This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We're looking at a limited six-game slate Saturday night that includes a couple NL West games and a couple Interleague games. There are some minor weather questions in Kansas City and Denver, so monitor weather reports prior to submitting lineups. With such a limited slate, I will really dig deep to find some good value plays, so you can get some automatic studs into your lineups on such a limited schedule. Every suggested infield selection is less than $3,000 and every outfielder less than $3,500, with an incredibly cheap pitcher. So let's get into some of the plays.
Pitcher
Mike Bolsinger $6,400
Considering it's such a short slate, we'll go with a pitcher whose been a major surprise this season. Mike Bolsinger got a starting job with the Dodgers once Brandon McCarthy went down with an injury and has been fantastic in his absence. Bolsinger has started three games this season and has posted a 1.04 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP, including 14 strikeouts in 17 innings. He has not allowed more than five hits in a game and has yet to concede more than a single run in his three starts. What I really like about this play is that he costs only $6,400, one of the lowest-priced pitchers on the slate. Not only will he be pitching at home, he'll be favored in a game with a Vegas total of only seven. With all these factors, Bolsinger is a fantastic play at such a cheap price to fill your lineup with stud bats.
Catcher
Yadier Molina $2,300
Molina hasn't been great this season, but with a price tag of only $2,300, he's my favorite catcher to use Saturday. Molina squares off against Edinson Volquez and that could bode well as Volquez has had control issues throughout his career. Molina has one of the best eye's in baseball and should be able to get on base whether it be through walks or hits in this matchup. With a near minimum price tag, we're not asking for a whole lot out of him, and that's why I like this play so much. With Volquez on short rest after Danny Duffy was scratched, it may throw Volquez off and Molina could capitalize with a solid game.
First Base
Mike Napoli $2,500
I was lucky enough to predict Napoli's first home run this season off southpaw Wei-Yin Chen earlier this year and we'll go right back to the well as he faces lefty C.J. Wilson. Napoli has had an atrocious season, but he's been getting hot lately. Napoli is 5-for-15 over the last four games and has two home runs in that span after struggling all season. His numbers against lefties in his career are incredible as well. Just last season, Napoli posted a .450 OBP against lefties with a .923 OPS. Napoli is one of the lowest-priced first basemen, and if he can get on base a couple times or possibly go deep, he'll be the value of the night. I also like that he is a contrary play at first base, as it is the most stacked position and Napoli will be rarely used by your opponents in a GPP.
Second Base
Dustin Pedroia $3,000
I debated back and forth between Pedroia and Kolten Wong, but decided to go with the veteran Pedroia. Stacking against C. J. Wilson will be a trend as the Red Sox have numerous righty bats who can abuse southpaws with the friendly Green Monster. Pedroia has had a solid season thus far, posting a .352 OBP with a .767 OPS, while batting .310 at home this season. There are only about three starting second basemen who will be valued below Pedroia, and that's just wrong with the potential Pedroia provides. With the platoon in Pedroia's favor, he's in line to have a solid night.
Third Base
Martin Prado $2,300
Outside the top four, third base is very weak, so we'll suggest a solid bat at a near minimum price. Prado is not a high-upside play, but he can provide some solid production in the middle of Miami lineup. Lately, Prado has hit cleanup for the Marlins, and he could be in line for some RBI opportunities against rookie Mike Wright. There's nothing special here with Prado necessarily, except for the price tag. The top-three third base options are at $3,900 or more, which makes Prado $1,600 cheaper. That amount of money saved can turn a fringe outfielder into an elite outfielder or a fringe pitcher into an elite option. For example, that's the difference between John Lackey and Jake Arrieta. So, while there's nothing specific about Prado that is to like, the price tag is just to friendly to pass up.
Shortstop
Erick Aybar $2,300
Aybar is coming off his best game of the season Friday night, and we'll look for him to have back-to-back strong efforts. In Friday's game, Aybar not only swiped his first bag of the year, but he hit his first homer of the year as well. Chasing points in daily fantasy is usually a bad idea, but considering he seems to be getting healthy, we're going to bet on him starting a hot streak at Fenway Park. Aybar is yet another $2,300 player, and with how shallow shortstop is, he's a good bet to produce as the leadoff hitter for the Angels. Not only that, he faces the lowest valued pitcher for the slate. This is yet another situation in which we don't need Aybar to blow up, but just simply produce. That should be rather easy as he could get five at-bats in what could be a high-scoring game, much like Friday night.
Outfield
Hanley Ramirez $3,400
Ramirez is yet another Red Sox that we're going to stack against C.J. Wilson. Ramirez has struggled in May, but has had a great season, hitting 10 homers with 22 RBI in less than 40 games. Ramirez has killed southpaws this season, batting .316, with a .409 OBP, and four homers in just 38 at-bats. Although Ramirez has been in and out of the lineup with some minor injuries, so he's a definite must-monitor player prior to gametime. Hanley ranks outside the top 10 for Saturday's outfielders, and with the production he's had this season, the ranking is just wrong in a small six-game slate. Wilson allows most of his run production against righties as well, as righties have contributed to 14 of the 18 runs he's given up this season. With all these factors in play, Hanley is a great bet to beat his $3,400 price tag.
Adam Jones $3,300
Why in the world is Adam Jones only $3,300? Jones has been one of the most productive and consistent players in fantasy this season and his value keeps dropping for some reason. He has a .329 average and has 25 RBI this season. Dan Haren squares off against Jones, and while he's been solid, he's nothing to be scared of. The best part of the play is just how cheap Jones is. Jones is ranked as the 16th outfielder for the Saturday slate, which is just crazy with how consistent he has been all season. While there's no signs of him going crazy in this game, it seems fathomable that he'll produce at a level that will exceed his $3,400 price tag and likely out produce most of the outfielders ahead of him who cost significantly more.
Angel Pagan $2,700
Pagan faces the Rockies and has had some unbelievable success against them this season, grabbing 14 hits in just 27 at-bats. Not only will he likely be in the three-hole of the Giants lineup, he gets to face Triple-A arm David Hale. Hale is simply being called up because the Rockies need a pitcher for the second half of a double-header and he is their last resort. Pagan is a great bet to be productive and at a price of only $2,700, he could just destroy his value. With the Rockies-Giants game featuring the highest Vegas total of the night, there should be plenty of runs scored, and Pagan could be right in the middle of the action. Pagan is my favorite play of the night, and the only question is if he'll play both halves of the Saturday doubleheader.
