RADIO
A dictionary will define value as: the worth of something in terms of the amount of other things for-which it can be exchanged or in terms of some medium of exchange. On the streets we call that getting the most bang out of your buck. I am not here to insult your intelligence and recommend you put Buster Posey in your DFS lineup on a day when he is facing Jon Gray and his 7.98 ERA. These eight players are names you will not find at the very top of the price-filtered list, but have the best shot at outperforming their respective costs on both FanDuel and DraftKings. Utilizing this mentality in DFS will allow you to afford to reach for the true anchors of your lineup, whether that is Clayton Kershaw or Jake Arrieta, or maybe even those Giants hitters at home against Jon Gray.
That is the purpose of this article -- to provide you with the best value hitters available each day.
Today I'll be bringing seven value hitters for MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball on FanDuel and DraftKings for May 7, 2016. Let's get rowdy!
DFS Hitters - Lineup Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings
Brian McCann, NYY (C)
FanDuel: $3,000 , DraftKings: $3,100
When the Red Sox first announced their signing of David Price this off-season, I immediately had to freshen up on his splits versus the New York Yankees, because I knew that they were not sexy. In just under 200 career IP, Price owns a 4.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and only a 2.79 K/BB ratio against the pinstripes. I know its not terrible, but this is a five time All-Star we're talking about. Less than a week ago, the Yankees tagged Price for six runs in seven innings, only striking out three times.
B-Mac is no exception to Price's woes against the Yanks, despite the lefty on lefty draw. In 30 career PA against Price, McCann is hitting .345 with 3 HR. He did not get the start on May 1 against Price, but did draw a walk in a pinch hit appearance. Thanks to many DFS players' infatuation with avoiding same handed batter/pitcher match-ups, and the Yankees' offensive struggles, his ownership should be fairly low on a day where Posey draws a weak SP, Stephen Vogt faces a RHP, and Jonathan Lucroy faces a LHP. Recommendation: GPP and Cash
UPDATE: Brian McCann is NOT in today's starting lineup. Thanks a lot, Girardi.
Miguel Cabrera, DET (1B)
FanDuel: $3,700, DraftKings: $4,000
Now I know Miguel Cabrera is an elite player, and I said I wasn't going to insult your intelligence, but look at those prices! How can one pass on Miguel Cabrera on a day where DraftKings has Chris Carter and Eric Hosmer $300 and $1,100 more expensive, respectively.
Miggy is hitting .324 with 3 HR at home this season, compared to .239 with 1 HR on the road. Also, he has faced A.J. Griffin nine times in his career, bragging a .500/.444/1.375 line with two long balls. That HR:PA ratio gives me confidence in the probability of him putting a ball in the stands again today. So to recap: 1. His price is too low, 2. The Tigers play at home, and 3. He is facing A.J. Griffin. Unfortunately, this should be a popular pick today, making him a Cash game recommendation. For GPP games, consider the first baseman on the opposing team, Prince Fielder.
Brian Dozier, MIN (2B)
FanDuel: $3,300, DraftKings: $3,400
Dozier was finally heating up at the plate, batting .316 over his last five games. Unfortunately, he tweaked his right hamstring and sat out of Friday's bout with the White Sox. Now he gets the pleasure of facing Chris Sale today, IF he is able to play. More on that in a minute. No left handed pitcher would cause me to fade Dozier. He is hitting .429 against them this season, and .271 for his career. In 41 career PA against Sale, Dozier has gone yard three times, with a respectable .289 BA.
Now back to that hammy. Paul Molitor and Dozier both have stated that the second basemen "should" be back in the lineup today. The main problem here is the Twin's 7:15 ET first pitch. This absolutely excludes him from FanDuel All Day slates thanks to the "no late-swaps allowed" rule. In these specific cases, I will happily spend $200 more and start Dustin Pedroia against Nathan Eovaldi at 1:05 ET. However, for FanDuel Late slates and all DraftKings slates, Dozier makes for a great GPP option as most will be scared away by Chris Sale.
UPDATE: Brian Dozier is NOT in todays starting lineup.
Adrian Beltre, TEX (3B)
FanDuel: $3,000, DraftKings: $3,600
Mike Pelfrey owns a 5.68 ERA, and a....wait for it.... 2.05 WHIP. That alone is enough to garner consideration for veteran Adrian Beltre. There will be plenty of run scoring opportunities in this game, as it currently sits as the highest projected total for the day. I honestly cannot think of a situation where Beltre does not play a hand in at least one of those. The floor is high, and Beltre makes for a safe cash game option at a very affordable price. However, I have not seen enough from him this season for me to expect a terribly high ceiling. For GPP games consider another right handed Twin, Miguel Sano, who surprisingly has four hits in five appearances against Sale.
Gerardo Parra, COL (OF)
FanDuel: $3,400, DraftKings: $3,100
Parra has been one of my favorite DFS plays in 2016. The 29 year old lefty does it all. For the year, he is hitting .292 with 3 HR, 18 R, 17 RBI, and 5 SB. He is obviously a much more attractive option at Coors Field, but his .301 career BA at AT&T Park will do just fine.
Parra faces off against Johnny Cueto, who he has fared well against in his career (2 HR, .310/.375/.621; 32 PA). Thanks to the the lineup around him and his ability to fill up the stat-sheet, continue to confidently throw my boy in the lineup for both Cash and GPP games.
Jay Bruce, CIN (OF)
FanDuel: $3,600, DraftKings: $3,800
Since returning from the paternity list (Congrats, by the way), Bruce has reached base in six out of seven games. During this span he also has 5 XBH and 6 RBI. Today the Reds face-off against the Division rival Brewers and Jimmy Nelson.
It is universally known that Bruce is much more effective against RHP, and is very evident from the 100 point difference in BA compared to against LHP. His stats also show that he is very comfortable against Mr. Nelson. In 15 career PA, Bruce is slashing a .429/.467/1.000 line with 2 HR against the young right hander. I would consider those kind of numbers a high floor. Add in Bruce's power, and you have a high ceiling. Consider for both cash and GPP games.
Nelson Cruz, SEA (OF)
FanDuel: $3,600, DraftKings: $4,500
Even when Dallas Keuchel was throwing gems left and right and winning the Cy Young Award, Nelson Cruz haunted his dreams. Cruz flaunts a .471/.524/.882 line against the southpaw, along with 2 HR in 21 PA. With Keuchel currently looking more like his 2012 self, I can only assume these numbers will rise. The two faced off on April 26, when the Mariners hung up five runs in six innings on the reigning AL Cy Young winner. Cruz himself collected two hits and knocked in a run.
Cruz should be sought after in all FanDuel lineups today with a lowly $3,600 price tag, and is still reasonably priced on DraftKings considering the thunder he will be bringing today. Just like the other two mentioned OF, Cruz should be considered in both GPP and Cash games. Shoot, just start these three OF in all of your lineups.
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