This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We have 11 games Thursday, so there's a wealth of options out there. However there are no day games, so you should have access to most teams' lineups before your FanDuel picks are locked. This should limit the possibility of have someone in your lineup who may not be playing. Here are our daily value plays for Thursday, August 20.
Pitcher:
Jake Arrieta, CHC ($10,600): Arrieta has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. The 29-year-old is sporting a 2.39 ERA and 0.99 WHIP to go along with a 9.1 K/9 and has given up only four runs over his last four starts. He faces an Atlanta offense that has produced the third-fewest runs of any team in the league; they have also struck out the third-most times in the league. With this kind of matchup and how dominant he has been, I think Arrieta is the best pitcher on the board today and yet he's he only the third-highest priced pitcher on the board. This is a steal. Take advantage of it. And while Arrieta does not come at a cheap price, he is still the best value due to the mediocre stable of pitchers available outside of the three most expensive pitchers on the board. Play Arrieta and fill in around him, as he is the best and safest play.
Catcher:
Francisco Cervelli, PIT ($2,800): Cervelli just continues to hit. He is batting .368 over the last 30 days and has shown no signs of slowing down. The 29-year-old faces Jake Peavy, who is coming off an outing where he got pounded for five runs in 5.2 innings and has generally been unimpressive this season, in PNC Park where Cervelli has a .316 average this season. Plus, even though the Pirate backstop keeps hitting, he is still available at a very affordable price.
First Base:
Pedro Alvarez, PIT ($3,100): Let's stick with the Pirates here as Alvarez has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball lately. The 28-year-old is sporting an insane .457/.457/.857 slash line over the last 14 days and has mashed four home runs. He is also significantly better against right-handed pitching (he's hit 18 of his 19 home runs against righties) and faces the previously-mentioned Jake Peavy. And best of all, he is available at a surprisingly low price.
Second Base:
Jonathan Schoop, BAL ($2,400): Schoop has some pop as his nine home runs in 153 at-bats can attest, including hitting one yesterday against the Mets. He faces right-hander Tyler Duffey who has only made two starts this season and neither has gone well. He has allowed six earned runs in eight innings pitched and is rocking an unimpressive 8/7 K/BB ratio. As if the matchup weren't already good enough, Schoop has been terrific with a .945 OPS against righties this season. He would be a great play at a much higher price than $2,400.
Third Base:
Evan Longoria, TB ($3,100): Longoria has actually played much better lately with a .341/.388/.549 slash line over the last 28 days, and he is playing in the hitter-friendly confines of Minute Maid Park. He faces right-hander Collin McHugh and while Longoria has been better against left-handed pitching, McHugh actually has reverse splits proving far more effective against left-handed hitters this season. Basically, Longoria is just priced too low for how well he has been hitting and how good the matchup is.
Shortstop:
Eugenio Suarez, CIN ($2,600): Suarez has turned into a valuable fantasy asset at shortstop in the time he's been in the majors this season and he has a .293 average along with eight home runs in the 55 games he's played. He has been especially hot lately, sporting a .340/.581./.922 slash line over the last 14 days. He faces lefty Patrick Corbin in Cincinnati, both of which are positives for Suarez as he has hit much better at home this season with an .853 OPS at Great American Ballpark, and he has destroyed left-handed pitching to the tune of a .916 OPS. Even with all of these things in his favor there are still 12 shortstops priced higher than Suarez, which makes him an outstanding value play.
Outfield:
Jacoby Ellsbury, NYY ($3,500): Ellsbury has been white-hot with a .419/.428/.643 slash line over the last seven days. He also stole his first base in over a month Tuesday, so maybe there is the potential for him to start running again, which can rack up FanDuel points quickly. In addition, Ellsbury faces right-hander Josh Tomlin, who has produced a career 4.86 ERA in 454 innings pitched. Not to mention the game will be in Yankee Stadium which is another nice advantage for the left-handed hitting Ellsbury. He presents a great upside play for a relatively minimal investment.
Jackie Bradley, BOS ($2,900): Bradley may actually be the hottest hitter in baseball. He is on a tear right now. Over his last 10 games he has an insane 1.442 OPS along with four home runs, 15 runs scored, and 16 RBI. He has been a monster. The left-handed batter does face lefty Danny Duffy but Bradley has been so hot that it doesn't matter who he's facing, and for what it's worth he actually has a 1.302 OPS against lefties this season albeit in only 31 at-bats. As if this weren't enough, Bradley's price is shockingly low. It would be a crime not to ride with Bradley for only $2,900.
Cole Gillespie, MIA ($2,700): Gillespie is a nice value play to help fill out your roster, especially on a day where many of the best outfield options are expensive. He's been solid since getting the opportunity to play and has a .314 average in 114 at-bats, and has been hitting especially well lately with a .455/.514/.576 slash line over his last 10 games. Also he faces Jerome Williams, who is sporting a 5.47 ERA and 1.58 WHIP on the season. For the price, Gillespie is a great play with some upside.
Other notable outfielders: Preston Tucker, HOU ($2,900); Michael Taylor, WAS ($2,700)
