MLB Lineups: FanDuel Economics July 3

Welcome to FanDuel Economics!  This is the FanDuel MLB Lineups July 3rd 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!

With a full slate of 15 games Sunday, we have plenty of value options for our FanDuel MLB lineups. Most of the day’s games are in the early afternoon.  There are a couple of games in the late afternoon, and one in the evening as well, providing multiple timing options for the day.  Here’s what the FanDuel schedule of options look like to start the day:

• 1:07pm ET (Main)
• 1:07pm ET (Slate of the Day)
• 1:07pm ET (All Day)
• 2:10pm ET (Express)
• 4:05pm ET (Late)

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.

With Rich Hill injured recently, Daniel Mengden (4:05pm ET) was pulled from the Minors to start several times for the Oakland A’s.  With Hill coming back, it sounds like Mengden, who looks like a young Rolly Fingers, is staying in the A’s rotation, and for good reason.  While Daniel is only 1-3 after his first four major league starts, he’s getting very little run support.  Mengden has a 2.81 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 26 K’s over 25.2 total innings.  That’s a very good start and with a better offense backing him up, he would be at least 3-1 or 4-0.  Over the last month, Daniel averaged 35.8 PPG, 33rd among all starting pitchers. Mengden’s salary is only $7,400 giving us a 4.8X value, 10th among all starting pitchers and easily our best value at pitcher for Sunday.

Matt Shoemaker (1:35pm ET) continues to have a good season this year.  I won’t go into too much detail about his season, because if you follow this column, we’ve already talked about him multiple times.  Over the last 30-day period, Shoemaker averaged 38.4 PPG, 21st among all starting pitchers, and fairly consistent with his season so far.  Matt’s salary is a very reasonable $8,000, actually dropping $300 as he pitches in Boston against the Red Sox this afternoon.  So with a 4.8X value, like Mengden, Shoemaker is one of the best value options at pitcher today.

Cole Hamels (2:10pm ET) is having an outstanding year, the Rangers appear to really have made a great move trading for Hamels last summer.  So far this year, Cole is 9-1, after 16 starts, with a low 2.60 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 102 K’s over 103.2 total innings.  Over the last month, Hamels averaged 46 PPG, 6th among all starting pitchers.  Cole is expensive, with a $10,100 salary, and brings a solid 4.6X value to the mound today.  Hamels may not be the best value, but given his history, he should be the best option pitching in Minnesota this afternoon.

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.

Tyler Flowers, C, (8:05pm ET) has some pop in his swing lately, hitting 2 home runs, 3 runs, and 3 RBI’s over the last four games.  Over the last week, Tyler averaged 14.2 PPG, 5th among starting catchers.  Flowers is a very cheap $2,200 tonight, providing a very good 6.5X value.  Also, here is a recent deep-dive into the catcher position.

Kendrys Morales, 1B, (1:35pm ET) is crushing the ball right now, hitting 4 home runs over his last three games, including 8 RBI’s, 2 doubles, and 4 runs.  Morales hit 2 home runs against the Phillies yesterday, totaling 47.4 FanDuel points.  Over the last week, Kendrys averaged 21.4 PPG, second only to Wil Myers 21.9 PPG.  With a somewhat pricey $3,900 salary today, Morales still gives us a 5.5X value, 2nd among all starting first basemen.

We talked about Brian Dozier, 2B, (2:10pm ET) recently, and we’re going back to him again as he continues with a hot bat at the plate.  In Brian’s last five games of June, he hit 5 home runs.  Over the last week, Dozier averaged 21.9 PPG, tops among all starting second basemen in that time. Brian’s salary is slightly cheaper, at $3,100 this afternoon, giving us a tremendous 7.1X value, and clearly the best value among second basemen. 

I don’t get to talk about Kris Bryant, 3B, (1:10pm ET) often because he’s well known and typically very expensive.  Oh, and he’s very good.  Kris has been absolutely scorching the ball lately, piling up an amazing 81.8 points in one game against the Reds, hitting 3 home runs in that game.  Since, Bryant has remained hot.  Over the last week, Kris averaged 25 PPG, not only the most of any third basemen, but also any hitter in that time.  Bryant’s salary is again expensive, at $4,100, but that’s still an incredibly high 6.1X value.  If you can’t afford Bryan’t, take a look at a deeper-dive into the 3B position, for FanDuel MLB.

Danny Espinosa, SS, (1:35pm ET) is rapidly getting more expensive, but that’s due to his incredibly hot bat lately, looking much better in late June/early July than the rest of the season. On June 30th, Espinosa hit 2 home runs, one from each side of the plate (first time for the Nationals organization), and 7 RBI’s.  ‘Espy’ now has 15 home runs this season, not bad for a shortstop, and at times career platoon player.  Over the last week, Espinosa averaged 20.6 PPG, the most of all shortstops.  As mentioned, Danny’s salary has jumped, now at $3,400, but that’s still a very good 3.1X 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

As we’ve discussed recently, Coco Crisp (4:05pm ET) has been smoking the baseball lately, now scoring double-digit FanDuel points in seven of his last eight games, and his last six straight.  Now, Crisp is averaging 23.1 PPG, easily the best of all shortstops.  Coco’s salary has actually dropped $100, now at $3,200.  So with a 7.2X value going into this afternoon’s game in Oakland, facing Francisco Liriano and the Pittsburgh Pirates, I’m sticking with Crisp, yet again.

Another outfielder we continue to talk about is Lonnie Chisenhall (1:07pm ET).  Lonnie remains hot at the plate, now with 19.7 PPG, 7th among all outfielders over the last week.  Like he did yesterday, Chisenhall will drop a goose-egg, 0 points, every now and then, but he usually follows that up with a nice double-digit response.  Lonnie’s salary has now dropped back to $2,900, giving us a tremendous 6.8X value, just below Coco Crisp.

Carlos Gonzalez (4:10pm ET) continues to have a wonderful season so far.  ‘CarGo’ is now hitting a .326 average with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 18 home runs, 54 runs, 58 RBI”s, and 2 stolen bases.  Over the last week, even away from Coors Field, Carlos remains consistently hot, averaging 23.2 PPG, 2nd only to Mike Trout who has 23.6 PPG.  However, Trout’s salary is $4,600 versus Gonzalez salary of only $3,600, so you’re getting tremendous savings by going with Carlos Gonzalez over Mike Trout.  CarGo has a 6.4X value going into the game on Sunday afternoon, the 3rd best value among all starting outfielders.

More from FanSided

• MLB Rumors: Cardinals budging on Arenado, Orioles-Ohtani package, Yankees backup plan
• Patriots backup plan for DeAndre Hopkins is a shot in the dark
• Raiders: Saquon Barkley’s new contract may have screwed over Josh Jacobs
• Clark Hunt throws cold water on potential Chiefs throwbacks
• Packers: 3 free agency mistakes Brian Gutekunst should already regret

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!