Welcome to FanDuel Economics! This is the FanDuel MLB Lineups July 6th 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 the second half of Wednesday:
- 7:07pm 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.
There aren’t many attractive value options for pitchers in today’s MLB Lineups for the Main slate of FanDuel games. However, I found a few attractive, but risky options for this evening.
Colin Rea (9:40pm ET), pitching in the San Diego Padres rotation, is having a so-so year. Colin is 5-3 after 15 starts for the struggling Padres ball club. Rea only has 66 strikeouts over 82.2 total innings this year, and 34 walks which is a troubling ratio. Colin’s ERA is now 4.79, although it had previously been higher, and his WHIP is a decent 1.38. Rea is mostly in the Padres rotation due to injury, but also due to a lack of available quality starters in the organization. Colin was shelled by the Marlins, in San Diego, giving up 6 earned runs in just 2.2 innings, taking the loss on June 13th. So there’s plenty of risk in a Rea pick. However, Colin has looked great since the Marlins disaster. Rea followed the game up on June 18th against a very good Nationals lineup giving up only 1 earned run in 6.1 innings, and piling up 6 K’s, and 2 walks, in a no decision bid. Also, Rea won the following two games to end the month of June. Over the last month, Colin averaged 29.4 PPG, not bad for a struggling pitcher. And what makes Rea very attractive is his rock-bottom salary of $5,800 allowing you to load up on the best hitting talent while also likely getting around 30 points from your pitcher, who’s a 5.1X value tonight, the best bargain of all pitching options. Rea is certainly worth a consideration.
A very similar option to Colin Rea, but somewhat pricer, is Jorge De La Rosa (10:15pm ET). Jorge is also struggling this season, for the Colorado Rockies, with a 5-5 record after 10 starts with a very high 5.98 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. However, De La Rosa does have 53 K’s in 55.2 total innings, which is a more attractive strikeout ratio meaning De La Rosa is more likely to pile up some FanDuel points for you. Also, over his last five games, Jorge is 4-1, giving you at least 12 points in four of his last five starts, that’s pretty solid. Over the last 30 days, De La Rosa averaged 33 PPG, mildly good. Jorge is a tad more expensive, a salary of $6,600 tonight, but that’s still incredibly cheap and gives us a value of 5X on the mound tonight, 4th among all starting pitchers. De La Rosa is certainly worth a consideration as well 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.
After a tepid start to the season in the Spring, Russell Martin, C, (7:07pm ET) continues to heat up at the plate this summer. On Sunday, Martin hit his 7th home run and knocked in 5 RBI’s. Russell booked-ended that game with a 6.2 point game on each side. Martin averaged 16.6 PPG over the last week, 3rd among any starting catcher playing at least four games in that period of time. Russell continues to be very affordable, only $2,600 tonight. So if Martin gets another start behind the plate tonight, he’s bringing a very good 6.4X value with him. Also, here is a recent deep-dive into the catcher position.
C.J. Cron, 1B, (7:10pm ET) has been absolutely scorching the baseball lately and is easily my favorite value option across the entire day. Cron has 5 home runs over the first 5 games in July, 4 of those home runs were hit in just two games. C.J. also piled up 13 RBI’s during that time as well, and 8 runs. So over the last week, Cron averaged an amazing 27.4 PPG, incredibly high for anyone playing each day during that span of time. C.J.’s salary remains confusingly cheap, at $2,700, so he’s bringing a massive 10.1X value, a bargain special, to the plate tonight. Put Cron in your lineups.
Brett Lawrie, 2B, (8:10pm ET) is quietly adding points into our lineups each day of the last eight games, never lower than 6 points. Brett’s having a solid season for the Chicago White Sox this year, hitting .256 with 11 home runs, 33 runs, 34 RBI’s, and 7 stolen bases. Over the last week, Lawrie averaged a very consistent 11.5 PPG. Brett’s salary is a bargain, at $2,500, giving us a 4.6X value tonight, the best among all second basemen.
I typically like to avoid pricey options in our list of value for MLB lineups, but Josh Donaldson, 3B, (7:07pm ET) is hard to avoid. I’ve talked about Josh a lot lately, take a look at a deeper-dive into the 3B position for FanDuel MLB, and with all the savings we’ve already discussed for tonight he should be affordable. Josh averaged 27.2 PPG, easily the most of any third basemen and second among hitters only to C.J. Cron. Yes, Donaldson is expensive, a $4,200 salary, but that’s actually cheaper over the last week, and still gives us a very good 6.5X value. I’m playing Josh again tonight.
After a very quiet year so far this season, Andrelton Simmons, SS, (7:10pm ET) has been doing consistently well at the plat over the past week, averaging a very good 17.2 PPG. Simmons has been, and continues to remain, cheap with a $2,500 salary tonight. So with a 6.9X bargain value tonight, I’m plugging Andrelton into my MLB lineups 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
We keep talking about Michael Bourn (9:40pm ET) and Bourn continues to produce offensively, consistently, for the Diamondbacks without his salary adjusting much over the last several weeks, now at a measly $2,200 tonight. Not bad for someone earning double-digit FanDuel points in four of his last six games. Over the last week, Michael averaged 12.8 PPG, consistently. With his very low salary, Bourn is a 5.8X value tonight, the best of all outfielder options in the ‘Main’ portion of our FanDuel MLB lineups.
Seth Smith (8:10pm ET) is having a good season this year, and has a very hot bat lately. Over the last week, Smith had four straight games, all at home feasting off of the Baltimore Orioles rotation, with 20+ points each. Seth cooled off a bit after the Orioles series, but with a .278 batting average and 10 home runs now this season, he’s certainly capable of maintaining his hot streak in Houston tonight. Over the last week, Seth averaged 20.1 PPG, the most of any outfielder playing at least 3 games in the last seven days. Smith’s salary has climbed to $3,500, but that’s still a very good 5.7X value, a good deal for Seth tonight.
Alex Dickerson (9:40pm ET) has been pulled out of the minors several times by the San Diego Padres this season, with the last call up in late June. This time, since being called up, Dickerson has been hitting well, getting FanDuel points in five of his six games played in that time. Dickerson hit a 2-run home run against the Yankees on July 2nd and appears to be getting more time in the Padres lineup for now. With a 13.2 PPG average over the last week, and a reasonable $2,600 salary, Alex is an appealing 5.1X value 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!