This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We are coming down the backstretch of the Major League Baseball season. We have a full 15-game slate today and here are some value play idea's to help you make your way to the top.
Starting Pitcher
Luis Severino ($7,200)
The rookie has been very good since being called up, posting a 2.17 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 29 innings. He has allowed a .233 batting average to left-handed batters and a .157 average to right-handers. He tends to go about six innings with six strikeouts and only about a run per game, so that would be great value here at $7,200. He faces a Tampa Bay team that has the fifth highest strikeout rate and the fourth lowest batting average against right-handed pitching. That means Severino should be in line for a nice upside game at a price that allows you some flexibility with your bats.
Catcher
Salvador Perez ($2,400)
Perez has a hit in eight of his last 10 games, has always hit left-handed pitching pretty well and next gets John Danks, who has been horrible against right-handed batters. Danks has allowed a .309 batting average to right-handed hitters and Perez should be in a good spot to take advantage. Danks scared some people away with a few good games a month back, but he has struggled in his last few by allowing 14 runs. The Royals are expected to do some damage and Perez is too cheap to ignore with his preferred splits matchup at only $2,400.
First Base
Adrian Gonzalez ($3,000)
Gonzalez back in San Diego for a revenge game is sweet. Throw in the fact he faces James Shields, who has struggled with a high batting average and a bunch of home runs allowed to left-handed hitters and it looks even better. When you see the price of only $3,000 and realize he will likely be low owned, it all comes together to make for a great salary-saver with upside. The home-un power has not really been there, but he has hit safely in seven of his last 10 starts with a few RBI, so he has other ways to pay off the salary.
Second Base
Scooter Gennett ($2,200)
Over his last four games, Gennett has 17.25 fantasy points, which breaks down to 4.31 points per game or almost two points per thousand dollars of salary. He is a left-handed batter who tends to lead off against right-handed pitchers. They face a struggling one in Keyvius Sampson, who has allowed left-handed batter to hit over .350 against him. If Gennett leads off, he is definitely in play in this good matchup at a good hitters' park.
Shortstop
Jean Segura ($2,700)
Segura has hits in five straight games, going 10-for-22 and averaging 4.4 fantasy points per contest. He faces the struggling Keyvius Sampson as well who has failed to reach the fifth inning in any of his last three starts. This is a great spot and a great price for a guy who can rack up hits when he is going well. The run line is high here too, so even Vegas expects them to put up some runs.
Third Base
Todd Frazier ($2,300)
It is so hard to lay off Frazier at near minimum price. He has been bad since the All-Star break, but he has a good situation Friday facing Matt Garza, who has allowed 12 home runs and a .280 average to right-handed batters this year. Frazier has three homers in 19 lifetime at-bats against Garza as well, so while BvP is not the most predictive stat, it is also not something to dismiss. Frazier does have a hit in seven of his last 10 games and at $2,300 he does not need too much to pay it off.
Outfield
Lorenzo Cain ($3,800)
This is an easy call to make. Cain has smashed left-handed pitching all season, posting a .400+ wOBA and a good portion of his home runs. He faces John Danks, who has allowed right-handed batters to hit over .300 against him with a 1.57 WHIP. Cain bats third in the order most of the time against left-handed pitching and despite being at home in a tough park for home-run hitters, he should still be able to rack up some hits in this dream matchup.
Michael Conforto ($3,200)
Conforto has been great for the Mets since his call up to the big leagues, and he's been a great spark of late. He is 11 for his last 23 with five multi-hit games in his last six starts. He has homered twice, added two doubles and driven in six runs. He now faces Tom Koehler, who has struggled with the home-run ball to left-handed batters this year as well, so Conforto has home-run upside too. At a price of only $3,200, you will not find too many hotter hitters in the entire league.
Jay Bruce ($2,400)
Bruce has always hit well against Matt Garza, who is allowing a .300+ average with a dozen home runs to left-handed batters this year. Bruce has a .367 lifetime average with three homers in 30 at-bats against Garza too, so all the pieces fit together. At only $2,400 in a good hitters' park against a guy he has owned, you are getting great value and do not need much from him to pay that salary off.
