FanDuel MLB: Saturday Value Plays

FanDuel MLB: Saturday Value Plays

This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.

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PITCHER

German Marquez, COL at SFG ($10,600): The slate dictates this price as much as Marquez's current form, which appears worth paying for. He's fanned 44 in his last four starts, a span of 28.2 innings while allowing only four runs. Marquez isn't this good, but against a woeful Giants offense that boasts a .295 wOBA, 85 wRC+ and 24.2 percent strikeout rate to righties, there's everything to suggest his current form continues.

GPP Fade: Madison Bumgarner, SFG vs. COL ($8,200): The name will jump out in this woeful pitching list, but Bumgarner has allowed 11 runs over his 11.0 innings, six runs and innings of which came against these Rockies. San Francisco has lost 11 straight, five times only scoring once, suggesting Bumgarner gets little support even if he throws well. And we haven't mentioned that the Rockies ranked second against lefties, sporting a .345 wOBA.

Cheap GPP Consideration: Reynaldo Lopez, CWS at BAL ($8,400): Saturday evening's pitching slate is all sorts of yuck. As such, riding the hot arm against a team that has thrown in the towel seems to work. Lopez's last four starts have been brilliant, allowing four runs and 15 hits while striking out 29 across 25.2 frames. Baltimore meanwhile ranks 26th against righties with a measly .302 wOBA, 89 wRC+ and .160 ISO. This isn't the definition of cheap, but I don't feel comfortable with anything below Lopez.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Wilson Ramos, PHI vs. MIA ($2,800): Ramos has swung well as a Phillie, carrying a .468 wOBA, 198 wRC+ and .223 ISO into Saturday. Obviously make sure he's starting over Jorge Alfaro, but if he is, he'll offer some savings in an inviting matchup with Elieser Hernandez, who has a 9.55 road ERA.

SECOND BASE

Travis Shaw, MIL vs. PIT ($3,700): The price isn't ideal, but Shaw is remarkably cheaper than four of his teammates, showing the premium you pay for pieces in this offense. Pittsburgh starter Ivan Nova has been feast or famine this year, but has a 5.43 road ERA where he allows a .399 wOBA to lefties, allowing a 48.1 percent fly ball rate. Shaw counters with a .376 wOBA and .296 ISO against righties, adding a similar 48.0 percent fly ball rate, and 20.9 percent homer to fly ball rate.

THIRD BASE

Brian Anderson, MIA at PHI ($2,700): If you're not willing to pay up at the hot corner, Anderson's price and stable floor look as appealing as it can be. His .117 ISO against righties suggests very little upside, but his .330 wOBA trails only J.T. Realmuto and Derek Dietrich among Marlin regulars. A matchup with Vince Velasquez is the real attraction, as he brings a 5.02 home ERA to the table.

SHORTSTOP

Adalberto Mondesi, KAN vs. MIN ($3,300): Shortstop is pretty nasty on this slate. Trevor Story plays on the road, Carlos Correa is slumping...then we're left with Andrelton Simmons and Mondessi, and not much else. Mondessi's speed makes him an exciting player, and his .339 wOBA against righties isn't awful. It may not match his price here, but with so few options, he seems to offer a blend of stability and potential.

OUTFIELD

Rhys Hoskins, PHI vs. MIA ($3,700): I want as many Phillie bats as I can afford Saturday thanks to the previously mentioned road struggles of Elieser Hernandez. Philadelphia also has to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Hernandez has been tougher on righties, but the Phillies don't have great left-handed bats. That leads us to Hosins, whose .380 wOBA is stable at worst, and his .280 ISO offers some power potential.

David Peralta, ARI at HOU ($3,700): Houston starter Charlie Morton has worn down as the season stretches into its closing weeks. His price is down some $3,000 from earlier months and he's surrendered 11 runs over his last three starts, spanning 14.2 innings. He's allowed a .373 wOBA to lefties since the beginning of August, which sets up Peralta well, as he boats a team-leading .405 wOBA, 150 wRC+ and .250 ISO against righties.

Hunter Renfroe, SDP vs. TEX ($3,600): Rangers' starter Ariel Jurado has been woeful, allowing 24 runs over his last six starts, spanning only 24.0 innings. The Padres don't have any clear plays, but taking a few of their bats at a discount could prove successful and contrarian. Renfroe looks to be the safest option, carrying a .344 wOBA and .273 ISO.

UTILITY

Tyler White, HOU vs. ARI ($4,000): White has enjoyed quite the second half for the 'Stros and has a plus matchup Saturday against Arizona's Zack Godley, who has a 5.34 road ERA and has allowed 21 runs over his last five starts, lasting more than five innings only once. White has a team-leading .406 wOBA, adding a 165 wRC+ and .307 ISO against righties.

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. Chris Bennett plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: k30kittles, DraftKings: k30kittles.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Bennett
Bennett covers baseball, college football and college basketball for RotoWire. Before turning to fantasy writing, he worked in scouting/player development for the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos. He's also a fan of the ACC.
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