MLB Lineups: FanDuel Economics June 22 Main
By Matt Rogers
Welcome to FanDuel Economics! This is the FanDuel MLB Lineups June 22nd ‘Main’ 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 continue a full MLB schedule again on Wednesday, but today the schedule is split. Half of the MLB schedule starts between noon and 4pm, while the other half begins in the evening. Due to the split, we’re writing two value articles for the day, as players tend to play games in groups of time, versus ‘all day’ plays, which can be risky, due to last min lineup changes for the later games. Today’s evening games start in a flurry at and after 7:05pm ET. Here’s what the FanDuel schedule of options look like to start the 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.
Until June 17th, Michael Fulmer (7:10pm ET) had not giving up an earned run in any start since May 21st. During that period, Fulmer was absolutely dominant. In Michael’s last starting, in Kansas City, he struggled a bit giving up 1 earned run, 4 walks, but still striking out 5. However, that was his worst outing since mid-May. Still, the former Mets prospect, acquired last year in the Yoneis Cespedes trade, is having a great year and the 23-year-old is having a spectacular rookie season. Over the last month, Fulmer averaged 43.2 PPG, 15th among all starting pitchers. Michael’s salary dipped a bit to $8,000 tonight, allowing him to rise to a 5.2X value. Even against a decent offensive unit in the Seattle Mariners, I really like Fulmer’s value tonight.
Trevor Bauer (7:10pm ET) didn’t have a good start to the season, but he’s really turned his year around in June. The young Cleveland Indian, 25 years old and 3rd overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft, averaged 37 PPG over the last 30 days. Entering June with a 4.34 ERA, Bauer dropped his ERA to 3.46 by June 17th. In Seattle, on June 6th, Trevor fanned 10 and took the win, along with 62 FanDuel points. Bauer is more expensive than Fulmer, making Michael the better option, but Trevor is still a reasonable $8,100 salary and 4.6X value, your second best pitching value tonight.
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.
The Texas Rangers are in a search for a starting catcher, and Robinson Chirinos, C, (8:05pm ET) is currently making his case. Robinson is having a good week, averaging 18 PPG, 3rd among all catchers. Chrinios is very cheap, with a $2,300 salary tonight. So if Robinson is in the lineup today, you have a very good 7.8X value behind the plate. Here’s a recent deep-dive into the catcher position.
Adam Lind, 1B, (7:10pm ET) doesn’t have a great batting average this season, .238, but he already has 10 home runs this year. Lind has been particularly powerful in June, hitting 4 home runs over his last 9 games. Within the last seven days, Adam averaged 17.8 PPG, 5th among all starting first basemen. With a reasonable $3,000 salary tonight, Lind is a 6X value at the 3rd position tonight.
We just talked about Jonathan Schoop, 2B, (7:05pm ET) yesterday, so we won’t reiterate everything. Over the last week, Jonathan averaged 16.6 PPG, 2nd among all second basemen, only behind Travis Devon, whom we recommend as a value option in the ‘early’ slate. Schoop is a reasonable $3,400 salary and a 4.9X value tonight, the best value at second base.
Justin Turner, 3B, (10:10pm ET) has a hot and powerful bat lately, hitting 4 home runs over his last 4 games. Aside from Josh Donaldson, no other third basemen is crushing the baseball like Turner right now. Over the last week, Justin averaged 22.9 PPG. Turner is still a somewhat reasonable $3,600 salary, landing at a 6.4X value. Turner is, by far, your best value option at 3B tonight. But for other options, take a look at a deeper-dive into the 3B position, for FanDuel MLB.
Eduardo Escobar, SS, (8:10pm ET) is typically a high average hitter. But Escobar hit two home runs over his last 3 games, and is having a great week. In the game he didn’t have a home run, he still had a triple, 1 run, and 2 RBI’s. Over the last week, Escobar is averaging 18 PPG, the most of any shortstop playing at least 4 games. Eduardo is a cheap $2,600 salary, and a very good 6.9X value, the best of any shortstop tonight. 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
Assuming Michael Taylor (10:10pm ET) is back in the Washington Nationals lineup tonight, he’s an intriguing value option. Taylor is having a lot of fun in the 7-day California road-trip for the Nationals. Over the last week, Taylor averaged 22.2 PPG, 3rd only to Gutierrez, who we visit below, and Justin Upton. Michael’s salary is reasonable at $2,700 tonight, leading to an incredible 8.2X value, the best of the night in the outfield. Taylor is a streaky hitter, and it’s usually worth paying for his bat while it’s hot.
Yesterday, we talked about how well Franklin Gutierrez (7:10pm ET) has been hitting the baseball lately. Franklin is averaging 23.7 PPG over the last seven days. A 2 home run 6 RBI, and 3 run game in Boston against the Red Sox piled up as many as 60.6 points. Gutierrez only had 3 points on Monday, but he’s still consistently finding points. With a reasonable $3,200 salary, Franklin is still your next best value, at the outfield position, 7.4X 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!