This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Football season is under way, but we still got some more days left to make a few nice baseball scores on FanDuel. We have a full 15-game slate Friday and here are some value play ideas to help you make your way to the top.
Starting Pitcher
Jerad Eickhoff ($5,600)
As far as value plays go, Eickhoff is easily the one with the most interesting case. He has been pretty solid since being called up from the minors back in August. He has made six starts and really only has one bad showing. If you excuse that game up in Boston, Eickhoff is averaging about 12 fantasy points per start which is excellent value for a guy that is this cheap. Eickhoff's main struggles come against left-handed batters, which is something the Nationals lack in quantity. They do have Bryce Harper, and Eickhoff would be smart to pitch around him and attack that righty-heavy lineup who he profiles well against. He has thrown seven innings in both of his last two starts and finished with 12 and 14 fantasy points, respectively. He also gets a nice park bump as he leaves his hitter-friendly home park to go to a very pitcher-friendly one down in Washington.
Catcher
Alex Avila ($2300)
Avila is six for his last 18 with seven walks, giving him an on-base percentage over .500 in his recent starts. He now faces Mike Pelfrey, who has only made it past the fifth inning in one of his last six starts and has allowed over eight base runners per game during that stretch. Avila is the left-handed bat in the catching platoon for the Tigers and one of the better salary saving options on the day at a near minimum price.
First Base
Justin Morneau ($3,900)
Morneau missed a large part of this season, but he has been hitting very well since his return. In fact, he is 10-for-20 in the last five games and is averaging 4.6 fantasy points per game over that stretch. He gets a good matchup against Michael Bolsinger, who has struggled with left-handed hitters away from home. With this game being at Coors Field, that means Bolsinger gets a huge park downgrade from his friendly home pitchers' park. Morneau hits in the meat of the order, so he should be able to drive in some runs and get on base a few times.
Second Base
Brian Dozier ($2,900)
Dozier is one of the few second baseman in the league with some pop, which is especially noticeable in his splits against left-handed pitching. Friday he faces Matt Boyd, who is a young lefty with some good strikeout stuff but also has been knocked around a bit. Dozier has a really nice price for a guy playing a thin position with a great matchup.
Shortstop
Corey Seager ($3,900)
Seager is not cheap, but he has produced since his call up. He is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and provides power from the shortstop position with the potential for a high batting average as well. Everyone fell in love with Carlos Correa in daily fantasy this year and Seager has a similar skill set. He is a left-handed bat who faces a weak righty in David Hale and his 6.32 ERA in Coors Field, so the matchup is as good as it can get.
Third Base
Adrian Beltre ($3,600)
Beltre has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball lately and gets his preferred split against left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir. He is 19 for his last 40 with 15 RBI over the last 10 games. He is averaging over 4.6 fantasy points per game during this run, has a good hitters' park for this matchup, and is batting in a great spot to drive in runs or be driven in himself. That Texas offense has looked really good lately and Beltre has been a big reason for the surge.
Outfield
Corey Dickerson ($3900)
Dickerson was one of the hottest hitters in baseball before losing a few months to injury. He was out of site and out of mind until his return two weeks ago, and he is picking up right where he left off. He has three multi-hit games in his last three starts and is back on the top part of the order in place of Charlie Blackmon. He has feasted on right-handed pitching this year, especially at home, and he has a good matchup against Mike Bolsinger to keep the hit streak going.
Mike Trout ($5,000)
Although Trout has a high price, he is still a value play based on his recent production. The Angels outfielder has averaged over five points per game during his last nine, including five home runs. He is swinging a hot bat to end the season and faces a weak left-handed pitcher in Vidal Nuno, who has been getting knocked around lately. Bryce Harper and Trout both profile to do well Friday, but I prefer to take the $700 discount offered on Trout in order to be able to fill out a roster with some better bats at other positions and not giving up much in the way of upside.
David Peralta ($3,300)
Peralta is the left-handed bat in the heart of the order. He has eight hits in his last 19 at-bats and has hit well against right-handed pitching all season. He faces the youngster Casey Kelly, who struggled to get through two innings in his last start while allowing eight baserunners. The Diamondbacks should be able to put pressure on him and Peralta has been driving in a lot of runs with the top of the order getting on base. As long as he keeps hitting and getting chances with runners on base, he will continue to drive in runs and rack up hits on his way to high fantasy scores at a very reasonable $3,300 price tag.
