This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We have 11 games on Thursday so there are a lot of exciting options to choose from. In addition, five of them are day games, so make sure to check the early lineups so you do not waste money on players who won't be on the field. Here are our daily value plays for Thursday, May 7.
Pitcher:
Chris Archer ($8,900): Archer has been dynamite this season. His 1.64 ERA and 0.89 WHIP are good for fourth-best in the American League respectively. Even more impressive, Archer's 42 strikeouts are second to only Felix Hernandez in the AL and he has notched them in only 38.1 innings of work. Add in a matchup with a Rangers team that sports the sixth-worst OPS in MLB and Archer's a no brainer start, especially for a price that is $800 cheaper than the top pitcher on the board. If you are not inclined to take one of the more high end pitchers, Mike Fiers offers solid upside for a lower price ($7,400) as the righty is coming off a 12 strikeout performance and certainly has the ability to be dominant on any given day.
Catcher:
Yasmani Grandal ($2,700): Grandal finally seems to be turning the corner after a sluggish start to the season. The Dodgers backstop is batting .444 over the last week and is still priced in the lower tier of starting catchers. Historically Grandal hits right-handed pitching better than left-handed - career .783 OPS vs. righties and .711 vs. lefties - so the matchup with Mike Fiers helps as well, especially with the game in Milwaukee. However, if you are willing to spend money at the Catcher position, Evan Gattis ($3,800) has mashed left-handed pitching and faces the eminently fallible Hector Santiago.
First Base:
Jose Abreu ($3,600): Despite his recent struggles, Abreu is still one of the most talented hitters in MLB, so getting him for such an affordable price is intriguing. At $3,600 Abreu is the ninth-most expensive First Baseman on the docket; his upside is undeniable at such an attractive price. Furthermore, Abreu destroys left-handed pitching - career 1.035 OPS - and faces inexperienced lefty Kyle Lobstein who is making his 11th career start. If you are looking for a cheaper option, Kendrys Morales ($2,600) continues to produce on a nightly basis, and is always an attractive option when facing a right-handed pitcher.
Second Base:
Kolten Wong ($2,900): Despite batting lower in the lineup, Wong has been excellent this season - .330 average in 2015 - and has been raking of late, sporting a .407 average over the last week. With a nice combination of power and speed, in addition to the average, Wong offers a lot of potential for the relatively low price of $2,900. If you have the money spend, Jose Altuve ($4,800) is the most expensive Second Baseman on the board, but is probably worth the price against an uninspiring left-hander in Hector Santiago.
Third Base:
Mike Moustakas ($2,700): Moustakas looks like a new hitter this season. He has been hitting the ball to the opposite field more than ever, which has played a role in his solid .311 average. Firmly entrenched in the second spot in a potent Royals lineup, Moustakas presents a great option for counting stats at a relatively low price point. Add in a matchup with the struggling Corey Kluber - Moustakas has been a significantly better hitter against right-handed pitching than against lefties over the course of his career - and he should return a solid value for a lower price point. Another solid option is Adrien Beltre ($2,800) who seems to be heating up of late and is still available at a very low price point, especially compared to what Beltre normally costs.
Shortstop:
Jean Segura ($2,600): Segura has been one of the few Brewers to put up decent numbers this season, sporting a respectable .282 average. More important, Segura has been stealing bases - three steals in the last six games - which is huge for FanDuel. For the modest cost of $2,600 Segura offers the highest upside for the most affordable price at Shortstop. Add in a matchup with Carlos Frias, who is making his fourth career start, and Segura is a solid value play with a high ceiling considering the price.
Outfield:
Joc Pederson ($3,700): Pederson has been a beast of late. Over the last week he has hit seven home runs. In fact, his last seven hits have been home runs, which is insane. In addition, he has been getting on base at an astonishing rate for such a young player - .423 OBP - and has shown no signs of slowing down. Lastly, Pederson has destroyed right-handed pitching this season - 1.089 OPS vs. righties - and he faces right-hander Mike Fiers in a hitter-friendly Miller Park. With as hot as he has been, $3,700 should be a bargain for Pederson, especially considering the matchup.
Avisail Garcia ($2,800): Garcia has had a solid season offensively - .322 average - despite a lack of power. Garcia's been especially hot of late, batting .476 over the last week, and has a nice matchup with the aforementioned Kyle Lobstein. Garcia is far more potent against left-handed pitching historically - .801 OPS against lefties vs. .699 OPS vs righties - so facing a young lefty like Lobstein should lead to positive results for Garcia. Considering the affordable price of $2,800, Garcia is a strong play.
Carlos Peguero ($2,400): Peguero is an intriguing low-end option. The lefty has hit three home runs in the past two days and faces another right-handed pitcher, assuring him more playing time. Peguero's career OPS is .300 points higher against righties as opposed to lefties, so he is a solid flyer to take for the extremely low price of $2,400.
Other Notable Outfielders:
Kole Calhoun, ($3,300)
Yoenis Cespedes, ($3,200)
