Major League Baseball has a busy afternoon on the final Saturday of August, and the day wraps up with five contests under the lights on the main DFS fantasy baseball slate, which begins at 7:15 p.m. ET. Two games get underway at 7:15 p.m. ET, with the other three games from California starting a couple of hours later. As you build your team from the 10-team player pool, selecting the top MLB DFS value picks is one of the keys to maximizing your production across the board. The right bargain plays can go off with big nights of their own while also saving significant salary cap to spend up in other spots
To help you as you search through the bargain bin, check out my three MLB DFS value picks in this post, who bring big upside despite their small salaries:
- SP Ryan Johnson, Los Angeles Angels vs. Philadelphia Phillies, $6,400: After a rough start, Johnson has shown his potential by allowing only four runs in his last four starts with a 1.69 ERA and an average of 13.8 FPTS per outing. He impressed with 23.4 FPTS in seven shutout innings in his last start.
- OF Jonah Cox, San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, $3,100: Cox has been in premium lineup spots vs. LHP lately and has two homers, a stolen base and an average of 6.4 FPTS in 11 games since his call-up. In the minors, he hit .415 with a .483 wOBA and 34 SB in 55 games. He brings dual-threat upside and is a strong play, especially if he hits leadoff.
- SS/OF Edmundo Sosa, Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Angels, $2,700: Sosa produced 13.0 FPTS per game in his last five games with multiple at-bats, and he came off the bench with a pinch-hit grand slam on Friday. He’s 10-for-23 (.435) with three doubles, a triple and a home run in limited action this August.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $70K Relay Throw [$20K to 1st]
Top MLB DFS Value Plays
SP Ryan Johnson, Los Angeles Angels vs. Philadelphia Phillies, $6,400
The Angels have several young starting pitchers in their rotation, but with Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder) coming back from the IL on Sunday, it isn’t clear whether the team will expand the rotation or send a young starter down or to the bullpen. A month ago, Johnson would have been the clear choice to move out of the rotation, but the 24-year-old righty has impressed so far in August and may have earned a starting spot going forward.
Johnson had a 7.63 ERA and 6.30 FIP through his first 12 games in the MLB this season, but in his last four outings, he had a 1.69 ERA despite a still-shaky 6.13 FIP. He has allowed just four earned runs in his four outings in August, allowing 12 hits in 21 1/3 innings with 13 strikeouts. While he doesn’t have the highest ceiling due to his lack of strikeouts, he has shown the ability to limit damage and return fantasy value at this very low salary. He had 23.4 FPTS in his last start, when he went a career-high seven innings and held the Rangers scoreless on just one hit.
He’ll look to build on that momentum on Saturday night at home against the Phillies, and he has enough potential to be the best cheap arm on the limited slate based on his recent trend in the right direction. He is still high-risk, but his upside as a prospect has been apparent over the last month. The Phillies only had one run in Friday night’s win until the ninth inning, and their offense has been down a little bit so far on their West Coast trip. They’re still a risky matchup to attack, but Johnson’s bargain potential is worth the risk.
OF Jonah Cox, San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, $3,100
Cox hit leadoff on Friday against lefty Kohl Drake, and he could be back atop the lineup on Saturday night for this NL West matchup against another lefty, Mitch Bratt ($6,100). On Friday, Cox finished 0-for-2 with a strikeout before exiting for a pinch-hitter, but the 25-year-old righty brings a good ceiling if he continues to hit in premium lineup spots like leadoff or clean-up, where he hit on Thursday.
Cox is 8-for-32 (.250) since rejoining the team a couple of weeks ago and has two homers, a stolen base and an average of 6.4 FPTS over his 11 games since coming back from Triple-A. In Sacramento and Richmond, he had 34 stolen bases in 55 games while hitting .415 with a .483 wOBA. He brings lots of speed potential and some power as well, and getting that much potential in a premium lineup spot at just over $3,000 makes him one of the top outfield value plays in Saturday night’s MLB DFS Value picks.
SS/OF Edmundo Sosa, Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Angels, $2,700
Sosa was the hero on Friday night for the Phillies, coming off the bench in the ninth inning to deliver this two-out grand slam that powered his team to a huge come-from-behind win.
Even before his heroics on Friday, though, Sosa has been heating up in a utility role for the Phillies. He has only played nine games this month but has gone 10-for-23 (.435) with three doubles, a triple and his dramatic home run. He has five long balls on the year now and has averaged 13.0 FPTS per game in his last five games with multiple at-bats (not counting his 20 FPTS from his one big swing on Friday).
If he earns a spot start on Saturday against Johnson after Friday’s great work off the bench, he can be a strong option in Saturday’s MLB DFS value picks since he has been so productive but still saves so much salary for stars in other spots.
