FanDuel Economics: MLB Position Analysis

Jun 9, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Jose Lobaton (59) slides safely into third base as Chicago White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier (21) makes a tag during the sixth inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

Welcome to FanDuel Economics! FanDuel Economics is a daily fantasy sports column focused on FanDuel player salaries and FanDuel point-per-game (PPG) trends.

The Position Analysis articles are intended to take a snapshot of the FanDuel MLB year-to-date results, after a period of time, focused on each FanDuel MLB position. While reviewing the year-to-date results, we’ll highlight the players who are compiling the most points, had the biggest salary adjustments, and have the best value at east position. Like the daily FanDuel Economics articles, the intention of this column is to arm Daily Fantasy Baseball players with more information to use while choosing your FanDuel MLB Lineups.

This article will focus on the Third Base (3B) position. At this point in the season, we’ll focus on third basemen who have started at least 20 games. So any third basemen who have not started at least 20 games in the season are not included in this analysis.

Here’s a a quick look at the three categories we’ll review:

Top 10 Points Per Game (PPG)
Top 10 Salary Adjustments
Top 10 Value Options

Before we get started, all of the statistics and FanDuel information is through Sunday, June 13th. Now, let’s get started:

Next: Third Base - Top 10 PPG

Jun 5, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a two run home run during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Third Base – Top 10 PPG

Highlights

For anyone tracking baseball this year, or playing MLB on FanDuel, it’s likely not a surprise Nolan Arenado is at the top of the points per game (PPG) board for all third basemen, season to date. Arenado had a coming out party, in a huge way, last year. Nolan crushed 42 home runs and raked in 130 RBI’s, taking advantage of the thin air at his home field, Coors Field, in Denver. Arenado already has 19 HR’s and 53 RBI’s, and we haven’t even hit the mid-point for the year. So, it’s likely Nolan will at least duplicate his 2015 season, in 2016. At 13.4 PPG over the course of the season, Arenado is a good bet to get you 10+ points each day, with a very high ceiling. However, the only problem with Nolan is his salary. Arenado has been expensive most of the season, currently at $4,600. That’s only a $100 season-to-date change in salary. Also, Nolan’s value is 2.9X, not even in the top 20 of all value options. So while Arenado is a safe bet for points each night, you’re likely paying too much for him.

Jung Ho Kang had a nasty knee injury last September, resulting in a torn meniscus and fractured tibia. The injury kept Kang out of action for the rest of last season, and focused on rehab during the offseason. Jung Ho was able to finally be activated from the disabled list in early May. Understandably, Kang wasn’t on many fantasy baseball team rosters immediately after his return, as many likely wanted to see how the injury would impact his play. Jung Ho’s debut last season was solid, hitting a .287 batting averaged with 15 Home Runs, 58 RBI’s, 60 runs over 126 games. Since coming back from his injury in early May, Kang appears to have not missed a beat at the plate. Jung Ho is averaging .283 with 8 HR’s, and 23 RBI’s. The Pirates are playing it safe with Kang, often subbing in David Freese so as not to push Jung Ho’s leg rehab to hard. However, as long as Kang continues to plug into the cleanup spot for the Pirates, he’ll likely continue to provide a great option of 10+ points each game. Kang has also been cheap, currently $2,900, and is the best value option among all third basement.

Probably the biggest surprise this season in the third base option for MLB FanDuel lineups, is Jake Lamb. This young, 25 year old, Diamondback is averaging .262, so far this season, with 11 home runs, 38 RBI’s, and 30 runs. Jake also has 16 doubles and 2 triples. Lamb has been consistently averaging just under 12 PPG, 5th among all third basemen. Jake is also often affordable, $3,100 tonight, and is one of the best value options among all third basemen, 3.8X and 4th among all 3B’s. Whenever I’m looking to plug a strong option into my 3B slot, Jake Lamb is one of the first considered, and that doesn’t appear to change anytime soon.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 Third Basemen by FanDuel PPG:

Position Name FanDuel PPG

Now let’s take a look at Salary adjustments:

Next: Third Base - Top 10 Salary Adjustments

Apr 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) runs to first base on a single during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Third Base – Top 10 Salary Adjustments

Highlights

FanDuel salary can be a tricky thing to analyze. Salaries fluctuate often for hitters, many times due to their opposition pitching. For example, when Clayton Kershaw recently pitched against the Giants, many of the Giants salaries plummeted into the $2,000’s, but they didn’t all stay there the following game. Also, FanDuel does make mistakes sometimes. Ironically, FanDuel made one with Kike Hernandez during the same Dodgers/Giants game, valuing Kike at a jaw-dropping low of $220. By the way, I used him that night and won all 9 of my lineups, it was a good night. All of that said, there is still typically a good story in the year-to-date salary change trends. Some players are over-valued at the start of the season, and many are often under-valued. Some players get a hot start, and their salary becomes too inflated, while others start slow and climb significantly over the course of the year as they heat up. Among our Top 10 adjustments at third base, we mostly have hitters playing behind expectations or taking too long to heat up, causing a large salary jump into June.

