This Friday features a dozen games on the MLB DFS main slate, with games spread throughout the evening. The first game on the main slate begins at 7:05 p.m. ET in New York, where there’s also some potential for rain. The weather could also be iffy in Chicago, where the White Sox host the Guardians. Once you decide your core plays, you may need to dive into the bargain bin for a value option or two to help balance out your spending. Finding the right MLB DFS value picks is key to maximizing the production of your roster across the board, since some affordable players can go off with big nights of their own.
To help you as you search through the cheap options, check out my three MLB DFS value picks in this post, who bring big upside at a small salary:
- SP George Klassen, Los Angeles Angels at Miami Marlins, $5,000: Klassen has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, working to a 2.48 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings since July 1 in Triple-A. He’ll look to translate that success to the MLB against the struggling Marlins.
- OF Max Clark, Detroit Tigers at San Francisco Giants, $3,200: Clark is averaging 10.2 FPTS per contest in his week in the MLB, with two doubles and a home run in six games. He brings a very high ceiling with power and speed potential on Friday night against Adrian Houser.
- 3B Angel Genao, Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox, $2,300: Another power/speed combo prospect at a bargain rate. He is 5-for-9 in his first two MLB games after hitting .309 with 10 homers and nine stolen bases in 72 games at Triple-A.
Let’s dive in and take a closer look at these options that come with low salary, but high ceilings on Friday night.
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Top MLB DFS Value Plays
SP George Klassen, Los Angeles Angels at Miami Marlins, $5,000
One way to find MLB DFS value picks is to look at young players who are less proven, but bring high ceilings. In my three picks for today, not only am I focusing on three rookies, but I’m looking at three rookies who just recently joined their MLB teams. Klassen is going to be making his first start for the Angels since April, when he had a quick cup of coffee and gave up seven runs in 4 2/3 innings across two starts. He went back to Triple-A after those disappointing outings, but has turned things around lately.
Over his last 12 starts for the Salt Lake Bees, Klassen is 6-2 with a 2.57 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings. He has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, working to a 2.48 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings since July 1. Klassen was a prospect the team acquired in a deadline deal from the Phillies a few years ago, and the 24-year-old looks ready to contribute after the Angels sold some pieces at this year’s deadline.
Klassen won’t have to do much to be worth this minimal salary, and he’ll be in a favorable matchup in Miami against the Marlins, who were just swept by the Braves, scoring only four total runs in three games. Since the All-Star break, Miami is hitting only .224 as a team and has scored the fourth-fewest runs in the MLB.
Here’s what Klassen’s last few starts have looked like:
OF Max Clark, Detroit Tigers at San Francisco Giants, $3,200
MLB Pipeline ranked Clark as the No. 13 prospect in all of baseball and the Tigers’ top prospect, just ahead of Zyhir Hope, who came back from the Dodgers in the Tarik Skubal trade. Clark joined Detroit just before that Skubal trade, making his MLB debut last Friday against the Athletics. He had three hits in that game for 21 FPTS, and followed that up with his first MLB homer and 19 FPTS. He has reached base safely in every game since his promotion, averaging 10.2 FPTS per contest with two doubles, a home run and nine strikeouts in six games.
In Triple-A, Clark slashed .276/.368/.434 with 11 homers and 21 stolen bases. He hit .338 with four stolen bases, five doubles, five homers, and a .474 wOBA in Triple-A in July before his promotion. He has stayed hot through his first few games in the majors and will be in a favorable matchup on Friday night against Adrian Houser ($5,500) and the Giants.
3B Angel Genao, Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox, $2,300
Genao is another top prospect joining an AL Central club, and he comes even cheaper with a salary under $2,500. Genao is the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect and the No. 39 overall prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old switch-hitter slashed .309/.395/.494 in his 72 games in Triple-A with 10 home runs, nine stolen bases, and a .396 wOBA. Like Clark, he was tearing up Triple-A before his promotion, hitting .381 with four homers and five stolen bases in his 25 games after July 1.
Genao made his MLB debut on Wednesday and went 4-for-5 with 16 FPTS. He followed that up with 5 FPTS on Thursday with another hit and a run scored. He has both power and speed potential, and he should remain in the lineup every day at either 3B or SS. He gets a good matchup against Noah Schultz ($5,800) and the banged-up White Sox bullpen, as long as the rain holds off on Friday night in Chicago.
