FanDuel MLB: Wednesday Value Plays

FanDuel MLB: Wednesday Value Plays

This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.

Pitcher

Noah Syndergaard, NYM at PIT ($10,600): Despite a tough matchup against the Pirates, Syndergaard is still very much in play as his price is depressed from what it would normally be. When organized by xFIP, Noah Syndergaard leads the league with a 2.03, five points better than the legend Clayton Kershaw, who himself is 58 points ahead of the next-best starting pitcher. No pitcher since the stats' inception in 2002 has ever recorded a season with an xFIP this low – not Kershaw, Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson or Pedro Martinez. Syndergaard's K-rate of 32.9 percent is tied with Kershaw (though Kershaw has a slightly lower BB-rate at the near untouchable 1.8 percent) and the duo only falls behind Jose Fernandez (37.7 percent). The Pirates are a plus offense no matter what way you turn it, but PNC Park is typically friendly towards pitchers. Thor's biggest concern Wednesday night may be preventing stolen bases from the like of Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte, although the latter missed a game yesterday due to an ankle issue, rendering him less likely to be stealing bases if he plays at all.

Catcher

Brian McCann, NYY vs. LAA ($3,100): Jered Weaver is extremely easy to hit, bringing in a 5.30 xFIP and 1.96 HR/9. As summer approaches, the Yankee Stadium home run factory is nearly at full steam and the forecast calls for a fairly steady wind blowing out to right-center field today. Fueled undoubtedly in part by a .241 BABIP, McCann is having a fairly mediocre season as shown by his 99 wRC+. However, his .190 ISO, just five points below his career number, indicates some power is there and the circumstances are right to give McCann a high rating on the potential HR meter.

First Base

Matt Adams, STL at CIN ($3,400): Alfredo Simon comes in with a 5.41 xFIP and 2.28 HR/9, and a temperate night with a soft wind blowing out means perfect HR conditions at Great American Ball Park. Matt Adams has been quietly good this season with a .236 ISO, .403 wOBA and 157 wRC+.

Second Base

Jurickson Profar, TEX vs. HOU ($3,100): Doug Fister has been a step better than Weaver and Simon, but brings a mediocre 4.61 xFIP and 1.22 HR/9 himself into the hitter-friendly confines in Arlington, Texas. Profar's stint in the majors, now spanning 11 games, is hard to fault with a .240 ISO, .429 wOBA and 170 wRC+. The switch-hitter has locked up the leadoff spot in the order and a spot in the lineup, now adding first base to his repertoire with the return of Rougned Odor to the keystone.

Third Base

Alex Rodriguez, NYY vs. LAA ($3,200): A-Rod has an issue making contact as his K-rate this year has skyrocketed to 31.2 percent. Jered Weaver strikes out very few batters though, just 14.3 percebt this season. Rodriguez has a positive .214 ISO this season and seven home runs in just 31 games, so the potential is there, and as mentioned with McCann the environment is right.

Shortstop

Jhonny Peralta, STL at CIN ($2,000): In what will be his second game back from the DL, Peralta – notably playing third base as Matt Carpenter plays second – still sits at the minimum price. Over Peralta's last three MLB seasons he has a .340 wOBA and 116 wRC+. He's not noted for his power, but a .158 ISO shows he's not without HR upside in Great American Ball Park against the gas can Simon. Peralta his two double in four at-bats in his first game back Tuesday night.

Outfield

Matt Holliday, STL at CIN ($3,200): With a fairly even split across his entire career, this season Holliday has fared much better against right-handed pitching with a .231 ISO, .363 wOBA and 129 wRC+. Now 36 years old, he has seen a drop-off with the bat after seven consecutive seasons with a wRC+ of 140 or above, before netting a 127 over the past two-plus, injury-riddled seasons. However, Holliday has never possessed a BABIP lower than .298 with his career number sitting a .336, so the current .270 number is potentially due to rise along with the rest of his hitting stats as summer approaches.

Nomar Mazara, TEX vs. HOU ($3,200): In 50 games, Mazara (first called up as a result of a Shin-Soo Choo injury) has 10 home runs to go with a wOBA of .368. The 21-year-old put up great hitting numbers at every step along the way in the minors and is showing he's indeed legitimate now that he's reach the big leagues. The six-foot-four lefty has a bright career ahead of him.

Hyun Soo Kim, BAL vs. KC ($2,600): Kim recorded yet another multiple hit night Tuesday and now has a .408 wOBA and 159 wRC+. For a hitter in the no. 2 spot in the order in an offense as prolific as the Orioles, the price is simply too low. Vegas also has the Orioles on the better side of a 8.5 over/under in this game.

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. Alex Spalding plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: ajump08, DraftKings: ajump08.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alex Spalding
Alex splits his expertise between College Basketball, NBA, NFL, MLB, and Saturday morning BPL. You'll find him under the username ajump08 on DraftKings and FanDuel.
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