Back in 2013, there was a lot of buzz around the young Tigers prospect, Nick Castellanos. But after his first two so-so seasons, 2014 & 2015, the buzz around Castellanos began to die down. However, Castellanos appears to have locked in at the dish and is beginning to prove he’s worthy of his previous reputation. Nick is currently hitting .305 with 12 HR’s, 29 Runs, and 37 RBI’s. So after a lackluster start to his career, Castellanos is crushing the ball and his salary is skyrocketing as a result.

Danny Valencia has bounced around 5 different MLB teams over his 6 year career. Danny finally had some success in Oakland last year, which earned him additional playing time in 2016. So far, the A’s appeared to have made a great move. After 42 games this season, Valencia is hitting a .335 batting average. If Danny had been in more games, he would be listed as 5th among all MLB hitters this season. Valencia also has 10 home runs. So Danny is another example of a third basemen hitting above expectations causing his salary to spike since the start of the season.

Anthony Rendon has a slightly different story to his salary change this season. Rendon, the 6th overall draft pick of the 2011 MLB draft, hit .287 with 21 home runs, 83 RBI’s, 111 Runs, and had 17 stolen bases in 2014. Therefore, expectations were high for Anthony in 2015. Unfortunately, injuries often held Anthony out of the lineup, and he was unable to really get going at the plate. The struggle appeared to continue into this season, but Rendon has been heating up over the last month. Over the last 30 days, Anthony averaged 12.1 PPG, 6th among all third basemen. That pulled Rendon’s seasonal PPG average up to 10.3 PPG, now 15th among all third basemen. As a result, we’ve seen Anthony’s salary jump to $3,300, right where we probably would’ve expected his salary to be when playing to expectations.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 Third Basemen by Salary Adjustments:

Position Name Salary ($) Salary Adj. ($) Salary Adj. (%)

Nick Castellanos $3,300 +$900 +37.5%
Jake Lamb $3,100 +$900 +40.9%
Evan Longoria $3,800 +$800 +26.7%
Luis Valbuena $3,100 +$800 +34.8%
Danny Valencia $3,300 +$800 +32.0%
Alex Rodriguez $3,500 +$700 +25.0%
Martin Prado $3,300 +$700 +26.9%
Jose Ramirez $3,200 +$700 +28.0%
Anthony Rendon $3,300 +$500 +17.9%
Eugenio Suarez $2,900 +$500 +20.8%

Now let’s take a look at Top Value:

Next: Third Base - Top 10 Value

May 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Travis Shaw (47) bats during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Third Base – Top 10 Value

Highlights

Finding the best value options is my favorite statistic. If you can find a couple of value options, paired with great, but reasonable, high point yield options, you’ll likely win those lineups every time.

Travis Shaw quietly continues to have a solid season for the Boston Red Sox. Hitting a .266 batting average, 7 home runs, 19 doubles, 2 triples, 36 RBI’s, and 36 runs, Shaw resembles Jake Lamb‘s season so far. However, Travis continues to fly under the radar and often has a cheap salary. On the season, Shaw is averaging 10.8 PPG, so a solid bet for double-digits each night. Travis doesn’t have as high a ceiling as an Arenado, but paying only $2,700 for 10+ points is a bagain, and I love his 4X value.

Yangervis Solarte continues to have a decent career at third base for the San Diego Padres. Solarte spent most of the season on the disabled list, with a hamstring injury. However, after only 25 games this season, Yangervis has a .284 batting average with 4 home runs, 10 runs, and 17 RBI’s. Solarte appears to be heating up since getting healthy, averaging 11.1 PPG so far this year. With a another cheap $2,800 salary, I will continue to use Solarte in my lineups until he cools off, or becomes too expensive.

Eugenio Suarez is having an up-and-down season so far this year. The young, 24 year old, un-drafted free agent, doesn’t hit a great average, .231 so far this year. However, Eugenio has experienced a power surge as he gets comfortable at the plate. Suarez already has 13 home runs, and also scored 33 runs, as well as knocked in 33 RBI’s. The slugger can give you a very good night on a swing or two, but also has a propensity to strike out or end a game with no hits. Still, when Suarez is hot, he’s worth the 3.4X value play, 7th among all third basemen.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 Third Basemen by Salary Adjustments:

Position Name Value (Points/$1,000)

More from FanSided

To re-visit other recent value options for FanDuel MLB, view some of my other columns.

For additional FanDuel MLB analysis, take a look at my good friend and follow staff writer Brian Tulloch’s MLB Picks & Pivots column. Also, Mike Marteny provides Draft Kings MLB Picks analysis. Draft Kings uses a different point system and Mike does a great job of breaking down your options. Both also provide great ‘stacking’ options which I like to discuss and use as well.

Best of luck daily fantasy baseball gamers! Make sure to check lineups each day as they are announced before locking in your FanDuel MLB lineups!

FanDuel Economics: MLB Position Analysis – Third Base

By Matt Rogers | Jun 13, 2016

Welcome to FanDuel Economics! FanDuel Economics is a daily fantasy sports column focused on FanDuel player salaries and FanDuel point-per-game (PPG) trends.

More from FanSided