FanDuel MLB: Thursday Value Plays

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Updated on August 31, 2017 11:35AM EST

Pitcher

Kyle Hendricks, CHC vs ATL ($8,500) – Hendricks has been in a nice groove lately, lowering his ERA to 3.45 and scoring at least 21 fantasy points in seven games (with two games in the 30s, two in the 40s). The Braves are tied for the fifth worst wOBA against right-handed pitching and are in the bottom half of the league in most offensive categories against righties.

Catcher

Welington Castillo, BAL vs TOR ($3,300) – With a short slate, it makes sense to pay up for Castillo tonight given the lack of punt options at the position. His .300 batting average is ranked third among everyday catchers and his 16 home runs have him tied for sixth. Castillo comes into the game with home runs in four of his last seven and has a good matchup Thursday against Marco Estrada — who has given up a .361 wOBA to right-handed hitters.

First Base

Kendrys Morales, TOR at BAL ($2,600) – It's tough to find any viable options tonight under the $3K mark, and it looks like Morales is the best option. He comes into this game 6-for-20 (.300) with two doubles and a home run. Jeremy Hellickson has not been good this season, giving up 29 home runs (seven over his last three starts) leading to a 4.88 ERA.

Second Base

Daniel Murphy, WAS at MIL ($3,500) – Murphy received a day off Wednesday and should be well-rested as the Nationals travel to Milwaukee. He's having another great season with a .381 wOBA against right-handed pitching, a number that goes up to .435 on the road. Zach Davies has given up a .373 wOBA at home to left-handed hitters and has a 4.99 xFIP against them as well.

Shortstop

Javier Baez, CHC vs ATL ($3,200) – Baez is among the Cubs' lefty-killers (Al Almora, Kris Bryant), sporting a .395 wOBA against them on the season. Sean Newcomb has a respectable 4.36 ERA but has struggled against right-handed batters with a .345 wOBA (nine home runs in 51.2 innings).

Third Base

Rafael Devers, BOS at NYY ($3,200) – Kris Bryant is the chalky play here tonight, but Devers offers a nice pivot given what he's done in a short time with the Red Sox. The majority of his production has come against left-handed pitching with Devers putting up a .487 wOBA to that side of the mound.

Outfield

Chris Young, BOS at NYY ($2,200) – This is probably the cheapest Young has been all season and he's even more of a value considering he's facing lefty CC Sabathia tonight in Yankee Stadium. While Young has struggled this year against lefties, he had a .422 wOBA in 2016 and his career mark sits at .360. Sabathia's struggles have been at home this season, where nine home runs in only 51.1 innings have amounted to a 5.08 ERA.

Christian Yelich, MIA vs PHI ($3,800) – Yelich is a great GPP play tonight with most owners flocking to Giancarlo Stanton or Marcell Ozuna. Yelich has a .358 wOBA this season against right-handed pitching and the pitcher he's facing tonight, Ben Lively, has struggled with lefties. Lively has struggled the most against left-handed pitching on the road, giving up a .375 wOBA to that side of the plate.

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.