Welcome to FanDuel Economics!  This is the FanDuel MLB Lineups August 8th edition. FanDuel Economics is a daily fantasy sports column focused on FanDuel player value.
The purpose of this column is to evaluate player salary and projected points based on FantasyPros Value.  Finding the best value options often leads to a big pay-day with your FanDuel MLB lineups!
With a whopping twelve teams taking the day off today, Monday’s MLB schedule is whittled down to only nine games.  The limited number of games today, provides a challenge staffing your MLB Lineups for FanDuel.  However, there are several interesting matchups we can use to boost our points tonight, including a great pitching duel in Miami, where Johnny Cueto and the San Francisco Giants will face Jose Fernandez and the Marlins, at 7:10pm ET.  Also, the Texas Rangers could tee-off tonight in Coors Field against Tyler Anderson and the Rockies, at 8:40pm ET.  Here’s what the FanDuel schedule of options look like to start the day:
- 7:07pm ET (Main)
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
Top Value Pitcher – Tyler Duffey (8:10pm ET vs. HOU)
Tyler Duffey is a great example of what an inconsistent year can look like.  Duffey has six wins this year, and 76 K’s over 95 innings, but he also has a very high 6.21 ERA.  Duffey’s high ERA is due mostly to  clusters of terrible games each month.  However, Tyler has also handed in some gems as well, taking a win on August 3rd, his last outing, in Cleveland against the Indians with 6 strikeouts over six inning, piling up 33 points.  Because of his inconsistent behavior, Duffey is understandably cheap, $5,500 tonight.  However, with a projected 23.9 points (FantasyPros), that’s a decent 4.3X value, and allows you to really load up on your hitters tonight, especially if you’re high on the Ranges and Rockies in Colorado.
Safe Value – Michael Fulmer (10:10pm ET @ SEA)
We’ve been a fan of Fulmer all season, using him multiple times in my MLB lineups and writing about him often this season.  Michael is a great additional to the Tigers rotation, and is very likely the future of their starting pitching, acquired from the Mets last summer in the Yoenis Cespedes trade. Fulmer now has 9 wins, 88 K’s over 104 innings, and a very low 2.42 ERA.  Fulmer is projected by FantasyPros to score 37.2 points tonight, just below Johnny Cueto‘s 37.4 point projection.  However, in Cueto you’re paying $2,300 more for about the same amount of points.  Fulmer is also projected to have the 3rd most points tonight, at pitcher, but is in the mid-range for salary.  He’s a great value tonight against Seattle, is more consistent each outing, and has less risk than Duffey.
Other Top Value Options:
Zach Eflin (10:10pm ET @ LOS): 24.5 PP (Point Projection) / $5,700 Salary
Julio Urias (10:10pm ET vs. PHI): 28.2 PP / $7,000 Salary
Lowest Value:Â
Johnny Cueto (7:10pm ET vs. MIA): 37.4 PP / $10,700
Next: Value Hitters - INF
Catcher – Russell Martin (7:07pm ET vs. TAM)
Martin had a great end of July and early August, but cooled off during the Royals series in Kansas City.  However, FantasyPros has Martin projected at 10.7 points tonight, the most of any catcher option.  With other catchers like Lucroy-$4,300, Chirinos-$3,400, and Gattis-$3,300 more expensive than Martin, only $3,000, Russell is the best value option behind the plate time, but make sure you track the Blue Jays lineup heading into the game to assure he’s starting, as he should.
Other Top Value Options:
Cameron Rupp (10:10pm ET @ LOS): 9.7 PP / $2,800 Salary
First Base – Freddie Freeman (7:20pm ET @ MIL)
While FantasyPros has A.J. Reed as a top value option, with a 8.5 point project and only a $2,000 salary, I’m more inclined to go with the more established hitter tonight.  Freeman is the 4th best value option projected, but he also has the most projected points, 14.8, and you’re paying much less for Freeman, $3,200, than someone like Edwin Encarnacion, $3,700, who’s also projected to land between 14 and 15 points.
Other Top Value Options:
A.J. Reed (8:10pm ET @ MIN): 8.5 PP / $2,000 Salary
Tommy Joseph (10:10pm ET @ LOS): 9.7 PP / $2,400 Salary
Adam Lind (10:10pm ET vs. DET): 10.1 PPG / $2,700
Second Base – Devon Travis (7:07pm ET vs. TAM)
As we noted on Friday, since joining the Toronto Blue Jays lineup last year, the young, now 25-yer-old, Devon Travis has been a nice addition to the hot-hitting lineup.  Travis has consistently hit around a .300 average, currently .298 on the season, with some pop in his bat, 10 home runs so far this year, and over 30 runs and RBI’s so far this year as well.  I’ve played Travis in each of the last three games and we landed at 37.4, 25.2, and 3 points, respectively.  FantasyPros projected an awesome 12.1 point night for Devon, on a bargain $2,700 salary, a 4.5X value. There’s little risk in this play, he’s the best value option tonight, and continues to be one of the best point plays each night lately.  However, if you’re tired of playing Devon, there are plenty of value options tonight at 2B.
