MLB Lineups: FanDuel Economics July 25

Welcome to FanDuel Economics!  This is the FanDuel MLB Lineups July 25th 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!

After an action packed weekend, eight MLB teams are taking Monday off.  We have a total of eleven MLB games today, providing for a limited number of options for your MLB lineups. Every game is in the evening today, starting with Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers taking on Drew Pomeranz and the Red Sox in Boston.  We’ll see if Pomeranz can redeem himself from his disastrous first start for the Red Sox after a great season for the Padres in San Diego.  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.

Anthony DeSclafani (10:15pm ET) continues to be a bright star in the struggling Cincinnati Red’s rotation.  Now with eight starts under his belt, DeSclafani is 5-0 with a 2.50 ERA, 40 K’s and only 9 walks in 50.1 total innings.  Also, with the trade deadline approaching, it’s been rumored Anthony is a target of the Texas Rangers, who are looking to run with their West division lead, in the American League, into the playoffs.  Although, the Reds just got DeSclafani as a prospect from the Miami Marlins in the Mat Latos trade last year so I’m skeptical of the trade rumors.  Still, Anthony is on a roll and at the very least the Reds are going to showcase his talent this week.  Over the last month, DeSclafani averaged 42.8 PPG, 7th among all starting pitchers.  Likely because Anthony is facing a tough Giants offense in San Francisco tonight, his salary is a very cheap $7,500.  That’s a 5.7X bargain and puts DeSclafani at the top of the value list among all pitchers and for tonight.

Despite the Philadelphia Phillies struggles lately, Jeremy Hellickson (7:10pm ET) continues to have a solid season.  With twenty starts now in the bag, Jeremy is 7-7 with a 3.84 ERA, 106 strikeouts and only 27 walks in 119.2 total innings.  It’s possible Hellickson is auditioning for a new roll with the Miami Marlins, as he’s been the rumor of a trade to the Marlins this weekend.  Over the last 30 days, Jeremy averaged a very good 35.5 PPG.  Hellickson is a slightly cheaper option to DeSclafani, with a salary of only $7,300.  So, Jeremy’s value isn’t has high as Anthony’s, 4.9X, but that’s 13th among all starting pitchers and your second best value at pitcher tonight.  If you want to use DeSclafani but can’t quite afford him, Hellickson might be a better fit.

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.

Evan Gattis, C, (8:10pm ET) hasn’t been a consistently good hitter this year, with a .224 batting average for the season.  But Evan has some pop off his bat too, now with 15 home runs.  Gattis hit two home runs in one game on Saturday.  But also, lately, Evan has been getting on base consistently, now 6 of his last 6 games.  Over the last week, Gattis averaged 16.4 PPG, 2nd among all starting catchers.  Evan’s salary is quite reasonable, $2,700 tonight, giving us a very good 6.1X value, the best of all catcher options tonight.  However, if you’d like to consider other options at catcher, here is a recent deep-dive into the catcher position.

Joey Votto, 1B, (10:15pm ET) is locked in at the plate lately, ripping three home runs over his last five games.  Joey has double-digit FanDuel points in six of his last seven games, and five of his last five.  Votto scored a run in each of his last five games, and has 8 RBI’s over his last five games. He’s hot.  Over the last seven days, Joey averaged a very high 23.4 PPG, the most of any first basemen.  Votto’s salary plummeted to $3,300 tonight in San Francisco, giving us an incredible 7.1X value.  Play Joey while he’s hot and cheap.

Starlin Castro, 2B, (8:10pm ET) has been hot and cold lately, so he’s a risky play.  However, Castro has had some good games, including a home run, 2 runs, and 4 RBI’s in one game in New York against the Orioles, totaling 38.4 points.  Over the last week, Starlin averaged 11.7 PPG.  That’s not bad.  What makes Castro very attractive is his very cheap $2,400 salary tonight.  That’s a 4.9X value and the best value option as second base.

In general, Ryan Schimpf, 3B, (7:07pm ET) is having a lackluster season, hitting .229 with only 8 home runs, 17 runs, and 15 RBI’s.  However, Schimpf has 6+ points in his last 8 straight games. In six of those games, Ryan had double-digit points, four greater than 20 points.  Like Votto, Schimpf is on fire.  Over the last week, Ryan averaged 16.1 PPG, 5th among all third basemen.  What makes Schimpf the most attractive is his rock-bottom $2,200 salary.  That’s a 7.3X value for someone who’s been a lock for points lately.  Play Schimpf while he’s on fire and very cheap.  If you’d like to consider other options, take a look at a deeper-dive into the 3B position for FanDuel MLB lineups.

Trevor Story, SS, (7:05pm ET) was a hot commodity to star the season, then he trailed off.  But Story stormed back again in the middle part of the season and has continued to scorch the baseball.  Story has 5 home runs over his last 6 games and 10 RBI’s in as many games, including a 63.1 FanDuel point game on Saturday.  Trevor averaged 26.6 PPG over the last week.  Story’s salary plummeted to $3,400 for tonights game in Baltimore and he now has an amazing 7.8X value.  Story is a must start value option tonight.  But for more on this position, take a look at a deeper-dive into the SS position.

Next: Value Hitters - OF

Value Hitters – OF

Matt Kemp (7:07pm ET) has been a 2nd half of the season guy, and that’s becoming apparent again this year.  Kemp has 6 home runs in his last seven games, remarkable, and 9 RBI’s.  Kemp also has double-digit FanDuel points in six of his last seven games.  In the last thirty days, Matt averaged 19.2 PPG, 3rd among all outfielders.  Kemp’s salary is a bargain, at only $3,000 in Toronto tonight, a very good 6.4X value.  Kemp is the best value in the outfield tonight.

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Aside from his 31 stolen bases this year,

is having a sub-par season, well below his career expectations.  However, Billy is in the middle of a six-game hitting streak, hit in 8 of his last nine games, and stole three bases in one game twice in his last six games.  And due to Hamilton’s ability to get on base so often recently, he’s scoring more often as well.  Over the last week, Billy averaged 17.7 PPG, 6th among all outfielders.  Hamilton’s salary is a very cheap $3,100 giving us a 5.7X value.

The Oakland A’s claimed Jake Smolinski (8:05pm ET) off waivers in late June, while he was in Triple-A.  Smolinski was recalled from time to time by the Rangers and A’s over the last couple of months and provided some glimmer of hope, at times.  However, recently Jake is hitting the ball well enough to stake a claim are more playing time, and the A’s now seem to be providing him with more time to show off.  Smolinski now has a six game hitting streak, getting 9 hits in his last six games.  Jake also hit 2 home runs and knocked in 5 RBI’s over his last three games.  Smolinski averaged 14 PPG over the last week.  Jake’s very cheap $2,600 salary gives us a 5.4X value, another great value option in the outfield tonight.

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!