You don't need an expert to tell you to play Jose Altuve tonight against Phil Hughes. It is much more difficult, however, to sift through the cheap DFS options for the right value plays that can help you fit in the studs you want and put your lineup over the top.
That is the purpose of this article -- to provide you with the best value hitters available each day.
Today I'll be bringing you seven value hitters for MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball on FanDuel and DraftKings for May 4th, 2016. Let's get started!
DFS Hitters - Lineup Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings
1. Byung-Ho Park, 1B, Minnesota Twins
FanDuel Price: $3,500, DraftKings Price: $3,700
Park is finally beginning to display the upside we were told so much about prior to the season. Park has put up some very impressive numbers over his past 15 games after a slow start to the season. During that time, he has a .294 batting average, .451 wOBA, .451 ISO, and .745 slugging percentage, along with a 42.5 percent hard-hit rate.
He's also hit much better against righties in his short career, albeit in limited time. That bodes well against his opponent today, the right-handed Phil Hughes, who posted a 4.39 SIERA last season.
Hughes actually pitched worse to right-handed batters last season than lefties. Park will likely hit in the middle of the lineup for Minnesota in a potential run-scoring barrage against Hughes. He is a very intriguing tournament play.
2. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, New York Yankees
FanDuel Price: $3,100, DraftKings Price: $4,800
While Ellsbury hasn't looked like his usual self, we may have a chance to see vintage-Ellsbury in tonight's matchup against right-hander Tyler Wilson.
The Yankees can stack their lineup full of lefties, and Vegas has this game being a scoring barrage for New York. Ellsbury, who has hit righties much better throughout his career, will be hitting leadoff and have plenty of run-scoring opportunities against Wilson.
3. Derek Dietrich, 2B/3B, Miami Marlins
FanDuel Price: $2,900; DraftKings Price: $3,200
With Dee Gordon out, Dietrich fills in as the leadoff hitter when the Marlins face a right-hander. With Rubby De La Rosa on the mound for Arizona, Dietrich is sure to lead off again.
De La Rosa posted a 4.19 SIERA last season and struggled mightily against left-handed batters. Vegas has Miami projected for over four runs in this one, and their leadoff hitter should be a big part of that.
Dietrich has hit right-handed batters much better throughout his career, and should have no trouble being productive tonight.
4. Steve Pearce, OF/1B, Tampa Bay Rays
FanDuel Price: $2,300, DraftKings Price: $3,100
Lefty Alex Wood isn't a bad pitcher, but when he faces right-handers, he sure looks like one. His wOBA against jumped from .274 against lefties to .429 last season, while his wOBA jumped from .228 to .343.
Pearce, a right-hander, crushes lefties and will likely hit cleanup for Tampa Bay's lineup that features eight right-handed bats. Wood could be in for a long day, and Pearce could be a very cheap way to get exposure to the potential run-scoring explosion.
5. Justin Smoak, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
FanDuel Price: $2,200, DraftKings Price: $3,000
Smoak hit his first two homers of the season last night, both coming off of right-handed pitchers. Tonight, he'll face an even weaker righty, in Colby Lewis. Lewis posted an ugly 4.43 SIERA last season and was specifically woeful against batters of the left-handed variety.
Smoak has tormented Lewis in their past meetings, hitting .438 with two home runs in five games against him. This should come as no surprise, considering Smoak hits considerably better against right-handed pitching.
Toronto has the highest implied team total on the slate, and Smoak is an interesting way to get cheap exposure to those runs.
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