After an outstanding Opening Day on Thursday, Major League Baseball is so back! This Friday the action continues with eight games on the main DraftKings slate, starting at 7:07 p.m. ET. As you look through the 16 teams in the player pool, there are several strong options to consider building around. In this post, we’ll look at my top three MLB Value Picks on the slate.
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SP Jeffrey Springs, Athletics at Seattle Mariners, $7,500
After all the aces took the mound on Thursday, we’re on to the second starter in most rotations on Friday night. The top six pitchers have salaries over $8,000 but none have salaries over $9,500. There are some strong value options under $8,000 as well, led by Jeffrey Springs in his Athletics debut. Springs was traded from the Rays to the A’s this offseason, and he’s expected to help anchor his new team’s rotation coming into the season.
Springs was last fully healthy in 2022 when he went 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA and 3.04 ERA to go with a 9.6 K/9. In 2023, he threw just 16 innings before needing Tommy John surgery and returned with 65 innings last year before being shut down with left elbow fatigue. He had 20 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings in spring training and looked fully healthy after a full offseason. If he can return to his pre-injury form, he could be a great option all season. In this start, he’ll take on the Mariners, who had just five hits on Opening Day. Seattle ranked second-to-worst in batting average and K% last season and specifically struggled against southpaws like Springs. The Mariners’ offense could be better this season, but Springs has a good chance to keep them in check on Friday, making him one of my top MLB value picks.
OF Alan Roden, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles, $2,000
With Daulton Varsho (shoulder) on the IL to start the season, the Blue Jays gave Rode a shot on their Opening Day roster after his big spring training. In his 20 games this spring, the 25-year-old lefty went 11-for-27 (.407) with two doubles, two home runs and a .527 wOBA.
Roden went 1-for-3 with a walk and five fantasy points in his MLB debut on Thursday for the Blue Jays, and he’ll likely be back in the lineup at the minimum salary on Friday against veteran Charlie Morton ($7,000) in his Orioles debut. Morton had a 4.19 ERA and 4.46 FIP for the Braves last year. In that matchup, Roden brings a solid ceiling with both power and speed upside after totaling 16 home runs and 14 stolen bases in his 125 games in the minors last season. He doesn’t even have to achieve one of those things, though, to be one of the best MLB value picks at this low salary. He’s swinging a hot enough bat to be a great value play at only $2,000.
C Miguel Amaya, Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks, $2,200
Amaya had two doubles, five RBI and 20 fantasy points in the Cubs’ 10-6 win on Thursday night. The Cubs’ backstop also had a hit in his start in Tokyo and is 3-for-8 (.375) to start the season. In spring training, he went an impressive 13-for-26 (.500) and showed good power with a pair of home runs as well.
Last season, Amaya hit .269 with five home runs and a .335 wOBA over his last 40 games, and he looks ready to carry over that momentum to the start of this season. He and the Cubs will be going up against Merrill Kelly ($7,300) on Friday after exploding for 10 runs on Thursday night. Kelly gave up eight runs and three home runs in his 15 1/3 innings this spring, so the Cubs are in a good spot to attack on Friday and Amaya is a great value play behind the plate, given his current form.
