FanDuel MLB: Thursday Value Plays

FanDuel MLB: Thursday Value Plays

This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.

PITCHER:

Joe Musgrove, HOU at BAL ($6,500): The Orioles are a good offensive team, and they're especially good at home, I get that. But I can't for the life me understand why Musgrove is priced so low, regardless of the matchup. The rookie excelled across every minor league stop and hasn't missed a beat since making the jump to the bigs, posting a 1.47 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 31.3 percent K-rate and 3.0 percent BB-rate in 18.1 MLB innings. And sure, a rookie heading into a hitters' park against a good-to-great offense is rarely a recipe for success, but the combination of Musgrove's talent and dirt cheap price makes him too good a bargain to pass up, especially in GPPs.

CATCHER:

Sandy Leon, BOS at DET ($2,900): Leon continues to make a mockery of major league pitching (.444 wOBA), as the 27-year-old has been a huge boon for an already talented Red Sox lineup; yet his price has remained surprisingly reasonable. Leon has been especially deadly against left-handed pitching (.463 batting average, .545 wOBA, .317 ISO) and faces a poor one in Matt Boyd.

FIRST BASE:

Adrian Gonzalez, LAD at PHI ($3,200): Despite no longer being the offensive force he once was, Gonzalez has continued to excel against right-handed pitching (.305 batting average, .350 wOBA) and faces Jerad Eickhoff, who's struggled against left-handed sticks (.345 wOBA allowed). In addition, Gonzalez has a .541 wOBA and three long balls in last 10 games, and he is a bargain as only the 14th most-expensive first baseman.

SECOND BASE:

Ben Zobrist, CHC vs. MIL ($3,200): This is simply a case of a player being priced too low considering his production, talent and situation. Not only is the 35-year-old batting cleanup in a potent Cubs lineup, but he's also been particularly strong against right-handed pitching (.361 wOBA, .174 ISO) and faces Zach Davies and his .336 wOBA allowed to left-handed bats.

THIRD BASE:

Jose Ramirez, CLE vs. CHW ($3,100): Ramirez has a .418 batting average, .475 wOBA and .253 ISO in his last 20 games; he's scorching hot. The switch hitter has been notably dangerous against lefties (.368 wOBA, .152 ISO) and should tee off against Carlos Rodon (.365 wOBA allowed to right-handed hitters), making him an absolute steal at $3,100.

SHORTSTOP:

Tim Anderson, CHW at CLE ($2,600): Outside of the most expensive options, shortstop is a sea of atrocities, with Anderson standing out as the lone value floating above the waves. The rookie has had his fair share of struggles, but he has been hitting the ball well lately - .376 wOBA, .176 ISO, and a pair of home runs in last 10 games - and is available for a minimal investment. Granted, the matchup with Danny Salazar isn't ideal, but it's the fireballer's first start off the disabled list, so I wouldn't expect him to pitch a lot of innings, and Cleveland's bullpen isn't intimidating (outside of Andrew Miller). Add all this up and Anderson makes for a nice upside play at a weak position.

OUTFIELD:

Yasmany Tomas, ARI at SDP ($3,200): Tomas has been raking - .464 wOBA, .458 ISO and 11 home runs in last 20 games - but is still priced moderately, especially considering his massive power potential. And while the 25-year-old has been better against left-handed pitching, he faces Paul Clemens, who's yielded an insane .434 wOBA to right-handed hitters.

Odubel Herrera, PHI vs. LAD ($2,800): After a rough July, Herrera is hitting the ball well again - .306 batting average, .366 wOBA, .167 ISO in August - and his price has yet to catch up. In addition, he has been significantly more successful against right-handed pitching (.362 wOBA, .165 ISO) and opposes a very hittable one in Ross Stripling.

Brandon Guyer, CLE vs. LAA ($2,500): This one is pretty easy: Guyer is murdering left-handed pitching (.354 batting average, .466 wOBA, .256 ISO), is extremely cheap and faces the aforementioned Rodon, aka he who lacks the ability to retire right-handed bats. Guyer is my favorite play of the day.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. James Seltzer plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Schweppy23.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Seltzer
James Seltzer is a Producer at 97.5 the Fanatic in Philadelphia. James is a co-host of the BleedingGreenNation.com Eagles podcast as well as the This Week in Fantasy podcast. James also works for PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
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