Rich Hill presents strikeout upside if you decide to pivot from Chris Sale Friday

Friday is finally here! We have a 14-game slate to cap off the week. With a strong (yet expensive) cash game pitching target and a series kicking off at Coors Field, you’ll want to identify some value plays for your cash lineups (or cheaper pitchers for tournaments). Let’s take a look at some value options for FanDuel.

Win your first contest on FanDuel or get your entry fee refunded!

Pitcher

Rich Hill (OAK): $8,700 @ TB
Chris Sale is the top cash game option, but if you’re wanting to load up on bats, Hill is a fine alternative. He possesses the next highest upside after Sale among pitchers. While he’s been tough to project, he’s worth the risk tonight. Run prevention is a concern, but he carries strikeout upside against a Tampa Bay team that strikes out 24% of the time against left-handed pitching. He’s topped a 30% strikeout rate in seven of his starts and he’s faced a rather difficult schedule.

Other Notables

• Junior Guerra (MIL): $6,700 vs. SD
• Jeremy Hellickson (PHI): $6,600 vs. CIN
• Brandon Finnegan (CIN): $6,000 @ PHI

Catcher

Cameron Rupp (PHI): $2,100 vs. CIN
If Rupp can garner a spot in the cleanup position or even fifth in the batting order, he’d be a viable punt play at home tonight. Brandon Finnegan has been decent against right-handed bats (.296 wOBA in 70.1 innings pitched), but he’s struggled with right-handed power (1.66 HR/9). Rupp has decent power against lefties, posting a .181 ISO in his last 102 plate appearances.

Other Notables

• Victor Martinez (DET): $3,300 @ BAL
• Stephen Vogt (OAK): $2,600 @ TB
• Matt Wieters (BAL) $2,100 vs. DET

First Base

Miguel Cabrera (DET): $3,600 @ BAL
I’m cheating here, but you won’t find Cabrera’s price much lower than this. He faces a fly ball pitcher in Chris Tillman in a prime hitting environment. It’s only a matter of time before Cabrera gets things rolling in the power department, and I like it to start tonight.

Other Notables

• Kendrys Morales (KC): $2,700 vs. ATL
• Matt Adams (STL): $2,200 @ LAD (if hitting cleanup)

Second Base

Joe Panik (SF): $3,000 @ ARI
Panik and the Giants get a big park shift in their favor and they will face Shelby Miller, who has been an absolute mess this season. There isn’t a ton of power upside here, but he hits high in the batting order and he’s a fine alternative to spending up for Neil Walker at Coors Field.

Other Notables

• Scooter Gennett (MIL): $2,700 vs. SD
• Jonathan Schoop (BAL): $2,600 vs. DET
• Cesar Hernandez (PHI): $2,200 vs. CIN

Third Base

Maikel Franco (PHI): $2,700 vs. CIN
I noted Finnegan’s struggles with right-handed power earlier. With Franco hitting third in the batting order, he’s a solid value tonight. In his first 150 plate appearances against left-handed pitching, Franco has posted a .212 ISO, so there’s a decent chance of a home run from him tonight.

Other Notables

• Jake Lamb (ARI): $3,000 vs. SF
• Matt Duffy (SF): $3,000 @ ARI

Shortstop

Troy Tulowitzki (TOR): $2,800 @ TEX
Tulowitzki is an absolute wreck, but he does have two home runs and six RBIs over the first 10 games of May. He will face lefty Martin Perez in a hitter-friendly park, so there’s some merit in targeting this low salary. We know about Tulowitzki’s history against left-handed pitching, but it’s also important to keep his struggles in context, so don’t go too crazy in utilizing him tonight.

Other Notables

• Eduardo Nunez (MIN): $2,900 @ CLE
• Freddy Galvis (PHI): $2,600 vs. CIN

Outfielders

Billy Hamilton (CIN): $2,800 @ PHI
Hamilton is a strong value if he remains in the second spot of the batting order due to his speed upside. Cameron Rupp has only thrown out one baserunner in 13 attempts, so look for Hamilton to exploit this if he can get on base tonight.

Adam Jones (BAL): $2,600 vs. DET
Jones’ price remains stubbornly low despite collecting seven hits in his last 15 at-bats, including two home runs. Take advantage while you can as the salary relief is meaningful on a night with a game being played in Denver.

Domingo Santana (MIL): $2,400 vs. SD
With a left-handed pitcher being announced as a starter for San Diego, Santana emerges as one of the better value options across the board. He should hit atop the order for Milwaukee and with the Brewers having an implied team total pushing five runs, there should be plenty of run-scoring opportunities.

Other Notables

• Nomar Mazara (TEX): $3,200 vs. TOR
• Justin Upton (DET): $2,900 @ BAL
• Alex Gordon (KC): $2,800 vs. ATL
• Matt Holliday (STL): $2,400 @ LAD

Check out our FanDuel MLB Lineup Optimizer

Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.