On Friday night, Major League Baseball gets another full weekend of fantasy baseball options underway with 12 games on the featured slate. Only six teams aren’t in the player pool since their games begin before the 7:05 p.m. ET contest lock. Of the 12 matchups on the main slate, four are divisional matchups including the Red Sox and Yankees meeting at Fenway Park. In the three interleague series, we get a classic World Series rematch between the Dodgers and the Astros in Houston and an interesting matchup between the Padres and Orioles in Baltimore as both teams try to claim a spot in this year’s postseason.
With 24 teams in the player pool, there is no shortage of options, but you’ll still have to manage your salary cap carefully to afford the top stars you want to build around. To help balance your spending, check out these three bargains, which come at very low salaries but have good upside.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $222K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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SP Drew Thorpe, Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners, $6,600
The 23-year-old Thorpe has been solid since joining the White Sox in mid-June with just one ugly outing skewing his season-long numbers. He made his MLB debut in this same matchup against the Mariners on June 11 and went five strong innings, earning 14.3 fantasy points. In his second start, the Dbacks knocked him around for eight runs, but since then, he has been dialed in, producing at least 19 fantasy points in four of his last five starts. In each of those outings, he has allowed two runs or fewer compiling a 1.48 ERA and 0.76 WHIP. He has limited damage and gone 3-0 by lasting at least six innings in each outing. Despite his recent success, his strikeout numbers have been low with no more than five strikeouts in any game and just a 5.9 K/9. In the minors, he showed more punchout potential with 10.8 career K/9 before being called up, so his strikeout numbers may climb as he settles in at this level. On Friday, his strikeout numbers should get a boost since he’s facing the slumping Mariners, who lead the MLB in K% on the season and over the last 30 days. As a team over the last 30 days, the Mariners are hitting an MLB-low .201 and scoring just 3.2 runs per game with the second-worst wOBA in the MLB. They should be a favorable matchup for Thorpe, who will be a great value if he’s around 20 fantasy points again on Friday.
SS Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins at Milwaukee Brewers, $3,100
The Marlins gave their SS job to Edwards by letting Tim Anderson go at the start of July, and the 24-year-old switch-hitter has stepped up to the task and delivered great fantasy value since his return from a foot infection that began in Spring Training. He’s become a regular in my value picks and has consistently produced solid returns on his low salary. Since being called up at the start of the month, he is hitting .388 (26-for-67) in 18 games with three doubles, 11 runs scored and eight RBI. Along with his consistent contact, Edwards brings good stolen base potential. He had five stolen bases in Triple-A before being called up and 37 steals last season in 123 games split between Triple-A and the MLB. Edwards had 17 fantasy points on Thursday with a stolen base and a pair of hits while hitting second in the batting order and has double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four games. If he moves to the second spot in the order and continues to be more aggressive on the basepaths, he should be a great fantasy value as long as his salary stays this low.
1B David Villar, San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies, $2,000
Villar was recalled on Thursday to help fill in while Wilmer Flores (knee) is on IL. Villar will likely take over as the Giants’ primary 1B against lefties and is expected to start on Friday against Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland ($5,500). Villar is a great deal at the minimum salary and brings solid upside in the matchup based on his ongoing season in Triple-A. In 68 games for the Sacramento River Cats, Villar has hit .271 with 14 homers and a .374 wOBA. He has gone 6-for-21 (.286) with three doubles, a home run and a .345 wOBA in his seven MLB games and went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and seven fantasy points on Thursday. He’s a great option at the minimum salary if you are looking for ways to spend way down in one spot to have extra salary to spread around the rest of your roster.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $225K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
