MLB Lineups: FanDuel Economics July 17

Welcome to FanDuel Economics!  This is the FanDuel MLB Lineups July 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 continue with a full slate of 15 MLB games today, the vast majority of the games in the afternoon.  FanDuel provides a few options for the afternoon periods.  The only exception is an 8pm ET Sunday Night game on ESPN, in New York, where David Price and the Boston Red Sox will face their rival Yankees, lead by Masahiro Tanaka on the mound. Here’s what the FanDuel schedule of options look like to start the day:

• 1:10pm ET (Main)
• 1:10pm 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.

For the second start in a row, J.A. Happ (4:05pm ET) looks like an incredible value.  Happ is also pitching incredibly well lately, totaling 20 K’s after his last two games, and winning each of his last six straight games.  Jay averaged 46.6 PPG over the last month, that’s 4th among all starting pitchers, only behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Jose Fernandez, not bad company. Once again, Happ is fairly cheap, at only $8,800.  Getting over 40 points while spending less than $9,000 on a pitcher is always a bargain.  So Happy is bringing an amazing 5.3X value bargain to the mound today, and is easily the highest valued pitching option among all MLB lineups.

Michael Wacha (2:15pm ET) has not had as dominating a performance as J.A. Happy lately, but Wacha’s season is clearly improving.  After a horrendous start to 2016, Michael had 30+ points in all of his last six straight games, two of the six exceeded 40 points.  So over the last month, Wacha averaged 37.8 PPG, 19th among all starting pitchers.  Michael is a cheaper option compared to Jay, with a salary of $7,600, but has a slightly lower value at 5X, 6th among all starting pitchers. Wacha is actually only the 3rd best value option today, just behind Kyle Gibson.  But I don’t like Gibson facing the Cleveland Indians, and would rather take Wacha over the Marlins.  However, it’s hard to avoid Happ.

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, (4:05pm ET) is having an outstanding year for the Oakland A’s, hitting a .285 batting average with 8 home runs, 33 runs, 30 RBI’s, 18 doubles, and 2 triples.  That’s a very good stat-line for a catcher at mid-season.  Over the last week, Vogt averaged 19.4 PPG, the most of any starting catcher over the last seven games.  Stephen is still relatively cheap, at $3,200, so with a 6.1X Vogt is a great option today.  If you’d like to consider other options at catcher, here is a recent deep-dive into the catcher position.

I just talked about Kennys Vargas, 1B, (2:10pm ET) on Friday, and I’m coming back to him for Sunday’s slate as well.  Vargas continues to be the best PPG average among all first basemen, with 21 PPG.  Kennys’ salary climbed a bit, now at $2,900, but that’s still a 7.2X bargain.  I’ll ride with Vargas until he either cools off or finally becomes too expensive.

With Daniel Murphy likely back in the Nationals lineup and his salary jumping to $4,000, there are very few value options at second base.  However, there is Jason Kipnis, 2B, (2:10pm ET).  While relatively quite, Jason is having a rock-solid season, hitting .272 with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 14 home runs, 50 runs, 49 RBI’s, and 5 steals mid-way through the season.  Five steals is low for Kipnis, but he’s still crowding the majority of the stat-line.  Over the last week, Jason averaged 16.4 PPG, 2nd only to Murphy.  Kipnis isn’t cheap for 16 points, now at $3,500 and a 4.7X value. He’s the best value option at second base.

Yangervis Solarte, 3B, (4:40pm ET) continues to have a solid season for the San Diego Padres, hitting .294 with 8 home runs, 25 runs, and 36 RBI’s after 50 games.  Over the last week, Solarte averaged 15 PPG, 6th among all starting third basemen.  Yangervis has a very cheap salary, $2,600, and is now a solid 5.8X value.  If you’d like to consider other options, take a look at a deeper-dive into the 3B position for FanDuel MLB lineups.

With Jacob deGrom pitching for Mets, I generally would like to avoid any Phillies hitters.  However, Freddy Galvis, SS, (1:35pm ET) is an attractive option today.  Freddy is averaging a decent 13.3 PPG and his salary is a rock bottom $2,000 today, giving us a 6.7X value.  So if you’re willing to take the risk at SS, Galvis is going to give us many other high priced options across the lineups.  But for more on this position, take a look at a deeper-dive into the SS position.

Next: Value Hitters - OF

Value Hitters – OF

Giancarlo Stanton (2:15pm ET) had a rough start to the 2016 season, but things appear to have turned around quickly in July.  Stanton hit 5 home runs and drove in 11 RBI’s over his last six games.  Oh, and he also won the Home Run Derby in-between those games.  Over the last week, Giancarlo averaged 25.6 PPG, still the most of any other outfielder.  Stanton is still a very reasonable $3,800 salary, giving us a fantastic 6.7X value.  I would continue to roll with Stanton as long as he’s hot, his season seems to be coming to life, finally.

An Atlanta Braves fan-favorite, Jeff Francoeur (1:35pm ET) is finally getting hot after a sub-par season through the mid-point of the year.  Francoeur has 2 home runs over his last three games, and 7 RBI’s over his last four games.  Jeff has double-digit FanDuel points in three of his last four games.  Francoeur is now averaging 14.4 PPG over the last week.  Jeff’s salary is incredibly cheap, only $2,400, giving us a very good 6X value.

Like Stanton, I’m sticking with a hot Mark Trumbo (1:10pm ET).  Trumbo is averaging 21.2 PPG, 3rd among all outfielders.  Mark’s salary remains quite cheap, at only $3,600, a bargain for 20+ points, and a 5.9X value.  It doesn’t hurt, too, that Trumbo leads the majors in home runs with 28. I’ll continue to pair Mark with Giancarlo until one or both finally cool off.

More from FanSided

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• Clark Hunt throws cold water on potential Chiefs throwbacks
• Packers: 3 free agency mistakes Brian Gutekunst should already regret
• Cowboys give a masterclass in defense construction with Trevon Diggs extension

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!