Welcome to FanDuel Economics! This is the FanDuel MLB Lineups June 29th ‘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!
On Wednesday, we continue with a full slate of 15 games in the MLB schedule. However, today’s schedule is split, with 7 games in the afternoon followed by 8 games in the evening. So we’re splitting today’s FanDuel Economics MLB articles to focus on Early games first, followed by the ‘Main’ slate which begins around 7pm ET. This is the ‘Main’ portion of the lineups focus. Here’s what the FanDuel schedule of options look like at mid-day today:
- 7:05pm ET (Main)
- 8:10pm ET (Express)
- 10:05pm ET (Late Night)
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.
Jake Peavy (10:05pm ET) has been having a terrible year so far, 4-6 after 15 starts, a 5.22 ERA, and 63 strikeouts over 79 total innings pitched this season. The 35-year-old veteran has had a great career, but if the season ended today, this would be his worst of 15 straight seasons. However, Jake has appeared to be turning a corner in June, winning two of his last three starts and averaging 5 K’s over his four games in June. Also, while Peavy’s 5.22 ERA isn’t great, he entered the month with a 6.41 ERA, so it’s falling fast. Over the last month, Jake averaged 35.4 PPG, not too bad. Peavy’s salary is still low, likely due to his bad season so far, at $7,200 tonight and giving us a very good 4.9X value. That’s the highest value of any pitching option tonight and 13th among all starting pitchers as of today.
But if you’re willing to spend a little more on a less risky pitching option, Carlos Martinez (8:15pm ET) brings great value to the mound tonight in St. Louis against the Kansas City Royals. Unlike Peavy, Martinez is having a good year so far, going 7-5 after 14 starts with a 3.02 ERA, and 70 K’s over 89 innings pitched. Over the last month, Carlos averaged 42.8 PPG, 11th best among all starting pitchers. As mentioned already, Martinez is more pricey, a $9,000 salary tonight. Still, that gives us a 4.8X value in the pitcher spot, 17th among all starting pitchers and the 2nd best value option tonight, just behind Jake Peavy.
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.
Stephen Vogt, C, (10:05pm ET) is having what could lead to an All-Star type season, for the Oakland A’s, behind the plate. Vogt is also having a solid year in the batter’s box as well, hitting .276 with 6 home runs, 17 doubles, a triple, 26 runs, and 23 RBI’s. Not bad for a catcher. Over the last week, Vogt has been hot, averaging 16.3 PPG, 2nd only to Cameron Rupp (17.1 PPG). Vogt’s salary is a very attractive $2,900, giving us a 5.6X value, the best of all catchers tonight. Also, here is a recent deep-dive into the catcher position.
Until recently, Prince Fielder, 1B, (7:05pm ET) was having a sub-par season for the Texas Rangers. In fact, his bat was the coolest in the lineup and he was the only real surprise, on the downside, for the club. But Fielder is getting hot this week, hitting 2 home runs over his last 5 games and scoring double-digit FanDuel points in his last five straight games. Over the last week, Prince averaged 15.7 PPG, 8th among all first basemen. Fielder’s salary is very reasonable, at $2,900 and gives us a 5.4X value, the best value option at first base.
At $3,900 tonight, Matt Carpenter, 2B, (8:15pm ET) isn’t a cheap option, but his hot bat makes him hard to avoid. Carpenter is hitting .300 this season, with 24 doubles, 5 triples, 14 Home Runs, 49 RBI’s, and 54 Runs. The only unimpressive stat is he was caught stealing during his only attempt this season. But an additionally interesting note is Matt has 52 walks this season, 3rd in MLB behind only Paul Goldschmidt and Bryce Harper, not bad company. Over the last week, Carpenter averaged 21.3 PPG, more than any other second basemen option, and even with his expensive salary he’s a 5.5X value, which is also the best of all 2B’s tonight.
Adrian Beltre, 3B, (7:05pm ET) is quietly having a good season this year. Likely due to Beltre’s impressive career so far, so it’s expected, but also because of all many surprises within the Rangers lineup this year. Still, it’s impressive someone hitting .285 with 11 home runs, 41 runs, and 51 RBI’s at this point in the season is barely getting mentioned when discussing the Rangers lineup. And over the last seven days, Adrian has been getting even better, averaging 17.1 PPG, 3rd among all starting third basemen. Beltre’s salary is quite reasonable, $2,900, and he brings a very high 5.9X value to the plate tonight, the best of all third basemen right now, and especially among the options tonight. But for other options, take a look at a deeper-dive into the 3B position, for FanDuel MLB.
We’ve talked about Marcus Semien, SS, (10:05pm ET) before and I like his value again tonight. Semien isn’t a consistently good hitter, at .248, which is more common with shortstops. Rather, Marcus typically hits for power, hitting 15 home runs already this season and is well on for more than 30 this year. Semien hit 2 HR’s over his last three games, including 6 RBI’s. Over the last week, Marcus averaged 18.5 PPG, 3rd among all shortstops. Semien’s salary is starting to get price, at $3,600 tonight, but that’s still a solid 5.1X value, top 4 among all shorstops. 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
Coco Crisp (10:05pm ET) had a surprise 27.7 point game on June 22nd against the Brewers, but he followed that game up two days later with a big 37.8 point game in L.A. against the Angels. To prove it was a trend, Coco then hit a grand slam the following day, exceeding 30 points yet again (32.2). Crisp has now had double-digit FanDuel points in five of his last 6 games, that’s a good indication that Crisp has a hot bat. Over the last seven days, Coco averaged 23 PPG, more than any other outfielder playing at least four games during that span of time. Crisp is still a very reasonable $3,000 and he brings a tremendous 7.7X value to the plate tonight. Especially if you’re fading Peavy tonight, Crisp is a must-have in your lineup tonight.
Gregory Polanco (10:10pm ET) got some time off in a two game series against the Dodgers, only batting twice in the series. However, Polanco came back into the lineup, serving as the Designated Hitter (DH) for the Pirates in Seattle against the American League Mariners. It’s likely he’ll be in that spot again tonight, making Gregory an appealing option in the OF tonight. Polanco has averaged 19 PPG over the last week, top 10 among all outfielders. With a reasonable $3,200 salary tonight, that’s a high 5.9X value, the 2nd base among all outfielders tonight.
Lonnie Chisenhall (7:10pm ET) continues his offensive surge in June, hitting 2 of his only 4 home runs this season over the last 3 games. Chisenhall’s average suddenly climbed to .298 too. Over the last week, Lonnie averaged 19.3 PPG, 8th among all outfielders. Chisenhall’s salary jump $700 over the last week, but at $3,500 he’s still a very good 5.5X value, the 3rd base of all value options in the OF 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!