After back-to-back days with lighter slates, Major League Baseball is back with a massive 13-game slate for this Friday. All but four teams are in the player pool for the contests that start at 7:05 p.m. ET, with the Marlins-Brewers and Diamondbacks-Pirates games the only ones not on the main slate. Even with so many options to choose from, you’ll need to be careful with your salary cap to afford spending on the stars you want to build around. If you need some cheaper plays, check out these top three MLB DFS value picks, who each bring good potential as bargains.
Always double-check the weather and lineups to ensure your roster, and especially your MLB DFS value picks, are in the environment, the matchup, and the batting order you expected when you drafted them. While several games have some chance of rain, the weather looks cooperative with this giant slate for the most part.
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.
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SP Zebby Matthews, Minnesota Twins at Washington Nationals, $7,100
Matthews has had his struggles in the majors over the past two seasons, but he still brings immense upside based on his strikeout potential, and he has a very high ceiling at just over $7,000 for Friday’s matchup against the Nats. Matthews has posted outstanding numbers at Triple-A both earlier in the season and in his rehab start before being activated last week. He has a 1.72 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings in the minors this year, compared to a 6.26 ERA in 23 innings in the majors.
He came back off the injured list after missing a month with a shoulder strain, but the Rockies reached him for five runs in four innings last Saturday. He still had six strikeouts to salvage his fantasy day and show his tantalizing upside. With a 12.1 K/9 and 29.8% K%, he has the potential to go off for a massive number if he can limit damage against the Nationals. Washington ranks seventh in the majors in K% over the last two weeks and has scored the fifth-fewest runs during that span, averaging 3.6 runs and 8.8 strikeouts per game. Matthews is a good option with an extremely high ceiling in his start in D.C. this Friday.
2B Brice Matthews, Houston Astros vs. Athletics, $2,900
Another young player who is looking to translate his minor league success to the majors is Brice Matthews (no relation to Zebby), who has made a nice splash in his seven games since earning a promotion. In Triple-A for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Matthews had 10 homers and 25 stolen bases while hitting .283 with a .393 wOBA in 73 games. The potential he has for those big-point plays of homers and stolen bases gives him a high ceiling despite his elevated strikeout rate.
Matthews hit a pair of homers and had 34 fantasy points last Monday against the Diamondbacks, and added another homer and 18 fantasy points on Tuesday. He went 0-for-4 but still had an RBI on Wednesday and went 1-for-3 and had three fantasty points on Thursday. He’s had some production in each of his last six games, averaging 13.0 fantasy points per game. Matthews will face lefty Jeffrey Springs ($6,900) on Friday night in Houston and should be in a good spot to continue his emergence as a bargain fantasy play.
OF Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres, $3,000
Walker missed nearly a month while recovering from a bout of appendicitis, and he made some swing adjustments during his return that seem to be paying off right away. He went 0-for-4 in his return last Friday but has hit safely in six straight games since then, going 9-for-23 (.391) with four doubles, three runs scored, two RBI, and two walks. He’s averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game over that stretch, and had at least seven fantasy points in four of his last five.
In those six games, Walker has a 50% hard-hit rate and an average exit velocity of 91.5 miles per hour. He had five straight games with at least one ball hit over 98 miles per hour, which came to an end on Thursday. He’ll look to get back to mashing on Friday as he faces Nick Pivetta ($10,200) and the Padres in the second game of the teams’ four-game set. Walker has been streaky throughout his career and is still just 23. Time will tell if this is him turning the corner or just on another hot streak, but either way, he’s a solid fantasy play on Friday at only $3,000.
