This article is part of our The Daily Duel series.
Values
Here are some guys who are good additions to your team who are currently outproducing their value. Keep in mind that these prices can change daily, so take advantage of them while you can.
Newbies
Here is a combination of players coming off the DL or being called up from the minors who have or are looking to make an impact. Keep in mind some of these players are mentioned just as a reminder that they're available; they might be undervalued or valued appropriately.
Carl Crawford, OF, BOS, $2900 – Crawford finally made his long-awaited debut Monday night and has hit the ground running, literally. He's gone 4-for-7 in his first two games back with four runs and three stolen bases. His price should be inflated by the weekend but will stay at its current number through Friday, so take advantage while you can.
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS, $3800 – Crawford's teammate made his return last Friday and has hit safely in every game except one. As you can see by his price, he's not going to come at a discount due to his monster 2011 season. He's still worth a look, especially if the power returns, given the potency of the Red Sox lineup.
Josh Rutledge, SS, COL, $2400 – Rutledge got the call from Double-A and has been a regular in the Rockies lineup over the last week. He had 13 home runs and 14 stolen bases in the minors this season so there's some upside, especially when he plays at Coors. The attractive aspect here is the low price; he's a great guy to throw into your lineup when you're playing studs at the other positions.
Anthony Gose, OF, TOR, $3300 – One of the better prospects not only on the Jays but in all of baseball, Gose is going to get his chance while Jose Bautista is on the DL dealing with a wrist injury. Gose hit leadoff for the Jays Wednesday against the Yankees and could find himself there over the next few weeks. He's very young at 21 and his value will be scoring runs and wreaking havoc on the base paths after stealing 29 bases at Triple-A Las Vegas. His price seems about right considering he could struggle with this first cup of coffee at his young age or he could show why he's such a highly touted prospect.
Lance Berkman, 1B, STL, $3400 – Berkman came off the DL Saturday and appears to be struggling on getting his timing back. He's hitless over his first six at-bats but could go back to last season's ways once he gets comfortable at the plate. He's a good player to use in tournaments as other competitors wait until he's back to his old form, as he could put in a monster night that they don't have.
Lorenzo Cain, OF, KC, $2600 – Cain came off the DL and has been hitting in the middle of the lineup. A much-hyped rookie, Cain offers a nice blend of power and speed (16/16 with a .302 batting average at Triple-A Omaha last season). If he remains in the middle of the lineup, he has the opportunity to post points in every category. Look for his price to rise quickly, so use him while he's still a bargain.
Marwin Gonzalez, SS, HOU, $2600 – Gonzalez is definitely a dark horse to use, considering the GM of the Astros has said he's not the long term answer at short. However, for time being, he's going to get regular playing time while Jed Lowrie is on the DL. Gonzalez has held his own over the last three games, going 7-for-12 with two doubles and two stolen bases. He doesn't have much pop but the Astros typically are running when they get on base, which is where any value will lie.
Players Looking To Rebound Or Are Starting To
Here are some players who have seen their value drop significantly due to poor production recently. You might be surprised at some of the names and how much their stock has fallen. This section will also include players who seem to be turning things around as we speak but come at a discounted price due to their recent slump.
Starlin Castro, SS, CHI, $3200 – Castro's price has dropped to the lowest this season considering he only has one stolen base and two home runs since June 1. However, he has too much talent to stay in this slump and with the Cubs in rebuild mode he's not in danger of losing any playing time. Give him a look, especially if his price continues to plummet.
Kyle Seager, 3B, SEA, $3300 – Seager is a prime example of a player who is limited in fantasy due to his home ballpark. At home he has a paltry .530 OPS but on the road it's .866. He's hit nine of his 11 home runs on the road and has over double the RBI on the road (39 vs. 17). He's another sneaky player to use in tournament formats while other players go with Miguel Cabrera or David Wright. Just avoid Seager when he's at Safeco.
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, BOS, $3600 – After being held out of the lineup in Tampa with a stiff back, Gonzalez has returned with a vengeance. He's gone 6-for-12 his first three games back and had multi-hit efforts in each game with at least one RBI. Wednesday night he hit his second home run in three games, which could mean his long-awaited power has returned. The return of table setters Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford should help his RBI totals going forward as well.
Brennan Boesch, OF, DET, $3300 – Boesch was a trendy sleeper this season given that he started out hitting in the two spot in front of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. This meant he would not only see a lot of good pitches but he would be driven in a lot. After some early season struggles and a demotion in the lineup, Boesch has put things together at the plate. Boesch boasts a 1.109 OPS in the month of July and has 11 RBI in 11 games. He's a sneaky play who most owners are overlooking him right now.
Alex Gordon, OF, KC, $3700 – It's tough to figure out where to begin with Gordon considering how good he's been at the dish. After a slow start to the season, he posted a .953 OPS in June and has carried that over to July with a .943 OPS. He has been especially good as of late, registering multi-hit games in seven of his last 10 contests. Since June 1 his plate discipline has been excellent, as his 25:23 K:BB ratio indicates. Ride him while he's hot.
The DFBC
The $250,000 DFBC is the biggest and best competition in fantasy baseball. But do you know how amazing the live final in Vegas will be? Winners - and their guests - will be treated to:
- An amazing suite at the luxurious Palazzo Hotel
- Dinner, drinks, and the best partying Vegas has to offer with other winners and the FanDuel crew
- A huge private suite at Lagasse's Stadium to watch baseball on Sunday. Free food, free drinks, and amazing atmosphere will make this one of the best "sports Sundays" of your life.
Go to FanDuel today and start competing to earn a spot at this year's DFBC final in Las Vegas!
