FanDuel MLB: Friday Value Plays

FanDuel MLB: Friday Value Plays

This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.

This is my last MLB FanDuel picks article for the 2015 season, so I just wanted to say thanks to our readers for making this a fun and profitable season. We had a good run and hopefully we can squeeze one more cash for you out of this full 15-game slate. This late in the season, lineups are very tough to predict, so make sure you see who is in before finalizing any lineups you make.

Starting Pitcher

Henry Owens ($5900)Henry Owens is a big left-handed prospect for the Red Sox. He has been pretty solid since his call-up and has thrown two gems in his last three games, scoring into the mid-teens. He also faces a Cleveland team that really struggles against left-handed pitching. At $5900, you need about 12 points out of Owens. He has averaged about seven innings and five strikeouts over his last three starts which has equated into 13.5 fantasy points. If he stays on that track in a solid matchup here, he will deliver excellent value.

Catcher

Miguel Montero ($2400)Miguel Montero sat out yesterday, so he should be in the line up today. He faces the rookie Ariel Pena who has been OK, but struggles with left-handed bats. Montero has some power upside and has been hitting the ball well recently. He has four hits over his last 11 at-bats and is averaging nearly three fantasy points per game. It's not huge upside or super sexy, but it's solid value for a really cheap option.

First Base

Darin Ruf ($2500)Darin Ruf is a great option to use here at first base. He faces Justin Nicolino, who is a weak left-handed pitcher getting a park downgrade in Philly. Ruf has averaged over 5.4 points per contest in his last six games. He has power and hits in the heart of that order. For $2500, he is the best salary saver, in the best spot to have a big score today.

Second Base

Neil Walker ($2900)Neil Walker is one of the better overall options at second base today and one of the best when you factor in price. Walker is a left-handed bat which is good, because Keyvius Sampson struggles against left-handed batters. Walker has averaged 3.2 fantasy points per game over his last seven, so he is returning nice value. He is more feast or famine as he tends to get a lot of negatives and then come back with a 5-8 point game next time out. In a good matchup like this, I would expect more of an upside game, which makes Walker a great play as a cheap option at a tough-to-fill position.

Shortstop

Corey Seager ($3300)Corey Seager is one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He is a solid left-handed bat with power and has a great match up here. Casey Kelly is going to be the pitcher for San Diego and he has given up almost 1.5 hits per inning so far in his young career. Seager is cheap and has power upside, which is a rare combination to find at the position. He should be in the lineup today as he has the right splits to do well against Kelly and should be a top option.

Third Base

Martin Prado ($3500)Martin Prado is a very solid hitter. He hits both lefties and righties pretty well, but does not have the power we expect from a third baseman. That often makes him overlooked, but it is a mistake to do so. He has multiple hits in four of his last six games. For a cheap option hitting towards the top of the order, that is very solid, consistent production. Prado faces Aaron Harang in a great hitter's park in Philadelphia. When you factor in ballpark and matchup, he becomes an elite option today.

Outfield

Christian Yelich ($3600)Christian Yelich is a solid player. Injuries kept him from breaking out this year, but he has been very good since coming off the DL. He just snapped a seven-game hit streak last time out, but he is averaging 3.6 points over that run, which puts him right in line for value. He too has one of the best combinations of ballpark and match up as he takes on Aaron Harang in Philadelphia. He hits towards the top of the order and should be able to generate a nice return at a square price.

Gregory Polanco ($3500)Gregory Polanco has started to heat up at the right time for the Pirates. He has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games and provides a spark from the top of that order. He has a great matchup with Keyvius Sampson who struggles mightily getting anyone out. Polanco should be on base a few times, can steal, can score runs, and will be one of the better options for upside at the price.

Aaron Altherr ($3600) – The young Phillies OF Aaron Altherr has been on fire lately, especially against left-handed pitching. He has put up at least five fantasy points in four of his last six games and due to that inside the park grand slam, his recent scoring averages are off the charts. He has a great match up with Justin Nicolino in a hitter-friendly park today and is expected to put up some good numbers for a decent price.

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.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Benjamin Ricciardi
Benny is an award-winning sportswriter whose work has been seen all over the daily fantasy landscape. He is the 2014 FSWA winner for best baseball article of the year (web), the co-host of a baseball webcast called "The Curve" (@rotocurve), and a featured writer for DraftKings Playbook and the DFSReport. He believes, as a former athlete and self-proclaimed "NUMBER's GUY", he has the perfect mix of knowledge and know-how to help you win your fantasy matchups. You can follow him on twitter @BennyR11.
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