MLB DFS Bargain Bin -Top First Half AL Value Plays

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MLB DFS Bargain Bin- Top First Half AL Value Plays- AL East

Welcome to an All-Star Break edition of the MLB DFS Bargain Bin, where I’ll highlight one hitter from each American League team that’s consistently provided strong fantasy production relative to his typical price tag across the DFS industry.

Boston Red Sox

Mitch Moreland, 1B/DH

Key numbers: .278/.353/.500- 30 extra-base hits (15 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs), 46 RBI, 31 walks, 43 runs, one stolen base

Moreland’s batting average at the break equals a career best, while his slugging percentage represents a new high-water mark. The slugger is also on pace for a fourth straight 20-homer season, as well as for a new career-high RBI figure.

New York Yankees

Aaron Hicks, OF

Key numbers: .249/.348/.491- 31 extra-base hits (13 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs), 44 RBI, 41 walks, 46 runs, eight stolen bases

Hicks has been a bit streaky at times, but his ability to go on heaters is something to behold, and it allows him to deliver excellent fantasy returns since his salary often fails to keep up. His strong walk numbers have also helped lead to plenty of run-scoring opportunities in a lineup that’s got quite a few prolific RBI producers (besides Hicks himself).

Tampa Bay Rays

Wilson Ramos, C

Key numbers: .297/.346/.488- 28 extra-base hits (14 doubles, 14 home runs), 53 RBI, 22 walks, 30 runs

Matt Duffy has also been excellent, but he doesn’t have anywhere near the home run and RBI numbers of Ramos, who was enjoying a resurgent season until an especially ill-timed hamstring injury right before the All-Star break. He’s now slated to miss multiple weeks, but his body of work over the first half was worthy of recognition.

Toronto Blue Jays

Teoscar Hernandez, OF

Key numbers: .257/.308/.510- 41 extra-base hits (20 doubles, six triples, 15 home runs), 39 RBI, 20 walks, 41 runs, three stolen bases

The Blue Jays aren’t going anywhere near the postseason in 2018, but Hernandez offers plenty of optimism for the future. The 25-year-old is making good use of his first extended stretch of major-league playing time, posting career highs across the board. Hernandez provided a glimpse of his upside with a solid showing in his 26-game cup of coffee in Toronto last season (.261/.305/.602 with eight home runs and 20 RBI), and his six three-baggers this season have been an excellent supplementary source of his strong production overall.

Baltimore Orioles

Adam Jones, OF

Key numbers: .275/.299/.423- 36 extra-base hits (26 doubles, 10 home runs), 36 RBI, 11 walks, 38 runs, one stolen base

Jones’ power numbers are admittedly down in what has been a miserable first half for the Orioles, but he’s consistently represented the best combination of average, extra-base hits and RBI on the team for the first half of the season. The veteran is a professional hitter through and through, as he’s shaken off Baltimore’s season-long collective malaise to still generate strong average and slugging percentage figures.

MLB DFS Bargain Bin- Top First Half AL Value Plays- AL Central

Cleveland Indians

Yonder Alonso, 1B

Key numbers: .258/.324/.434- 27 extra-base hits (14 doubles, 13 home runs), 53 RBI, 30 walks, 39 runs

Alonso got off to a relatively slow start, but he’s progressively clawed his way back up to his typical career numbers. The veteran hit the All-Star break wielding an especially hot bat, slashing .319/.358/.426 over 51 July plate appearances. Alonso is also providing last year’s career-high 28 round trippers — his first season with double-digit blasts — was no fluke, as he’s on pace to clear the 20-homer mark again.

Minnesota Twins

Eduardo Escobar, 3B

Key numbers: .271/.327/.507- 51 extra-base hits (35 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs), 57 RBI, 27 walks, 41 runs, one stolen base

Escobar has been one of the more underappreciated DFS value plays across either league in the first half. The slugging infielder has consistently squared up on the ball, already posting a career high in extra-base hits and putting himself firmly on pace to exceed his career-best home run (21) and RBI (73) totals. His on-base and slugging percentages are also new high-water marks, making it a legitimate breakout season for a player who’s already turned in several solid campaigns in his career.

Detroit Tigers

John Hicks, 1B

Key numbers: .278/.323/441- 21 extra-base hits (11 doubles, one triple, nine home runs), 32 RBI, 17 walks, 31 runs

Nick Castellanos has been the team MVP, but he’s typically (and rightfully) priced above value range. However, Hicks has consistently delivered strong production relative to salary, parlaying his most extensive stretch of major-league action to date into a solid first half of the season. The 28-year-old’s power numbers are also encouraging, considering he’d topped out at 15 homers over his long minor-league career.

