FanDuel MLB: Wednesday Value Plays

FanDuel MLB: Wednesday Value Plays

This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.

Today features an early five-game slate (12:35 PM EST) before giving way to the main slate (seven games) tonight at 7:05 PM EST. Tonight's main slate is tricky with another Coors Field game to consider, but Seth Lugo has been a solid pitcher for the Mets to this point. It's hard to find too many red flags with the starting pitchers tonight, as almost all (including Lance Lynn and David Price) have pitched well over the last month or so. Also, rain appears to be a factor tonight in multiple games, so check the forecast for the three games on the east coast.

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PITCHER

Charlie Morton, HOU vs TB ($10,000): It's not going out on a limb to recommend the most expensive pitcher on the slate, but it's a good matchup on paper. At home, Morton's ERA is almost a half run lower (2.76) while he strikes out almost seven percent more (33.3 percent) of the batters he faces. The Rays are in the middle of the pack (15th in the league) in both strikeout rate (22.5 percent) and wOBA (.311) against right-handed pitching, making them a decent opponent for Morton.

GPP Fade: Lance Lynn, MIN vs BOS ($7,600): While it's usually an easy pass rostering whoever pitches against the Red Sox, DFS players may actually be considering Lynn tonight. He's scored at least 37 fantasy points in each of his last five starts (averaging over 40 fantasy points during that span), and his ERA is 2.01 for those five games. However, the Red Sox as a team own the highest wOBA against right-handed pitchers (.347) and strike out at the second-lowest rate (18.8 percent).

Cheap GPP Consideration: Jonathan Loaisiga, NYY vs SEA ($6,600): Loaisiga looked great in his first big-league start, tossing five shutout innings while striking out six. The four walks were somewhat alarming, but they matched his total walks issued in the minors this season over 45 innings. While Seattle isn't an ideal matchup for the rookie, his stuff is good enough to pay off this salary if he scores around the 39 fantasy points he had in his first outing.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Dominic Smith, NYM at COL ($3,000): Smith comes in at a reasonable salary for a Coors Field game and should be hitting in the heart of the Mets order against righty Chad Bettis. Smith's prospect sheen has faded over the last couple of years, but any lefty facing a righty in Coors is worth considering. Bettis has a 7.72 ERA at home this season, the result of a .402 wOBA against. Think GPP only for Smith on Wednesday night, as his floor for cash games is low.

SECOND BASE

Jonathan Schoop, BAL at WAS ($3,100): Schoop has had a rough start to the season due to an injury, but there should be some positive regression to the mean coming his way, especially against left-handed pitching. Last season Schoop had a .397 wOBA against southpaws, hitting 10 of his 32 home runs against that handedness. Gio Gonzalez has his worst split at home this season against right-handed batters, allowing a .332 wOBA and four of his seven home runs.

THIRD BASE

David Freese, PIT vs MIL ($2,100): Freese's near-minimum salary provides some salary cap relief without sacrificing some upside. Since joining the Pirates he's been a lefty-killer with a .360 wOBA and usually finds himself in a good RBI spot against them. Brent Suter has struggled more with right-handed hitters this season, giving up a .334 wOBA to that side of the plate.

SHORTSTOP

Marwin Gonzalez, HOU vs TB ($2,900): Gonzalez and the Astros face off against Nathan Eovaldi in a good home matchup. Gonzalez flies under the radar when looking at the lineup he's in, but he had a .384 wOBA last season at home against right-handed pitching. Eovaldi has given up a career .343 wOBA to opposing left-handed hitters.

OUTFIELD

Alex Gordon, KC vs TEX ($2,600): Gordon is a cheap outfield option who is in a good home matchup. Austin Bibens-Dirkx is nothing more than an innings eater, allowing a .336 wOBA to left-handed hitters for his career, while Gordon has a .331 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this season. The Royals are slightly favored in a game with an over/under of 9.5, the highest run line for any game outside of Colorado.

Michael Taylor, WAS vs BAL ($3,000): Taylor has reached base safely in 18 consecutive games. He's always a threat to run with 21 stolen bases this season, and Andrew Cashner is making his first start off the DL. Cashner comes into the game giving up a .404 wOBA to opposing right-handed hitters and could be on a pitch count.

UTILITY

Greg Bird, NYY vs SEA ($3,100): Bird continues to provide a good way to get a reasonably priced piece of the Yankee offense, with almost all of his teammates coming in at a much higher salary. Felix Hernandez was once a pitcher to stay away from, but at this point of his career he's actually a good target. After giving up a .363 wOBA to opposing left-handed hitters a season ago he's stayed in line with that number, posting a .350 mark this season. Bird has a .354 wOBA against right-handed pitching in Yankee Stadium, although that's in a limited sample (65 plate appearances).

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Kevin Payne plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: Fanduel: kevinccp, Draft Kings: kevinccp, Yahoo: kevinccp.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Payne
Kevin has worked for RotoWire over a decade and has covered basketball, baseball and football. A glutton for punishment, he roots for his hometown Bills, Sabres and the New York Yankees. You can follow him on Twitter @KCPayne26.
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