. Through his five starts, Lyles has a 4.50 ERA and is in as good a position as any to succeed tonight.
DraftKings - $7,700
What is going on here with Sandy Alcantara’s pricing on DK? He's now down $1,700 from two starts ago and while his last outing left a lot to be desired (five runs in 5.2 against Seattle on six hits and four walks), the right-hander is still one of the better options tonight. His last start notwithstanding, Alcantara has had success this season with a 2.90 ERA in five starts. However, he has been limited by a 1.29 WHIP and is only striking out 7.55 batters per nine innings. Either way, he is still way too cheap on DK tonight.
DraftKings - $6,000; FanDuel - $7,000; Yahoo - $30
The Cardinals are still working on Jordan Hicks’ stamina and pitching deep into games, but the 63 pitches he threw over 3.1 innings in his last start were a season-high. It’s still hard to argue with the price and Hicks has been solid through 12.1 innings this season with a 3.65 ERA while striking out more than a batter an inning. San Francisco is barely an above-average offense (102 wRC+) and Hicks will likely continue to pitch deeper into games.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
DraftKings - $3,600; FanDuel - $2,800; Yahoo - $12
Alex Verdugo has struggled to begin the season as he is hitting just .217, but the run production has been there. The outfielder isn’t known for his home run power – he has only three so far – but Verdugo has driven in 13 runs in the middle of Boston’s lineup. I don’t need much of an invitation to target Vince Velasquez, and Verdugo gives us a cost-friendly avenue to do so. Luck hasn’t been in Verdugo’s favor so far this season as he is sporting just a .202 BABIP. If there ever was a game for him to find his stroke, tonight would be it.
DraftKings - $2,900; FanDuel - $2,400; Yahoo - $10
In 18 games and 39 plate appearances so far this season, Gio Urshela is batting .306 against left-handed pitching with one home run and three RBI. Tonight, he is in a good spot against Zach Logue. We won’t get much power out of Urshela, but he figures to be involved in whatever Minnesota does offensively tonight while hitting in the middle of the lineup.
DraftKings - $2,100; FanDuel - $2,000; Yahoo - $8
Let’s stick with a theme here, as there are very inexpensive Twins’ options on the board tonight – which enables you to stack some high-priced studs. Jose Miranda emerged onto the scene last year in Triple-A and had a modest beginning to this season, hitting. .256 in 21 games with two home runs and 12 RBI prior to his promotion. In four games with the Twins this year, Miranda is hitting just .118 with one RBI – but this is a bet on what we saw last season. It also doesn’t hurt that Zach Logue has a 5.63 ERA in 16 innings at Triple-A to begin the year and has had an uneven minor league career to this point. There could be some hidden value in a mini Twins stack for GPP’s, and getting Miranda at essentially minimum price across the board certainly helps.
DraftKings - $3,400; FanDuel - $3,100; Yahoo - $16
Granted Yadiel Hernandez’s last three games did come in Coors Field, but the outfielder is now working on a streak of five straight games with multiple hits. That brought his average up to .373 for the season with 14 RBI and, while his price has climbed, Hernandez is still affordable. By default, Hernandez continues to get starts for Washington and bat in the middle of the order and tonight he gets the platoon advantage against a weak right-hander in Jamie Barria. While Hernandez has benefited from a .453 BABIP, this is also the case of riding the hot hand and his 13% barrel rate is impressive.
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Mike Yastrzemski doubled and drove in three runs on Sunday afternoon as the Giants eked out a 4-3 victory over the visiting Braves.
Yastrzemski got the Giants on the board and evened the score at 1-1 in the second inning as he plated Matt Chapman with a sacrifice fly off of Spencer Strider. He then roped a two-run double to right off of Strider in the fourth inning that tied it at three runs apiece. The 34-year-old outfielder then raced around to score the go-ahead run on an error by second baseman Ozzie Albies. Yastrzemski finished the afternoon 1-for-2 and is now hitting .232/.329/.369 with five homers, 20 RBI and five stolen bases on the season.
Matt Chapman doubled, walked, stole a base and scored a pair of runs on Sunday as the Giants triumphed over the Braves in San Francisco.
Chapman led off the second inning with a double off of Spencer Strider, swiped third base and scored the Giants’ first run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Mike Yastrzemski. He then walked in the fourth inning and scored on a two-run double by Yastrzemski. The 32-year-old third baseman finished the day 1-for-2 officially and is now slashing .243/.360/.452 with 12 long balls, 30 RBI and seven stolen bases (in nine attempts) on the year.
Camilo Doval slammed the door on the Braves in the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon, preserving a one-run advantage to tally his ninth save of the season.
Doval has made a habit out of making things interesting in the ninth inning as of late, and this outing was no different as he allowed a one-out single to Ozzie Albies to put the tying run on base. He battled back nicely though, getting Alex Verdugo on a called third strike and Drake Baldwin on a swinging third strike to end it. On the season, Doval has now converted nine of his first 12 save chances on the season and he continues to build job security after taking the role over from the struggling Ryan Walker.
Landen Roupp logged a quality start in Sunday afternoon’s victory over the Braves, allowing three runs on five hits across his six frames.
The 26-year-old right-hander walked two and struck out two opposing hitters on the day. Matt Olson was responsible for all of the damage done against him in this one, plating a run with a fielder’s choice in the opening inning and crushing a two-run double in the third. Roupp got just three swings and misses on 95 pitches in the ballgame, registering a CSW of 26 percent. Now 4-4 on the season, he’ll carry a 3.29 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 63/24 K/BB ratio (68 1/3 innings) into a tough matchup against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Matt Olson went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBI on Sunday afternoon as the Braves fell to the Giants in San Francisco.
Olson got the Braves on the board first in this one as he plated Ronald Acuna Jr. on a fielder’s choice in the top half of the first inning. He then smacked a go-ahead two-run double off of Landen Roupp in the third that gave the Giants a 3-1 advantage, that would be the extent of their offense in the game though. The 31-year-old slugger is now hitting .236/.342/.460 with 13 long balls and 37 RBI through his first 64 games on the season.
Spencer Strider pitched decently in a losing effort against the Giants on Sunday, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits over his six innings of work.
The 26-year-old right-hander punched out five batters on the evening while issuing three free passes. Mike Yastrzemski was his nemesis in this one, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning and plating two more with a double in the fourth inning. Yastrzemski then scored the go-ahead run on an error. Strider got 11 swings and misses on 90 pitches on the day — seven of them on his slider — while posting a CSW of 29 percent. Still in search of his first victory of the season, Strider will bring a disappointing 5.40 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 24/11 K/BB ratio (25 innings) into Saturday’s premium matchup against the Rockies.