MLB DFS Value Vault June 12: Brad Keller In Good Matchup To Return Value
We have another day full of daily fantasy baseball action and that means a ten-game MLB DFS main slate on both DraftKings and FanDuel. It will be an early night, but we do have to keep in mind that Yahoo Fantasy offers the full 14-game slate. Before locking in your squads, make sure to stay up to date with the latest MLB lineups, MLB news, and MLB weather. Next, it’s time to find some MLB DFS value options as we look to close out the weekend on a high note.
DFS Value Pitchers
Brad Keller (KC); DraftKings - $6,100; FanDuel - $8,000; Yahoo - $29
Baltimore continues to be one of the teams we look to target, and that puts Keller on our radar today. In four of his last five starts the right-hander has pitched either six or seven innings so that is a good first step and also puts in him in solid position for his second victory of the season; or at the very least a quality start. While the fact that Keller has seven losses isn’t ideal, but it does speak to the fact that he generally sticks around long enough to be involved in the decision and his 4.19 ERA isn’t too bad (4.29 FIP). We are limited in the upside department thanks to just five strikeouts per nine innings but Keller does a good job of limiting most damage thanks to a 50% ground ball rate as opposing hitters have just a 5.9%-barrel rate and 7.5-degree launch angle.
Ross Stripling (TOR); DraftKings - $6,900; FanDuel - $6,700; Yahoo - $35
Targeting Detroit this season is generally a pretty good strategy from a pitching perspective and Stripling is no different today. Back in the rotation, Stripling is coming off shutout innings against Kansas City in which he allowed just one hit while not walking a batter and striking out two. With a 3.65 ERA this season in 37 innings (3.30 xERA) Stripling has had success while striking out 7.54 batters per nine innings. The big thing for Stripling this season is limiting opposing hitters to just a 6.9-degree launch angle and walking less than two batters per nine innings.
DFS Value Hitters
Dylan Carlson, OF (STL); DraftKings - $3,400; FanDuel - $2,300; Yahoo - $13
Carlson has picked up a hit in each of the two games following his return from the Injured List, and while Graham Ashcraft has had success to begin his career, the outfielder gets the platoon advantage today. We are still waiting for Carlson to truly take off this year as he is hitting .250 through 165 plate appearances with two home runs, 11 RBI, and 15 runs scored. Last season went pretty well for Carlson and he is better than what his salary represents today; especially on FD and Yahoo.
Michael Taylor, OF (KC); DraftKings - $2,800; FanDuel - $2,300; Yahoo - $18
You likely won’t be in the minority today if you look at the Royals as a cheap stacking option against Dean Kremer and his 6.23 ERA this year. Taylor takes a modest six-game hitting streak into today’s game and has brought his batting average up to .270 on the season to go along with a .368 on base percentage. The outfielder has 18 runs scored and 15 RBI in 144 plate appearances on the season and based on the clip at which he has been getting on base, there is a good chance he is a part of whatever happens for Kansas City offensively.
Danny Mendick, 2B/SS (CWS); DraftKings - $3,300; FanDuel - $2,300; Yahoo - $11
At this price, I have no issues chasing what has been solid production out of Mendick. The infielder has back-to-back games with two RBI and has been a consistently coming through with at least modest production. Mendick continues to take advantage of Tim Anderson’s injury at the top of Chicago’s batting order and he is currently hitting .292 in 69 plate appearances with two home runs, 13 runs scored, and 11 RBI.
Teoscar Hernández, OF (TOR); DraftKings - $5,000; FanDuel - $2,700; Yahoo - $11
By no means is Hernandez a value on DK going against Tarik Skubal, but the price is so extreme compared to the other two sites so I felt it had some importance in being noted. Things haven’t gone smoothly for the stud outfielder this season as he is hitting just .223 in 141 plate appearances which includes a stint on the Injured List. Hernandez does have hits in four straight games and his 13.2% barrel-rate is right line with where it should be, so the thought here is that he is on his way towards figuring it out and getting back on track.
