Daily Fantasy Baseball Strategy, May 2, 2017: DraftKings Value Plays
This evening’s 15-game slate features four hurlers priced over the $10,000 mark on DraftKings (Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, Jon Lester and Justin Verlander). While there are other values on the mound, many in cash games — and even those spending up at pitcher in tournaments — will need to find value elsewhere in their lineups. With that said, here are a trio of bats that present value on Tuesday that will provide you with some roster flexibility.
Michael Conforto | OF | Mets | $3,300
The Mets are in Atlanta to face the Braves and old friend RA Dickey — a game that features a projected run total of 8.5 runs and an implied team total of 4.3 for the visiting Metropolitans. Michael Conforto is in the midst of a hot streak — batting .326 with five homers and 10 RBI over the past two weeks — one of the lone bright spots for this New York team currently plagued with injuries. Conforto earns the platoon advantage against the knuckleballer and owns a career .366 wOBA and .252 ISO against righties. The Mets outfielder is 0-for-2 with a walk in just three career at-bats against Dickey, so BvP will not play a role here, as usual. Projected to leadoff for the Mets, Conforto will likely get five chances to swing the stick on Tuesday evening.
Josh Bell | 1B | Pirates | $3,400
First base can be a tough spot to spend down on in cash games, but in tournaments getting creative with roster construction at first base could make a ton of sense. Josh Bell of the Pirates fits this mold tonight. He’s been heating up as of late — over the past two weeks Bell is batting .297 with four homers, seven runs scored, seven batted in and a stolen base — and gets right-hander Scott Feldman of the Reds tonight in the Great American Small Park with the wind blowing out. Vegas calls for the Reds/Pirates tilt to have 8.5 total runs with the Pirates implied team total at 3.97. There is no history of BvP here, but over his career Bell is substantially better against right-handers as a lefty with a .362 wOBA. Given the fact that he’s projected to hit in the two-hole and cant swing it from both sides of the plate, five at-bats is a reasonable bet here providing an an extra value boost.
Matt Joyce | OF | Brewers | $2,500
In the mood to pinch pennies tonight to try and spend up with arms? Matt Joyce against a right-handed Ervin Santana could fit the bill. He’ll get the platoon advantage against Santana — who’s actually pitched very well to start the season — and has two career homers against him with a .300 average in 22 at-bats. Over his career, Matt Joyce owns a .346 wOBA and a .196 ISO against right-handed pitchers. Just keep an eye on the starting lineup for the Athletics to make sure Joyce is indeed in the lineup. If by chance he’s not, give Enrique Hernandez at $3,100 a look.