Other Top Value Options:
Jonathan Schoop (10:05pm ET @ OAK): 11.3 PP / $2,900 Salary
D.J. LeMahieu (8:40pm ET @ COL): 12.5 PP / $3,900 Salary
Third Base – Adonis Garcia (7:20pm ET @ MIL)
Garcia ended a very good July, by starting off very well in August.  Over the last week, Adonis had three double-digit FanDuel point games in six outings.  On Saturday, Garcia hit a home run in St. Louis and totaled 37.9 points.  Adonis has a few bad nights here and there, but he almost always follows them up with a great outing, lately.  After his near 40 point game against the Cardinals, Garcia only raked in 3 points yesterday.  Expect Adonis to bounce back again against Davies in Milwaukee tonight.  FantasyPros has Garcia projected to hit a decent 10.5 points tonight, on a cheap $2,800 salary.  However, if you’re able to pay some more, give a very strong consideration to Adrian Beltre in Colorado tonight.  Beltre has been hot this summer.
Other Top Value Options:
Hernan Perez (7:20pm ET @ MIL): 11 PP / $2,900 Salary
Adrian Beltre (8:40pm ET @ COL): 14.4 PP / $3,800 Salary
Shortstop – Orlando Arcia (7:05pm ET vs. SFG)
Shortstop is a tough position tonight.  You’re paying too much for Seager, $4,000, and while Villar has been hot lately, I’m hesitant to pay $4,000 and hoping for another random HR from Jonathan or hoping he can steal some bases tonight.  However, with an interesting development over the weekend, Villar transitioned to third base and Orlando Arcia, recently deemed ‘big league ready’ by the Brewers has moved into Shortstop.  Arcia has hit 2nd in the lineup, and had a wonderful series in Arizona.  Against the D-Backs, Orlando had 4 hits, 2 RBI’s, 3 walks, and 4 runs, giving us a 6.5, 24.8, and 9.5 point result over the weekend.  Not bad for the rookie.  FantasyPros has Arcia projected at 7.8 points, which may not seem too exciting, but that’s a great return on a $2,100 salary.  This pick will let you do big things in other lineup positions while still returning points.
Other Top Value Options:
Erick Aybar (7:20pm ET @ MIL): 8.5 PP / $2,200 Salary
Brandon Crawford (7:10pm ET @ MIA): 9.8 PP / $2,900 Salary
Next: Value Hitters - OF
Outfield – Khris Davis (10:05pm ET vs. BAL)
Davis can be a frustrating player for fantasy owners and DFS players.  Khris can go quiet for an entire series, barely getting on base, but he will then follow that up one series with 2-3 home runs in a day or two.  He’s a do or die type of DFS play, and he’s a player you pull off your bench if you’re desperate for HR’s in your league play.  Davis did have a very quiet, frustrating, series against the Cubs this past weekend, but that isn’t too surprising considering the Cubs rotation.  However, prior to the Cubs series Khris was on fire hitting 2 home runs in Texas, and in one game, to close the Rangers series.  He followed that up with a home run in Cleveland, then a home run in L.A., in the Angels series.  FantasyPros is expecting Davis to wake up again in the Baltimore series, at home in Oakland.  Tonight, Davis is projected to his 12.6 points, on a reasonable $3,200 salary.  There’s always risk in playing Davis, but high reward as well.
Scott Schebler (8:15pm ET @ STL)
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Schebler is certainly not a sexy pick in the outfield.  Scott has lackluster hitting stats in his 33 game appearances, now for the Reds.  However, Schebler had a fantastic series against the Cardinals last week, getting 31.7, 3, and 15.4 points in the series.  Scott is facing the Cardinals again tonight, and FantasyPros also likes his chances against the Cardinals, projecting 8.8 points on a rock-bottom cheap $2,100 salary.  If you’re looking for another cheap option yielding some points to pile onto your big plays, this is a great one.
Jurickson Profar (8:40pm ET @ COL)
Profar had a tremendous start to the season when called up for the Rangers earlier in the year. Jurickson then cooled off a bit, struggling at the plate sometimes.  Profar still has some struggles, but he’s been yielding good results more consistently lately, and was back in the Rangers lineup on Saturday, after a few days off.  Now at Coors Field tonight, it’ll be interesting to see if Jurickson is again in the lineup and takes advantage of a wonderful opportunity to show explosive offense. With a projected point total of 12.2, and decent salary of $3,300, Profar is a great value play tonight.
Other Top Value Options:
Robbie Grossman (8:10pm ET @ MIN): 10.4 PP / $2,500 Salary
Miguel Sano (8:10pm ET vs. HOU): 11.9 PP / $3,300 Salary
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!
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