This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Welcome to my Daily Plays article for Tuesday September 15, 2015. There are a few aces to choose from, including Jacob deGrom and Stephen Strasburg, so let's find some hitters with affordable price tags to be able to afford those high-priced pitchers. Let's get onto the picks.
Pitcher
Stephen Strasburg, $10,100 - Strasburg has been pitching very well in the second half, and has a great matchup against David Buchanan and the Phillies on Tuesday night. Strasburg struck out 13 batters in his last start, so the upside is there for another double-digit strike out game. Since the All-Star break, Strasburg has struck out 48 batters in 37 innings, and should get plenty of run support from the Nationals lineup. His opponent, David Buchanan, has a 9.11 ERA so earning the win should be no problem. Strasburg is the top pitching option available due to his strike out upside, matchup, and probability of earning a win.
Chris Heston, $6,600 - Heston has had an inconsistent season for the Giants, but has pitched well at home all year, with a 2.93 ERA at AT&T Park. His price tag has decreased, so he makes a nice value play at pitcher based on his matchup and success at home. Heston has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his past five starts, so he is pitching well lately. His opponent, the Cincinnati Reds, have struggled offensively on the road all year. The Giants offense has been hot lately as well, so they should provide him with plenty of run support. Heston does not have elite strikeout upside, but is a very solid and safe play at an affordable price tag.
Catcher
John Jaso, $2,200 - Jaso is very productive when he starts, and is minimum-priced on FanDuel at a very thin position. Jaso is batting .281 versus right-handed pitching, with a .357 OBP. He has 14 doubles off of right-handers in just 135 at bats, so he has some upside as well. He has a good matchup, as the Rays face Adam Warren who is spot-starting for the Yankees. Jaso makes an excellent value play at catcher, based on his minimum-price tag and ability to get on base.
First Base
Joe Mauer, $2,400 - Mauer has hits in seven of his past eight games, and has a great matchup against Alfredo Simon and the Tigers. Simon has really struggled on the road in 2015, with a 6.19 ERA away from home, and 15 home runs allowed. Mauer hasn't hit for much power in 2015, but he does have 25 extra-base hits against right-handed pitching. He also bats third for the Twins, who are very productive at home in Target Field, and has multi-hit upside. He makes a great value play at his near-minimum price tag.
Second Base
Robinson Cano, $3,100 - Cano also has hits in seven of his past eight games, and faces the inexperienced Nick Tropeano at home. Cano is batting .291 against right-handed pitching, along with 39 extra-base hits. He has found his power stroke, with 10 home runs since the all-Star break to go along with a .322 batting average. Tropeano has a 5.66 ERA in his few major league starts in 2015, and could be in for a long night in Seattle. Fire up Cano at second base, an excellent play at a very weak position.
Third Base
Matt Carpenter, $3,300 - Carpenter has a depressed price tag, and a great matchup in a hitter's park. The Cardinals face the inexperienced Ariel Pena, who has a 4.50 ERA in his two major league starts. Carpenter has been very good against right-handed pitching, with a .496 slugging percentage and 16 home runs. He also has 25 doubles and a .377 OBP, so he can rack up points in a variety of ways. The Cardinals should score plenty of runs on Tuesday, with Carpenter leading the charge.
Shortstop
Jhonny Peralta, $2,200 - Peralta is another Cardinal batter worthy of consideration, and he provides power potential at the minimum-price on Fanduel. Peralta has 16 home runs and 24 doubles in 2015, and is one of the few shortstops that bats in the middle of their team's lineup. Peralta hits for a higher batting average against right-handed pitching as well (.285 compared to .240 versus left-handed pitching). Peralta has home run upside at a bare-minimum price tag, making him an excellent value play at shortstop.
Outfield
Aaron Hicks, $3,000 - Hicks has been leading off for the Twins since returning from injury, and has a nice combination of speed and power. Hicks has been a far superior hitter at home, with a .315 batting average at Target Field (compared to .216 on the road). He also has 11 stolen bases in 283 at bats, to go along with his 10 home runs. He has big time upside leading off, and has a great matchup against Alfredo Simon, who really struggles on the road. The Twins could have a big night offensively, so get Hicks in your lineup.
Melky Cabrera, $2,900 - Cabrera is simply too cheap to ignore at his current price tag, and he has a great matchup at home against the struggling Aaron Brooks. Brooks has a 7.44 ERA since being called up by the A's, and faces a tough test on the road in Chicago. Cabrera had four hits on Monday, and is batting .280 versus right-handed pitching in 2015, with 32 extra-base hits. He bats in the heart of the White Sox lineup, and is very affordable at his current depressed salary.
Seth Smith, $2,400 - Smith has consistently produced against right-handed pitching in 2015, and bats in the heart of the Mariners lineup when he starts. Smith has a .455 slugging percentage versus right-handed pitching, including 25 doubles, 5 triples, and 9 home runs in just 308 at bats. He is a cheap source of power in the outfield, and he has a great matchup against Nick Tropeano, who is spot starting for the Angels. Smith had a double and a home run on Monday, so look for him to keep his hot hitting going on Tuesday. He makes an excellent choice at his near-minimum price tag.
