Friday night is a huge one for fantasy baseball contests, with 13 games on the main slate on DraftKings. Some huge series get underway, and plenty of star power will be on display across the league. Some big marquee matchups feature top arms on the board, but there are also some very strong MLB DFS Value Picks who bring good upside and potential production even though they are available at affordable salaries.
The weather looks mostly cooperative this Friday, with the only trouble spot to watch in Cleveland, where the Guardians host the Twins. Five of the 13 games will be played indoors, and four of the 13 matchups are between divisional foes.
Let’s dive in and take a look at a few of the best value plays from the 26 teams in the player pool this Monday.
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Best MLB DFS value plays
SP Sean Burke, Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners, $6,300
The top of the salary structure is stuffed with strong options on the mound this Friday, but if you opt to go with a cheap play with upside, check out Burke as a strong value play from among the cheaper end of the probable pitchers on Friday’s slate. Burke has shown his upside in his last two starts, hurling 13 1/3 shutout innings against the Nationals and Padres and earning 22.7 and 30.5 FPTS.
In his win last Saturday in San Diego, Burke had a season-high eight strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 2.72 on the season. He has a 1.01 WHIP and has limited opponents to a 4.3% barrel rate and a 36.5 hard-hit rate against him, while posting a 20.5% K% with 32 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings.
The Mariners have the fourth-highest team K% in the majors with a .229 batting average. They also have an 81 wRC+ on the road as a team, so they’re definitely not a matchup to avoid. While it isn’t a great matchup either, it is slightly favorable for Burke as he comes home for this outing.
He had good splits last year at Rate Field as well, and he has a good chance at delivering value as a bargain pitching play on Friday. The wind will be blowing in with temperatures in the 50s, which could help Burke limit the Mariners as well.
OF Zack Gelof, Athletics at Baltimore Orioles, $3,000
Gelof is emerging as a post-hype sleeper and looks like he is ready to deliver on the promise he had when he made it to the majors as a top prospect. After an injury-shortened season last year, Gelof lost his battle for the starting job in spring training to veteran Jeff McNeil. Gelof got off to a fast start in Triple-A, though, posting a .366/.519/.732 triple-slash with four homers, 10 RBI, three stolen bases and only seven strikeouts in 11 games.
Gelof has always had a high power and speed ceiling, but has struggled to make enough contact to be a reliable play. He’s been excellent over his last 10 games with an at-bat, though, hitting .306 with a double, a triple, three homers and a .427 wOBA. He has a 44.8% hard-hit rate and 10.3% barrel rate during those 11 games, and only eight strikeouts.
On Thursday, Gelof had a triple, a home run and 28 FPTS. He has averaged 9.2 FPTS over his last 10 games with an at-bat, and getting him at $3,000 in a favorable matchup against Kyle Bradish ($7,500) is an awesome way to fill one of your lineup slots with a high-ceiling play with a low salary.
1B Andrew Vaughn, Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Yankees, $2,800
Vaughn had an electric second half of 2025 after being acquired by the Brewers from the White Sox. He posted a .308/.375/.493 triple-slash with nine homers over 64 regular-season games with Milwaukee. This season, he suffered a hamate bone injury on Opening Day and just returned on Monday after a quick three-game rehab assignment.
He didn’t waste much time before making an impact, taking a fastball from lefty Andrew Pallante over the left-field wall for his first long ball of the season while going 2-for-4 on Wednesday and earning 21 FPTS. Vaughn will likely get the start on Friday against lefty Max Fried ($9,200) and the visiting Yankees. He’s never faced Fried before, but he hit .313 against lefties last season with a .374 wOBA and 142 wRC+. Even though it’s a tough matchup, Vaughn is very underpriced since he brings so much upside in the middle of a good lineup on Friday, making him a great option for Friday’s MLB DFS Value picks.
