FantasyBeast15 breaks down value plays for Saturday’s slate of FanDuel MLB contests.
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Here’s a look at the top value plays for Saturday on FanDuel. I will do my best to keep the top plays as cheap as possible but will include higher-priced players if their projections far exceed their salary-based expectation.
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Pitcher
Chris Archer (TBR) vs. PHI ($8,800)
I’ll likely be paying up for Max Scherzer in cash games, but in tournaments, Archer is my favorite value pitcher. He’s priced at $8,800 but projects for over 40 FD points. I was on Jacob Faria yesterday as a value play, and used him in both cash games and tournaments. Using Faria as a value play turned out well, and Archer is a much better pitcher. Archer will face a Phillies team who will add a DH, but strikes out 26.5% of the time, the third-highest rate in the league.
Catcher/First Base
Jesus Aguilar (MIL) vs. NYM ($2,100)
After a collision in the outfield, both Lorenzo Cain and Domingo Santana were banged up in yesterday’s game. My thought process is Eric Thames will get a start in the outfield to give Santana a break, leaving Jesus Aguilar the start at first base. Aguilar is an underrated hitter, who usually only plays against lefties, but may find himself in the lineup against Matt Harvey. Harvey is not the pitcher he used to be, and projects for higher than a 4.50 ERA this season. Aguilar projects for an ISO near .200, so I like his upside in this matchup.
Second Base
Jonathan Villar/Eric Sogard (MIL) vs. NYM ($2,400/$2,200)
Sticking with the Brewers theme, Villar and Sogard make for interesting value plays. I expect at least one to make the lineup, and either player could lead off against Harvey. I’d prefer to roster Villar, but the batting order will determine which player holds more value. Villar will have stolen base upside, especially if he’s batting first, while Sogard offers a better chance to get on base. The Brewers as a team are underpriced against Harvey and are one of my favorite stacks in tournaments.
Third Base
Kyle Seager (SEA) vs. OAK ($3,100)
Seager will face Kendall Graveman in Safeco Field. Graveman projects for less than 6.0 Ks/9 and an ERA near 5.00. He’s struggled to start the year, striking out only 7.9% of batters and owning an ERA of 9.49 through three starts. Seager will have the platoon advantage and should bat fifth, giving him solid value, even though he’s priced a bit higher than most of the other value plays.
Shortstop
None
There are no great value plays at shortstop today. The best value plays will bat 7th-9th in the order, making them risky for cash games. Additionally, none of those plays have much power, limiting their upside for tournaments. These players include Orlando Arcia and Tzu-Wei Lin. One of the best values is actually Paul DeJong, who is priced at $3,800, so it’s difficult to label him as a true value. If a cheap shortstop ends up leading off, they would most likely become the best value. I will be filling the rest of my roster first, and selecting my shortstop based on the remaining salary I have.
Outfield
Hunter Renfro (SDP) vs. SFG ($2,600)
Renfroe will face Derek Holland in Petco Park. It’s not a great park for power, but it’s not as bad as everyone seems to believe. Renfroe will have the platoon advantage and has plenty of power to create upside in this matchup. Holland has pitched well this year and has yet to surrender a home run, but he gave up 2.07 HR/9 last season, showing there should be some home run upside. Renfroe probably won’t make my cash game lineups, but I’ll have him sprinkled into my tournament teams.
