MLB Lineups: FanDuel Economics June 17
By Matt Rogers
Welcome to FanDuel Economics! This is the FanDuel MLB Lineups June 17th edition. FanDuel Economics is a daily fantasy sports column focused on FanDuel player salaries and FanDuel point-per-game (PPG) trends.
The purpose of this column is to evaluate player salary and PPG averages over a period of time to provide daily fantasy sports players with a vital tool in their lineup tool belt. Finding the best value options often leads to a big pay-day with your FanDuel MLB lineups!
We’re back to a full slate of 15 MBL games on Friday. With the Chicago Cubs back in town they start the day off with your only afternoon game, facing Francisco Liriano and the Pittsburgh Pirates at 2:20pm ET. Jake Arrieta is pitching for the Cubs in, what should be, an exciting matchup. Here’s what the FanDuel schedule of options look like to start the day:
- 2:20pm ET (All Day)
- 7:05pm ET (Main)
Before we dive into the FanDuel MLB lineups for today’s value, a reminder. The point analysis provided does not include some evening and late night game results, from the night before. However, the salary analysis is as of today.
If you have any questions while filling out your FanDuel MLB lineups feel free to contact me, Matt Rogers. Now, let’s take a look at today’s FanDuel MLB value options:
Next: Value Pitchers
Value Pitchers
So far this season, we have focused on year-to-date statistics for pitchers, since they typically only pitch once per week. However, now that we’ve had more time to develop a greater body of work over the season, we’re going to move toward an every 30-day trend for pitchers, for your daily fantasy baseball lineups. We’re also looking at anyone with three or more starts within the last 30 days.
After an awful start to the season, a light bulb seems to have turned on in Matt Shoemaker‘s (9:35pm ET) head. Or, at the the very least, he’s somehow gained greater velocity in his pitches. Shoemaker is 3-7, but he’s 2-2 over his last six starts. Matt’s ERA has plummeted to 4.76, from as high as 27.00 in late April. After struggling to fan any batters, Shoemaker is averaging 9.6 K’s per game over his last 5 games. That’s quite the turnaround! Over the last thirty days, Matt averaged 49.4 PPG, tied for 6th among all starting pitchers with Justin Verlander, and just above Noah Syndergaard (48.8 PPG), very good company. Shoemaker’s salary is an affordable $8,300 tonight, providing a 6X value, the best value of any pitching option today.
Not far behind Shoemaker’s value is Zach Davies (10:10pm ET). We’ve talked about Davies several times over his last several starts, and he continues to quietly put up solid points each start. Over the last month, Zach averaged 42 PPG, 17th among all starting pitchers. What makes Davies really attractive, as well, is the cheap $7,000 salary, providing another 6X value. Getting 40 points from a player for only $7,000 gives you multiple options at the other lineup positions, allowing you to really beef up your lineup and depend less on an outstanding performance from your pitcher. Davies isn’t as strong of an option as Shoemaker, but he’s a better bargain.
Michael Fulmer (8:15pm ET) continues to have outstanding performances, each outing this year for the Detroit Tigers. While the Mets really benefited from the Cespedes trade in the short-term, the Tigers appear to have made a good trade for their long-term rotation. I try to get Fulmer in my lineup every time he pitches, because he’s continued to help me win. Having Shoemaker and Davies as additional options, makes for a tough set of choices tonight, or I’m going to ‘go broke’ submitting multiple lineups, probably the later. Over the last month, Michael averaged 50 PPG, 4th among all starting pitchers, just below Madison Bumgarner and ahead of Max Scherzer, also great company. Fulmer is a little more pricey, at $8,400, but that’s probably because he’s demonstrated a consistent ability to dominate the mound. Still, that’s another 6X value option, and yet another very good value option at pitcher tonight. Tough choices, but at least we have great options!
Next: Value Hitters - INF
Value Hitters – INF
When we look for value hitters, we typically focus on how many points each hitter is getting per $1,000 of salary you need to spend. This ratio provides an understanding of how many points you’re getting for what you paid. It’s important to consider other factors when evaluating this information, though, like how many games they played in the average PPG or how they do vs. RHP/LHP. Recently, the value range has started to level off as FanDuel adjusts salaries to players who are having hot/cold starts to the season. Lately, anyone over a 4.5X value is top 50 among your daily fantasy baseball lineups.
