The MLB trade deadline has come and gone, so there’s finally some clarity in the league. Other than call-ups and free agency signings, rosters are set for the remainder of the season.
Because games are spread out throughout the day as some teams finish series and others play a middle game, only seven of the 15 games are eligible for tonight’s featured DFS contest. Here are some players I’d target from those games if I were entering the contest.
Make your DraftKings MLB DFS picks here: MLB $150K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
MLB DFS Targets, Values for Wednesday, August 5
Pitcher
- Stud: Sonny Gray, BOS vs. CWS ($9,300)
- Value: Noah Cameron, KC vs. MIN ($6,600)
Infielder
- Stud: Ty France, SD at ARI ($4,300)
- Value: Cole Young, SEA vs. DET ($3,600)
Outfielder
- Stud: Jackson Chourio, MIL vs. PIT ($5,300)
- Value: Heriberto Hernández, MIA at ATL ($3,700)
PITCHER
Stud
Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago White Sox ($9,300) — Gray has put together back-to-back rough starts, giving up four earned runs against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 25 and four against the Athletics on July 30, but prior to that, he’d had an impeccable 14-start stretch, pitching to a 1.99 ERA and averaging 20.8 FPTS per game between April 20 and July 19. Chicago’s tendency to whiff should mitigate one of his biggest weaknesses, and his walk avoidance should take away one of the White Sox’s biggest strengths. Chicago ranks eighth-to-last in OPS since the All-Star break, with breakout All-Star Miguel Vargas ($5,200) swinging a particularly cold bat.
Value
Noah Cameron, Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins ($6,600) — Cameron has been exceptionally hot as of late, recording 19 or more FPTS in four of his last five starts, including 15 innings of shutout, three-hit ball combined over his last two starts (29.5 FPTS per game). In general, he’s a high-ceiling, low-floor type of pitcher, but I expect him to be closer to his ceiling against the Twins, who have posted the seventh-lowest OPS since the All-Star break and are without their best hitter, Byron Buxton ($5,700). Cameron has already faced Minnesota three times this season, allowing just one earned run in 19.0 innings and averaging 26.7 FPTS per game.
INFIELD
Stud
Ty France, San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks ($4,300) — France has been just one of many hot players in San Diego’s lineup since the All-Star break, as he’s posted a .351/.405/.351 slash line across his last 10 games, averaging 7.5 FPTS per game across that span. Though France has had a quiet series so far, he’ll have his easiest matchup of the series against Mitch Bratt ($5,500), a rookie southpaw who’s posted a 5.23 ERA so far this season. Bratt has given up a lot of pulled fly balls this season, which should work in France’s favor at hitter-friendly Chase Field.
Value
Cole Young, Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers ($3,600) — Young, who turned 23 last Wednesday, has really caught his groove after the All-Star break, posting a .949 OPS and averaging 8.7 FPTS per game across that span. In fact, he had five consecutive games earlier this week with at least 10 FPTS, including his first career four-hit game on Sunday against the Twins. Young could have a pretty favorable matchup against Tigers bulk reliever Ty Madden ($5,800), who’s been strong in his 30.0 MLB innings this season but has struggled mightily at the Triple-A level. Madden has allowed an .817 OPS to left-handed batters this season between his stints in Triple-A and the majors.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates ($5,300) — I can’t believe I’m suggesting anybody against Paul Skenes ($9,600), but there’s clearly something off with the defending National League Cy Young Award winner, who’s given up five earned runs in each of his last two starts and has pitched to a 5.18 ERA overall (16.2 FPTS per game) across his last 14 starts. Sure, Skenes has arguably gotten unlucky this season (his xERA still sits in the 93rd percentile), but he has a below-median hard-hit rate and Chourio’s ranks in the 80th percentile. Skenes frequently throws sweepers to right-handed hitters, and Chourio has seen that pitch well this season, recording a .551 xSLG. Additionally, Chourio has an .866 OPS (9.9 FPTS per game) at home, and Skenes has a 4.91 ERA on the road.
Value
Heriberto Hernández, Miami Marlins at Atlanta Braves ($3,700) — Despite dangling him as a potential trade piece, the Marlins held onto Hernández at the deadline, and though he’s pretty inconsistent on a game-to-game basis, he’s averaged 8.1 FPTS per game across his last 10 games, a better mark than his season average. Additionally, he should have a pretty favorable matchup in Bryce Elder ($7,400), who, despite some strong performances since the All-Star break, has pitched to a 6.35 ERA across his last 10 starts overall. In particular, Elder likes to throw sinkers to fellow righties, and Hernández has slugged .656 against righty sinkers this season.
