This is not a typical Friday for MLB with just nine games in total and only six on the main slate. Probably just an aberration, so don’t get used to the shorter-than-usual slate, but it does alter some things regarding the value dig we do each day. It seems like the prices on FanDuel are all a bit off. There are only six hitters priced at $4,000 or above, one at $3,900, two at $3,800 and two at $3,700. Things seem to be a bit more normal on Draft Kings, but we’ll see how it plays out overall.
Here’s a look at the value plays for Friday’s six-game main slate.
Both Sites:
Andrew Heaney , SP LAA ($7,000 FD/$7,300 DK) – Knowing what we expect to see out of the Blue Jays this season, the match-up doesn’t seem too appealing, but when you dig deep to find that Toronto is posting a dismal .272 wOBA against southpaws this season, there’s hope for a relative bargain here in Heaney. He’s got a fantastic curve which he can drop in as his out-pitch and the Baby Jays are mashing plenty into the dirt, as evidenced by the team’s 46.2-percent ground ball rate against lefties. Don’t expect big strikeout numbers as Toronto is making plenty of contact, but Heaney should be able to provide you with at least a quality start here.
David Dahl , OF TEX ($2,700 FD/$3,200 DK) – He’s been a little up-and-down here in the early part of the season, but posting three multi-hit games is encouraging, even if he only has one RBI right now. The lefty-swinging Dahl will take on every fantasy owner’s darling in Joe Musgrove and should be worth a look as he owns a .359 wOBA against righties with a .224 ISO for his career.
Josh Naylor , OF CLE ($2,500 on both sites) – He’s really only a GPP player as you’re really just waiting for him to take some pitcher deep. It’s encouraging that he’s hit safely in four of five games, so he’s not dishing out zeroes, but no home runs or RBI aren’t what we want either. Fortunately, he’s facing Julio Teheran who is allowing lefties to post a .339 wOBA against him in his career and he’s had issues with the long ball here in the latter part of his career.
Draft Kings:
Tucker Barnhart , C CIN ($2,600) – It’s nice to not have to worry about catchers on FanDuel, but DK still requires one for the lineups and Barnhart is off to a hot start this season and DK continues to keep him priced down. He’s 5-for-12 (.417) with a double and five RBI over his last three games and Diamondbacks starter Taylor Widener is already having trouble containing the left-handed bats. It’s not a punt price, but it’s pretty darn good in comparison to top-level catchers.
FanDuel:
Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF TOR ($2,300) – Gurriel has hit safely in five of six games this season, though he has no extra-base hits and only one RBI to show for it. That’s fine. This is one of those players where you keep going back to the well and happily accept the discount. He’ll turn it around soon enough and from there it will take a few games before FD wises up and realizes how criminally underpriced he’s been. For a near min-price right now, keep doing it.
Akil Baddoo, OF DET ($2,500) – I’m just going to keep putting him into the Value Vault until either FD raises his price tag to the level at which he’s playing or when he stops hitting altogether. But for now, you’re missing the Baddoo Boat and that’s no good.