Fantasy Alarm is the home of expert MLB Fantasy content. We also bring you all of the best online sportsbook free bets & promo codes and fantasy sports bonuses.
Dominate your MLB DFS contests with our DFS Playbook, Core Plays, Podcasts, Lineup Generator, Player Projections, & Draft Percentage Forecaster
Player News
Junior Caminero had a strong day at the dish in Tuesday’s 5-1 victory over the Rangers, as he belted a solo home run and also stole home.
Caminero swiped home as part of a double steal as Kameron Misner took a called third strike in the sixth inning. He then delivered an insurance run with a 398-foot (103.4 mph EV) solo shot off of Codi Heuer in the eighth inning that made it a 5-1 ballgame. On the season, the 21-year-old phenom is now slashing .263/.294/.516 with 14 homers, 38 RBI and four stolen bases.
Kameron Misner went 1-for-4 and swatted his fifth home run of the season on Tuesday night as the Rays topped the visiting Rangers.
Misner opened the scoring in the second inning and he pummeled an 0-2 fastball that was above the zone for a 328-foot (88.9 mph EV) solo shot. He went hitless in his next three at-bats, including a pair of strikeouts. The 27-year-old outfielder is slashing a troublesome .225/.292/.381 with five homers, 18 RBI and seven stolen bases in 178 plate appearances on the season.
Yandy DÃaz went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored on Tuesday evening as the Rays bested the visiting Rangers.
DÃaz singled off of Tyler Mahle in the home half of the first inning but wound up getting stranded at third base. He smacked a two-out single off of Mahle his next time up in the fifth and was erased on a fielder’s choice. The 33-year-old then started the game-changing rally with a one-out walk in the sixth inning, ultimately scoring on a wild pitch. On the season, the veteran first baseman is now hitting .242/.289/.401 with eight long balls, 34 RBI and a career-high three stolen bases.
Drew Rasmussen was outstanding once again in Tuesday night’s victory over the Rangers, piling up eight strikeouts over five innings of shutout baseball.
The 29-year-old hurler allowed just one hit in the ballgame — an infield single by Jake Burger to open the third inning — and didn’t walk a batter. Rasmussen got nine swings and misses on just 79 pitches in the ballgame, posting a solid CSW of 32 percent. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in any of his last four starts and has now fired 23 consecutive scoreless frames. He’ll look to extend that dominance as he brings a minuscule 2.14 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and a 56/13 K/BB ratio (63 innings) into a dream matchup against the Marlins on Sunday afternoon.
Jake Burger went 2-for-3 and drove in the Rangers’ lone run in Tuesday night’s loss to the Rays in Tampa Bay.
Burger finally got the Rangers on the board as he plated Adolis Garcia with a two-out single off of Garrett Cleavinger in the seventh inning. That would be their only tally in the contest. With his two-hit attack, the 29-year-old slugger is now slashing .218/.250/.397 with seven long balls and 23 RBI in his first 184 plate appearances with the Rangers.
Tyler Mahle turned in his worst performance of the season in Tuesday’s loss to the Rays, surrendering four runs on five hits over his 5 1/3 innings.
Mahle struck out five batters on the evening while issuing a pair of walks. It’s just the second time in 13 starts on the season that Mahle has allowed more than two runs. He had allowed just one — a solo shot by Kameron Misner in the second inning — through his first five frames, but the wheels fell off for him in the sixth as Mahle allowed three straight batters to reach with one out and exited with the bases loaded. Unfortunately for he and for fantasy managers, all three inherited runners ultimately scored. The 30-year-old hurler got 13 whiffs on 85 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 28 percent. He’ll look to bounce back as he brings a 2.02 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 53/26 K/BB ratio (71 1/3 innings) into Sunday’s showdown against the Nationals in Washington.