This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Welcome to the Wednesday edition of our FanDuel value plays for July 22. Players are looking to get off to a hot start in the second half of the season following an exciting All-Star weekend. Tonight's sleight includes eight games with all sorts of options to choose from. As usual, be sure to keep an eye on any last minute lineup changes and check in on any players who are dealing with minor injuries. Let's get the second half of the season started off right with tonight's picks.
Starting Pitcher:
Lance Lynn, $9,600 – Lynn has won 15 or more games in each of the last three seasons and has become one of the best pitchers in the National League during that time. He's 7-5 on the year with a 2.79 ERA and 111 punch outs across 103.1 innings pitched. He's got one of the most professional lineups in the league hitting behind him and he should love the opportunity against the White Sox on Wednesday. Chicago is 28th out of 30 teams in runs scored this season and as a team, they're batting just .241 on the year. Lynn should have a field day against this lineup.
Catcher:
Matt Wieters, $2,600 – Wieters has battled injuries through much of the first half of the year, but he seems to be back to full strength as of late. The switch-hitting catcher is still one of the better offensive talents in the game at his position and he hits a lot better from the left side than he does the right. Wieters will hit from the left side against Ivan Nova of the Yankees on Wednesday with a short porch in right field in New York. Wieters is batting .292 against right-handers this year and he could be of great value at such a low cost.
First Base:
Mark Teixeira, $3,700 – Teixeira is finally healthy again and the results certainly reflect just that. He's hit 23 home runs in 297 at-bats to go along with 63 RBI which is good for seventh in the league. He'll be batting from the left side on Wednesday where he's hit 18 of those 23 home runs this season. With the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium, and a juicy matchup against young right-hander Kevin Gausman, Teixeira could be in for a big day on Wednesday.
Second Base:
Robinson Cano, $3,300 – Everyone knew that it was just a matter of time before Cano broke out of the first half slump, as he's just simply way to talented not to. After hitting just two home runs in his first 264 at-bats, Cano has slugged seven long balls over his last 97. He's as hot as anyone in the game right now and he'll have a very favorable matchup against Anibal Sanchez of the Tigers on Wednesday.
Third Base:
Mike Moustakas, $2,600 – Moustakas is batting .301 and is having another great season for the defending American League champs. He bats in the middle of a very talented lineup and he'll have a great matchup against Charlie Morton of the Pirates on Wednesday who enters with a 4.34 ERA from the right side. Moustakas is batting .335 against right handers this season which includes six of his nine home runs.
Shortstop:
Xander Bogaerts, $2,900 – Bogaerts has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the last month and he's shown no signs of slowing down. In his last 95 at-bats, the Red Sox shortstop is batting .368 with 12 runs scored and 17 RBI. Bogaerts had an 11 game hitting streak over that span and has now hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games. If he can continue the hot hitting, Bogaerts is a great value play at $2,900.
Outfield:
Brett Gardner, $4,100 – Gardner is currently ranked in the top 20 of all fantasy players at this point in the season and he just seems to get better and better every year. Gardner is a true five-tool player who's hitting .300 with 10 home runs and 42 RBI to go along with 15 stolen bases. He's also scored 64 runs which is good for fourth place across the league. Gardner has a juicy matchup against Oriole's youngster Kevin Gausman on Wednesday who enters with a 5.00 ERA in just three starts this year.
Nelson Cruz, $3,200 – Cruz has been one of the top hitters in the game up to this point in the season and it's amazing that his price tag still this low. He has game-changing power and the overall ability to put up monster numbers on any given night. Cruz is batting .301 with 21 longs balls and 53 RBI, and he should like his matchup against Anibal Sanchez of the Tigers on Wednesday who enters with a 4.55 ERA.
Matt Holliday, $3,100 – Holliday has been one of the most consistent hitters in all of baseball over the last six years and despite the nagging injuries that he's been dealing with this season, he's been productive when on the field. The 35 year old outfielder is batting .297 with 26 RBI across 185 at-bats on the year and he should have a nice matchup on Wednesday against John Danks (4.98 ERA). Holliday recently returned from a minor quad injury so make sure you double check the pre-game lineups to assure that he's playing.
Other Notable Outfielders:
Yoenis Cespedes, $3,200
Starling Marte, $3,700