Chicago White Sox

Yolmer Sanchez, 3B

Key numbers: .256/.306/.403- 33 extra-base hits (19 doubles, nine triples, five home runs), 42 RBI, 22 walks, 33 runs, nine stolen bases

There are multiple candidates for this designation on the White Sox, considering the entire lineup is often reasonably priced, and the team boasts several solid power hitters. However, Sanchez just edges the rest of his teammates for top fantasy value during the first half, as his all-around offensive profile represents an impressive combination of power, speed and timely hitting. Sanchez’s nine triples have especially been a boon for his fantasy production, and his .328 average with runners in scoring position have him on pace to easily blow by the career-high 59 RBI he accumulated last season.

Kansas City Royals

Whit Merrifield, 2B

Key numbers: .307/.378/.434- 35 extra-base hits (30 doubles, five home runs), 30 RBI, 37 walks, 42 runs, 17 stolen bases

Mike Moustakas has almost four times as many homers and Jorge Soler was also having a solid year before getting hurt, but Merrifield has clearly been the best hitter on a dismally performing team. Moreover, the 29-year-old does have the ability to boost his power numbers in the second half, considering he compiled 19 homers over 145 games last season. Meanwhile, all three components of his slash line represent career bests, and his stolen-base numbers have proven to be an extra complementary piece to his overall fantasy production.

MLB DFS Bargain Bin- Top First Half AL Value Plays- AL West

Houston Astros

Yuli Gurriel, 1B

Key numbers: .310/.340/.444- 30 extra-base hits (24 doubles, six home runs), 52 RBI, 14 walks, 43 runs, three stolen bases

Gurriel is a prototypical example of an All-Star snub that was a byproduct of the glut of strong offensive performances across the American League in the first half. However, DFS players undoubtedly regard him as a fantasy All-Star, considering his outstanding production thus far in 2018. Sure, his power numbers could be better, but his .310 average and 52 RBI particularly speak to how consistently effective Gurriel has been at providing strong returns in a lineup full of normally high-priced assets.

Seattle Mariners

Jean Segura, SS

Key numbers: .323/.354/.458- 34 extra-base hits (25 doubles, two triples, seven home runs), 47 RBI, 18 walks, 66 runs, 14 stolen bases

Segura is a similar case to Gurriel (except he garnered an All-Star selection on the last vote for the AL), as he’s offered modest power numbers but excellent production in every other category. Despite his excellent across-the board numbers, Segura is often priced reasonably across the industry compared to power-hitting teammates Nelson Cruz and Mitch Haniger, for example. The 28-year-old hasn’t been subject o any appreciable slumps on his way to a career-best .323 average, and his elite level of consistency, high run tally and strong work in stolen bases has especially made him a cash-game staple.

Oakland Athletics

Stephen Piscotty, OF

Key numbers: .264/.326/.457- 36 extra-base hits (24 doubles, 12 home runs), 46 RBI, 24 walks, 43 runs, one stolen base

Khris Davis and Jed Lowrie both get honorable mentions here, but they’ve often been priced at the edge if not beyond bargain range due to their strong production. In terms of fantasy-point-per-dollar on the Athletics, it’s Piscotty who takes the first-half honors on Oakland, and a recent surge has him trending in the right direction heading into the second half. The 27-year-old has fought through extremely trying personal circumstances this season with the passing of his mother, but he’s now on his way to producing numbers on par with those of his 2016 campaign in St. Louis. Piscotty flashed solid power with 22 homers that season, and he’s on his way to exceeding that total after slugging nine round trippers over his last 30 games before the All-Star break.

Los Angeles Angels

Andrelton Simmons, SS

Key numbers: .313/.371/.443- 28 extra-base hits (20 doubles, two triples, six home runs), 41 RBI, 28 walks, 46 runs, six stolen bases

Despite a solid offensive resume coming into this season, Simmons has never been as consistently effective at the plate as he was during the first half. All three components of his slash line are career highs, he’s already equaled a personal best with a pair of triples, and he remains on pace to exceed the high-water mark of 69 RBI he established last season. One of the keys to Simmons’ success has been an absurd 4.5 percent strikeout rate, making him one of the most reliable AL cash game plays thus far in 2018.

Texas Rangers

Nomar Mazara, OF

Key numbers: .272/.332/.450- 32 extra-base hits (16 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs), 58 RBI, 30 walks, 46 runs, one stolen base

Ronald Guzman is a runner-up in this spot after a solid first half, while Shin-Soo Choo has also been highly productive but often priced just above value range. Meanwhile, Mazara’s price tags have consistently remained very reasonable relative to his strong power numbers and RBI production. His slash line components all currently represent career highs, and he appears set to comfortably vault over the personal best of 20 homers that he’s established the last two seasons, as well.

Next: MLB DFS Picks and Pivots for Friday July 20

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR throughout the second half of the MLB season for all the DFS news and analysis you could possibly need!

MLB DFS Bargain Bin- Top First Half AL Value Plays

By Juan Carlos Blanco | Jul 19, 2018