FanDuel MLB: Thursday Value Plays

FanDuel MLB: Thursday Value Plays

This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.

Pitcher

Jordan Montgomery, NYY at OAK ($7,500) – Montgomery has been a nice surprise for both the Yankees and DFS players this season. His 3.55 ERA matches his 1.23 WHIP and he's scored at least 25 fantasy points in 10 of his 11 starts. The Athletics are a great matchup for Montgomery, as they are in the bottom-third of the league in wOBA against left-handed pitching (.299 wOBA) and have struck out at the fourth highest rate of any team (25.4%).

Catcher

Travis d'Arnaud, NYM vs WAS ($2,800) – In a limited sample this season d'Arnaud has a .471 wOBA against lefties and has heated up at the plate. He's scored exactly 18.7 fantasy points in three of his last seven games, as well.

First Base

Matt Carpenter, STL vs MIL ($3,400) – It's not a bad idea to run a stack of Cardinals tonight considering the numbers Jedd Gyorko and Carpenter have put up against Kyle Davies. Carpenter has gone 6-for-14 against him including two home runs and two doubles. Davis has given up a .365 wOBA to left-handed hitters for his career (.357 to righties).

Second Base

Joe Panik, SF at COL ($3,100) – Panik is a cheap way to get a piece of the Coors game and gets a favorable lefty vs righty matchup. The game has an over/under of 11 and Panik has reached base in 13 straight games. In a very limited sample, Jeff Hoffman has allowed a .396 wOBA to left-handed hitters at home.

Shortstop

Jose Iglesias, DET vs TB ($2,400) – Shortstop is a thin position once again tonight and it's hard to find any great values below $3K. Iglesias is one possible place to look, and while he likely won't hit a home run, he could be good for a few hits. He's hit .432 for the month of June (.961 OPS), and Matt Andriese has struggled against right-handed hitters this season (.380 wOBA).

Third Base

Nolan Arenado, COL vs SF ($4,600) – Using a cheaper option at pitcher than Chris Sale will put Arenado on the radar, as he's arguably the top overall play tonight. Everything here lines up for Arenado, who will be in the friendly confines of Coors Field matched up against lefty Matt Moore. Not surprisingly, Arenado's best splits are at home against left-handed pitching where he has a .448 wOBA.

Outfield

Mallex Smith, TB at DET ($2,200) – Smith should hold a low ownership number tonight considering he was dropped in the batting order yesterday and has a tough matchup. Justin Verlander has a 4.68 ERA (1.48 WHIP), showing that he hasn't been as good this season. Smith will be back in the leadoff spot against a right-handed pitcher and has at least six fantasy points in each of his six starts this season. That span of games includes performances of 12.2, 24.9 and 52.6 fantasy points.

Michael Taylor, WAS at NYM ($3,1000) – Most will flock to teammate Brian Goodwin, who has now homered in three straight games, but the numbers suggest Taylor as the better play. Brian Gsellman has been a reverse-split guy this season in allowing a .387 wOBA to right-handed hitters and only a .262 wOBA to left-handed hitters. Taylor also has some speed and could swipe a big if given the opportunity.

Yoenis Cespedes, NYM vs WAS ($3,600) – Cespedes has a crazy .519 wOBA this season against southpaws and will face that handedness again in Gio Gonzalez on Thursday. Gonzalez has given up a .326 wOBA to right-handed hitters thus far.

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. Kevin Payne plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: Fanduel: kevinccp, Draft Kings: kevinccp, Yahoo: kevinccp.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Payne
Kevin has worked for RotoWire over a decade and has covered basketball, baseball and football. A glutton for punishment, he roots for his hometown Bills, Sabres and the New York Yankees. You can follow him on Twitter @KCPayne26.
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