After a great long weekend of baseball, the MLB starts the final week before the All-Star break with nine games on the main slate, which begins at 7:10 p.m. ET. With 18 teams in action, several superstars in smash spots, and some very favorable pitching matchups for aces, salary cap space will be at a premium as you build your roster. To help balance your spending, check out these top three MLB DFS value picks, who bring a good upside themselves, while also allowing you to save salary to spend on the expensive plays you think will pay off.
The weather in Cincinnati and Kansas City will be worth watching, since each of those venues has a chance for rain that could cause a delay or postponement. Both games could play just fine, but it’s worth double-checking before the action starts. Also, be sure to double-check that all the players you pick are in the starting lineup and ready to produce, especially your MLB DFS value picks.
Check out the full range of MLB coverage from the team at DraftKings Network, since these bargains are just one piece of the MLB DFS picture to consider.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $225K Rally Cap [$50K to 1st]
SP Colton Gordon, Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Guardians, $7,000
Gordon had a rough outing his last time out while pitching at Coors Field, but he’s in an excellent spot to bounce back against the Guardians, who have dropped 10 straight games as they head to Houston.
Cleveland’s bats have been stunningly silent during their losing streak, totaling only 15 runs scored while hitting .166 as a team with a .223 wOBA and 39 wRC+. Their wRC+ means that as a team they have been 61% below league average in run creation, an amazingly low number.
Gordon will look to keep them silent this Monday night, as the Astros come home after sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles. So far this season, the rookie lefty is 3-1 in nine starts with a 4.37 ERA, 4.39 FIP and 1.41 WHIP. While those numbers aren’t extremely impressive, he had earned 19+ fantasy points in three of four starts before being knocked around a little bit at Coors Field. In his last home start, he earned 20.85 fantasy points in a tough matchup against the Phillies, so the upside is definitely there for a big return at this low salary on Monday night in such a favorable matchup.
SS Colson Montgomery, Chicago White Sox at Toronto Blue Jays, $3,000
Montgomery had a great first weekend in the majors at Coors Field. He made a highlight reel grab on Friday in his debut, and then posted double-digit fantasy points on both Saturday and Sunday. He went 5-for-10 (.500) with a triple, two walks, two RBI and an average of 9.3 fantasy points per game through his first three contests.
On Monday, he’ll make his home debut in Chicago as the White Sox welcome in Jose Berrios ($8,500) and the red-hot Blue Jays. Berrios’ has slightly worse numbers against lefties like Montgomery, so he’s a decent matchup to attack at this price point.
MLB Pipeline ranked Montgomery as the team’s No. 5 prospect and the No. 95 prospect in all baseball. He struggled in Triple-A last year and hit only .215 at that level before his promotion this season. However, he had a solid June, hitting .281 with six homers and a .422 wOBA. He brings good power potential as he settles in with the White Sox, even as his average will likely regress. He’s set up to be the team’s everyday shortstop for now, and he’s a great bargain to consider in his home debut Monday.
3B Nate Eaton, Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies, $2,500
Eaton has hit leadoff for the last two games for the Red Sox since they have faced left-handed pitchers, and on Monday, they’ll face another lefty in the Rockies’ Austin Gomber ($4,500). The weather forecast is for great hitting weather at Fenway, and getting a leadoff hitter in a productive lineup at this salary is too good a deal to pass up.
Eaton had nine fantasy points on Saturday and 12 on Sunday, picking up one hit in each start. On Saturday, he doubled and scored two runs, and on Sunday, he went 1-for-2 with a walk, a single, a stolen base, and a run scored.
The 28-year-old has had a few stints in the majors, but has spent most of his time in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox, where he hit .274 with seven homers, six stolen bases, a .362 wOBA and 39.8% hard-hit rate.
The Red Sox have scored more runs over the last week than any other team in baseball, averaging 8.2 runs per contest with a .324 team batting average and .395 wOBA. Getting the leadoff hitter at the top of that productive lineup at this salary is a bargain play that has to be considered this Monday.
