Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the FanDuel MLB value plays. We have 11 games to work with on this Wednesday night slate. As always, be sure to check out the weather and the team lineups throughout the day. Let’s go ahead and take a look at my favorite value options for today.
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Pitcher
Brian Johnson (BOS): $6,900 at PHI
I will be spending up at pitcher in cash games, but if you want to go the value route in GPPs, consider using Brian Johnson. Johnson was doing well in Triple-A when the Red Sox called him up a couple of weeks ago and he has looked solid through his first two starts this season at the MLB level. Tonight he has an excellent matchup against the Phillies who rank 23rd in wRC+ this season against left-handed pitchers.
Catcher
Jonathan Lucroy (TEX): $2,600 at HOU
Jonathan Lucroy has not been great this season. However, he has been doing better lately with six hits in his last five games. Tonight he has a solid matchup against Francis Martes. Martes has made one appearance out of the bullpen for the Astros, but this will be his first start this season at the MLB level. Martes made eight starts at Triple-A this year and he really struggled with his command. In 32.1 innings of work, Martes walked 28 batters, which comes out to a ridiculous 7.79 BB/9.
First Base
Matt Carpenter (STL): $3,300 vs. MIL
Value at first base is horrific tonight, so I cannot wholeheartedly recommend anyone priced below Matt Carpenter. Carpenter has really been heating up lately and hit his 12th home run of the season last night. Matt Garza has been surprisingly decent so far this season, but he hasn’t been great by any means against left-handed hitters allowing a 0.341 wOBA.
Second Base
Brandon Drury (ARI): $2,600 at DET
Drury has been absolutely on fire lately with a home run in each of the last three games. That stretch is really not that surprising since Drury has been solid for most of this season. We might as well jump on the train while he’s hot right now, especially against Jordan Zimmermann tonight. Zimmermann has been horrific this season and has allowed a 0.364 wOBA to opposing right-handed hitters.
Third Base
Wilmer Flores (NYM): $2,700 vs. CHC
Similar to first base, value at third base is not that great tonight. I can at least make the argument for one player at third who is priced below $3,000. Wilmer Flores should be the main player filling in for Asdrubal Cabrera while he is on the DL. Flores has been pretty solid against left-handed pitchers throughout his career with a 0.357 wOBA and a 0.238 ISO. Mike Montgomery is probably good enough to have a full-time spot in the Cubs’ rotation, but he has not been lights out against right-handed hitters by any means.
Shortstop
Addison Russell (CHC): $2,900 at NYM
Addison Russell appears to be heating up with an extra-base hit in each of his last three games, including two home runs. Matt Harvey appears to be only a shell of his former dominant self and we should not be afraid to target him with a couple of Cubs’ bats tonight.
Outfielders
Andrew Benintendi (BOS): $3,000 at PHI
FanDuel finally raised Benintendi’s salary back to $3,000, but it’s still too cheap. Jeremy Hellickson has been decent so far this season, but he has given up five home runs over his past four starts.
Seth Smith (BAL): $3,000 at CHW
Smith should be back in the leadoff spot tonight since Miguel Gonzalez is a right-handed pitcher. Smith has always been excellent against righties throughout his career. Tonight he has a solid matchup against Gonzalez who has allowed a 0.364 wOBA to left-handed hitters this season.
Dexter Fowler (STL): $3,000 vs. MIL
There will probably be a few really cheap outfield bats hitting at the top of the lineup tonight, but I really don’t want to recommend any until I see some lineups. In the meantime, I’ll throw out another hitter who is right at the threshold of what I consider a value hitter. Fowler did not start in the second half of the doubleheader last night, but he did have an RBI pinch-hit late in the game. Fowler has really been heating up lately and he is another Cardinal option who we can use to attack Garza tonight.
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Kaz is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Kaz, follow him @DraftStars_Kaz. You can find more of Kaz’s work at DraftStars.net.
