Welcome to the MLB DFS Value Vault for Opening Day!

This is a new feature here in 2021, though if you are an NBA DFS player, you are all too familiar with what the Value Vault is here on Fantasy Alarm. Between the Playbook, the Hit & Run (core lineup plays) and the Hitting & Pitching Coaches, we try to give you all the information you need to succeed in both cash games and GPP. The Value Vault is designed to help you find players who are underpriced and can help you save enough salary to get some of the higher-priced players into your lineup.

But value isn’t just about the cheapest players available. Sure, there will be some cheapies we find for you here, but sometimes the slate gives you players who could be considered upper-tier, but for whatever reason, they are priced down. You’ll notice that to be the case, especially here at the beginning of the season when the powers that be at Draft Kings and Fan Duel don’t have the data yet to properly adjust their pricing algorithms.

Here’s a look at what we have for Opening Day:

Draft Kings

Sandy Alcantara , SP MIA ($6,500) – Maybe it’s because the Rays were in the World Series last year, but seeing Alcantara priced this far down seems to be a bit much. The Marlins have brought him along the right way and he’s coming off an outstanding spring in which he posted a 1.33 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. The Rays, who are bringing back, pretty much, the same team from last year, had the third-highest strikeout rate against right-handed pitching. He’ll throw at least five innings in his debut and should accrue enough strikeouts to not be concerned with whether or not he gets the win…which he could.

Gavin Lux , 2B LAD ($3,800) – While DK has already priced-up hitters at Coors Field, Lux seems left behind at this price. He’s coming off a strong spring in which he slashed .314/.340/.451 with one home run, six RBI and 10 runs scored over 51 at-bats and Marquez typically struggles against left-handed bats, allowing a .348 wOBA to them at home last season. It’s not great that Lux is buried near the bottom of the batting order, but if you’re looking for a piece of this game without spending up, he’s your guy.

Tommy Pham , OF SD ($3,100) – With so much excitement surrounding the Padres this year, you would think a right-handed bat from the meat of their order against a lefty who appears to be in decline would be priced up a bit. Not here, likely because Pham only played in 31 games last season. Ah well. Good for us. Pham has a career .385 wOBA against southpaws while Madison Bumgarner , whose numbers have rapidly declined over the last two years, allowed right-handed batters to post a .404 wOBA against him.

FanDuel

Brad Keller , SP KC ($7,600) – He doesn’t usually dazzle you with strikeouts, but perhaps this Texas team that struck out the ninth-most (25.3%) against right-handed pitching last year gives him a slight boost. But that’s not why you’re looking at Keller. He’s in-play for the price tag, an ability to go deeper into games and a ground-ball rate that should have these lefty Rangers bats mashing the ball in the dirt all day. With FD still giving four points for a quality start, Keller could get the boost you need from a low-cost starter.

AJ Pollock , OF LAD ($3,200) – Yes, a $3,000 Gavin Lux remains in-play on FD as well, but this price for Pollock puts him at a very strong value, especially against Germán Márquez . We aren’t going to live and die by Batter vs Pitcher (BvP) numbers all year, but here on Opening Day and in Colorado? Pollock's .474/.500/.740 slash line in 20 plate appearances against the Rockies righty does me right when looking to get a piece of the game at a bargain cost. And if they are back-to-back in the order, a mini-stack of Pollack and Lux works just fine.

Jordan Luplow , OF CLE ($2,200) – The CLE/DET game is not on the main slate for DK, but it’s here on FD and that makes for some interesting plays like this one. While Tigers southpaw Matthew Boyd can post some great strikeout numbers, he showed last year that the long ball can get to him. Luplow specializes in hitting lefties, posting a career .405 wOBA with a .328 ISO, and Terry Francona is putting him at the top of the order. For this price? Absolutely.