One of my favorite fantasy baseball options at catcher is Salvador Perez (8:15pm ET). Perez isn’t my favorite because he dominates at the plate, but because he’s consistently a solid hitter. Being able to rely on a hitter each day is hard to find in baseball. Over the last week, Perez is hot, averaging 18.2 PPG, more than any daily starting catcher. Perez is also a reasonable $3,300 salary and brings a 5.5X value to the dish tonight.
We talked about Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, (7:05pm ET) and I would continue to try to play him while he’s hot, as long as you can afford him and do not give up much in return. If you need a more affordable option at first base, consider Freddie Freeman, 1B, (7:10pm ET). Freeman is catching fire lately, averaging 16.6 PPG, and is much cheaper at $3,600, a very good 4.6X value.
DJ LeMahieu, 2B, (7:10pm ET) is having a great season at the plate for the Colorado Rockies. Lately, LeMahieu has been on a tear, averaging 21.9 PPG, more than any other second basemen. Admittedly, DJ’s tear was over the Rockies last six games in Denver. However, LeMahieu also had a solid series in LA, against the Dodgers, before his hot streak. DJ’s salary is only $3,500 tonight, providing a fantastic 6.3X value. I’m looking for LeMahieu to continue with his hot back tonight in Miami, against the Marlins.
Josh Donaldson, 3B, (7:05pm ET) is locked in at the plate, and demolishing the baseball right now. Unfortunately, Josh is also very expensive, at $4,700. Still, averaging 21.9 PPG over the last week puts Donaldson atop the value board for third basemen this week, at a 4.7X value. Try your best to afford Josh tonight. If you can’t, take a look at a deeper-dive into the 3B position, for FanDuel MLB.
After a sub-par season so far, Jose Iglesias, SS, (8:15pm ET) is on a tear. Iglesias is averaging 16.8 PPG over the last seven days, 2nd behind only Xander Bogaerts. Jose is a very affordable $2,900 (helping you afford Donaldson), and a fantastic 5.8X value. For more on this position, take a look at a deeper-dive into the SS position, for FanDuel MLB.
Next: Value Hitters - OF
Value Hitters – OF
When Josh Reddick hit the 15-day Disabled List for the Oakland A’s, Jake Smolinski (9:35pm ET) was called up from the minors and immediately saw playing time in the A’s lineup. Initially, it appeared the A’s planned to have Smolinski face lefties, but the way he’s hitting, he may become a daily fixture in their lineup. In his last four games, Jake had 2 home runs and 6 RBI’s. Over the last week, Jake averaged 18.1 PPG, 6th among all outfielders. Of course, as a likely temporarily option for the A’s, Reddick is due for rehab assignment next week, Smolinski has remained cheap, and is only $2,700 tonight. That’s an incredibly high 6.7X value, and we should probably take advantage of playing Smolinski as a bargain option until we see how Oakland manages Reddick’s return.
Shin-Soo Choo (8:15pm ET) is healthy again, and entered the Texas Rangers now crowded outfield this week. It remains to be seen how the Rangers will handle so many great hitting options in the outfield, but for now it appears Choo is getting his starting job back. This week, Choo averaged 19.5 PPG, quite the return. Shin-Soo is still relatively cheap at $3,100 tonight, providing a great 6.3X value opportunity. I’ll look for Choo to continue to roll, since returning, against a struggling Michael Wacha tonight.
Cody Asche (7:05pm ET) missed the first two months of the season for the Philadelphia Phillies with an oblique strain. Initially, Cody struggled in his return to the Phillies lineup, but lately Asche seems to be now locked in at the plate. Over the last week, Cody averaged 14 PPG, 22nd among all outfielders. Asche is still very affordable, at a $2,900 salary, and one of the top 5 value options in the outfield position, at 4.8X. I’m looking forward to cashing in on Asche’s power surge continuing against Robbie Ray and the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight.
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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 today daily fantasy baseball gamers! Make sure to check lineups as they are announced before locking in your FanDuel MLB lineups!