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
Kevin Gausman (BAL): $6,200 vs. TBR
Gausman will face the Rays in Camden Yards. This selection isn’t without risk as Gausman has 1.54 HR/9 this season and has a 4.54 ERA (4.12 SIERA). The Rays strike out 22.8% of the time, in the top half of the league. While the Rays may load the lineup with lefties, Gausman is a reverse-splits righty, allowing a career .315 wOBA to lefties and a .342 wOBA to righties. In cash games, I won’t play Gausman, but if you want a tournament option with upside to get you 30-35 FD points, Gausman is your guy.
Catcher/First Base
Evan Gattis (HOU): $2,500 vs. TEX
Gattis will face Ariel Jurado in Minute Maid Park. Jurado doesn’t have much experience in the big leagues and came directly from AA earlier in the year. He projects as a low strikeout pitcher and projects to allow an above average HR/9. If Jurado gets chased early in this game, the Rangers bullpen ranks in the bottom three in the league in ERA. The Astros have a team run total of five, so if Gattis is batting in the top six in the order, I expect him to have opportunities to drive in some runs.
Second Base
Lourdes Gurriel (TOR): $2,800 vs. CHW
Gurriel will match up against the struggling Lucas Giolito who has allowed a 5.94 SIERA this season with a 13.9% strikeout rate. Gurriel has been batting second and is on quite a hot streak including a multi-home run game last night. The Blue Jays have one of the higher team run totals on the slate and Gurriel should be right in the middle of it. For $2,800, Gurriel is underpriced and is one of my favorite cash game values.
Third Base
Miguel Sano (MIN): $2,000 vs. BOS
With Eduardo Escobar traded to the Diamondbacks, the Twins have recalled Miguel Sano. Sano is priced at the minimum and will face Rick Porcello in Fenway Park. It’s a great hitters park and Sano is one of the premier power hitters in the league. There are factors working against Sano (Porcello is a solid pitcher, pitchers umpire calling the game, first game back from AAA), but at $2,000, there is immense upside by selecting Sano’s power for your lineup.
Shortstop
Trevor Story (COL): $4,200 vs. OAK
Tim Beckham ($2,800) is the best true value play at the shortstop position, but I’m going to have a hard time avoiding Trevor Story in both cash games and tournaments. Story will have the platoon advantage against Brett Anderson in Coors Field. The Rockies have the highest team run total of the day and Story has both home run and stolen base upside against Anderson. I’ve found myself paying up for shortstop on almost every slate this season due to the way FanDuel prices the position, and when a $4,200 player is still a top three value at the position, it’s a near lock for me.
Outfield
Curtis Granderson (TOR): $2,900 vs. CHW
Much like Gurriel, I like Granderson because he’ll face Lucas Giolito. Granderson should lead off and will have the platoon advantage against Giolito. There’s always a risk Granderson gets pinch-hit for late in the game, but he’s frequently been able to do his damage early. With a low batting average and some pinch-hit risk, Granderson is a better tournament value than cash game value, but he provides power upside at his $2,900 price tag. A full Blue Jays stack is also in play for tournaments.