Major League Baseball starts the final weekend of August off with 12 games on the main DFS fantasy baseball slate, which gets underway at 7:10 p.m. ET. Five of the matchups are divisional games, including some important series in both leagues’ Wild Card races. Getting the right MLB DFS value picks in your lineup can be one of the keys to maximizing your production across the board, since some affordable players can go off with big nights of their own while also saving significant salary.
To help you as you search through the bargain bin, check out my three MLB DFS value picks in this post, who bring big despite their small salaries:
- SP Jacob Lopez, Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles, $6,200: In his last eight starts since returning to the rotation, Lopez has a 2.23 ERA and 3.18 FIP. He has pitched 5+ innings in six straight starts, allowing 2 ER or fewer and earning 17+ FPTS. He had 27.1 FPTS in his last start and is a great bargain who has been very consistent lately.
- OF Brett Bateman, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners, $2,700: Bateman has moved into the leadoff spot for the Blue Jays and is hitting .324 with three doubles, a triple, a stolen base, and a .331 wOBA in his 16 gamss in the MLB. He’s averaging a solid 7.1 FPTS per game and has 8+ FPTS in three of his last five.
- 2B Connor Norby, Colorado Rockies at Atlanta Braves, $2,700: Norby has a 12-game hitting streak and has gone 14-for-39 (.359) over that span with five doubles, a pair of home runs, and a stolen base for a .366 wOBA and an average of 9.4 FPTS per game.
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Top MLB DFS Value Plays
SP Jacob Lopez, Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles, $6,200
Lopez has been very consistent since returning to the rotation for the A’s at the start of July. He struggled with his control early in the year, but has been much better both at home at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park and on the road. He’ll be at home for this matchup, but even in Sacramento, he has been very solid over his last several starts. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his eight starts since returning to the starting rotation with a 2.23 ERA and 3.18 FIP. After ramping back up, he has worked at least five innings in six straight games, earning at least 17 FPTS in each of those starts.
During those six games, Lopez averaged 20.8 FPTS per game and flashed his upside with a strong outing against the Angels to earn 27.1 FPTS in his most recent start. That game was on the road, but even at Sutter Health, he has 17.3 FPTS against the Rangers and 18.2 FPTS against the Rays in his two most recent home appearances.
The O’s rank in the top five in K% this year, and they have plenty of lefties who could have a hard time against the lefty Lopez. Even though he hasn’t won in any of his last five outings due to a lack of run support, he has been effective enough to still be a strong play at this low salary.
OF Brett Bateman, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners, $2,700
Bateman has been a nice acquisition for the Jays since he came over in the deal for Kevin Gausman. In Triple-A this season, the 24-year-old lefty hit .311 with three homers, 20 stolen bases and a .393 wOBA across 84 games between the Cubs and Blue Jays’ affiliates. He made his MLB debut on August 7, and in his 16 games, he is 22-for-68 (.324) with three doubles, a triple, a stolen base, and a .331 wOBA. His 16 strikeouts in 16 games shows room for improvement, but he’s also making enough of an impact to be a solid value play under $3,000.
Bateman has stepped in as the team’s regular leadoff hitter against righties over the last several games, which gives him more run production potential in front of the heart of the order. He has at least 8 FPTS in three of his last five games and is averaging 7.5 FPTS over his last 10. He hasn’t shown the power to post a massive game, but he has been steady enough and is in a strong enough lineup position to be a good option if you go cheap in the outfield but still want a good shot at some production. He’ll be facing Emerson Hancock ($7,700), who has been solid overall but allowed multiple runs in six straight starts with six homers against him and a 4.34 FIP over that span.
2B Connor Norby, Colorado Rockies at Atlanta Braves, $2,700
Norby is another player who moved at the trade deadline and has landed in a nice spot for his fantasy production. After being traded from the Orioles to the Marlins at the deadline in 2024, the Fish shipped him to the Rockies in exchange for Victor Vodnik. Norby has battled injuries the last few years but has flashed a little speed and some decent pop when available.
He comes into this series in Atlanta with a 12-game hitting streak after a big series in Washington against the Nats. He is 14-for-39 (.359) over that span and has five doubles, a pair of home runs, and a stolen base for a .366 wOBA and an average of 9.4 FPTS per game. On Wednesday, he went off for 31 FPTS with his sixth homer of the year. He and the Rockies will take on Grant Holmes ($7,200) on Friday. Holmes has a 4.48 home ERA in Atlanta and righties like Norby have solid reverse splits against him, setting the new Rockie up for continuing his production at this minimal salary.
