Every day is a little different this season – lineups are getting shuffled, games are getting postponed due to COVID outbreaks (ahem, looking at you Marlins). We have 10 games on the docket for today – two of which are on the early short slate. We have some deep-dive value plays today, but as is the protocol every day, check back on your lineups before the start of each game. Let’s get to it – good luck!

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Pitcher

 
The “value” end of today’s starting pitcher salaries is going to be like walking on a knife’s edge. Martín Pérez is cheap and will have a few solid games this year. Kevin Gausman is a mere $100 more than Pérez and is pitching at home against the Padres. Why take that gamble when you can snag Singer for a few hundred dollars more? Steady as they come, Singer has been a fierce competitor for his entire life and has a solid repertoire to keep things rolling in the big leagues this year. He’s facing off against a Tigers lineup that has posted a weak 94 wRC+ so far and has struck out at a 32.8% clip. The value doesn’t get much better than that at his price point.

Yarbrough and Stripling are a little more expensive, but you’ll get what you pay for. The Braves (90 wRC+) and Diamondbacks (63 wRC+) have not found their groove at the plate yet this season. For Yarbrough, the road is his happy place – in 2019, he had a .232 wOBA-against during away games. Stripling is the safest play here but at a cost. If he scuffles, he has the full strength of the Dodgers lineup to help him get that W.

Catcher/First Base

 
Perez is an absolute steal at $2,600. He doesn’t hit for a great average, but he’s in an excellent position to net you some RBIs and is always a threat to hit the long ball. He’s flagged as a medium risk since he could just as easily go hitless, but it’s tough to pass at his price point. Santana is an oldie, but still a goodie. He had a resurgent year in 2019 for Cleveland and showed that he can still hit for a lot of power. At $3,500 he should be a great value play despite facing off against his weaker side (126 wRC+ against right-handed pitching in 2019). Voit has a solid matchup against LHP John Means – he mashes left-handed pitching (133 wRC+) and hits in the Yankees’ high powered offense.

Second Base

 
Peraza has a strong matchup as he carries a career .297 average against left-handed pitching into play today. He doesn’t offer much else, but his budget price point makes him worth the gamble. Alberto is primed for a great day against LHP J.A. Happ, as he hit lefties to the tune of a 151 wRC+ and a .398 BA in 2019. Merrifield doesn’t hit righties (104 wRC+) as effectively as lefties (128 wRC+), but he’s going up against Ivan Nova who doesn’t do much of anything effectively these days. Merrifield is a strong hitter no matter who he’s facing and is a fairly safe play today but costs a little more than our other value plays.

Third Base

 
Díaz is hitting in the heart of the Rays’ lineup, is a patient hitter (career 11.1 BB%), and carries a career 125 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. He’s a fairly low risk, high-value play today. Donaldson has had a slow start to the season, but he’s only five games in at this point. Although he’s facing off against budding star Shane Bieber, he teed off on right-handed pitching in 2019 (135 wRC+, .381 wOBA). Lastly, we have Ramírez at a slightly higher price point, but a no less favorable matchup. He didn’t live up to expectations last year, but he was still an extremely productive player across the board. Unlike many other batters, he’s come out of the gates on an absolute tear this year. The sample size is small, but he’s already accrued 0.6 WAR across just 6 games and is the proud owner of a sparkling 249 wRC+.

Shortstop

 
Mondesi does not have a great matchup. However, he’s an electrifying player who only needs to reach base once to have a fair chance at returning more value than his price tag. He’s also facing Ivan Nova who, as noted earlier, is not exactly a great challenge (and Mondesi is 4/8 in his career against Nova). Lindor has a career .302 average and 126 wRC+ against lefties and has a great matchup to improve those numbers tonight. He always has a shot at contributing across all categories, too. For $4,200, he’s the best value out of this group. Seager is hitting in the heart of the Dodgers’ order and although he has a challenging opponent in Robbie Ray (career 111 wRC+ against left-handed pitching), he’s almost a lock to give you a solid point total today.

Outfield

 
Gordon isn’t the most exciting player these days, but he still has an excellent eye and a decent bat. He’s 6/12 in his career against Nova and while he had a modest 100 wRC+ against right-handed pitching last season, the situation is favorable enough to make him a great value play. I’m not quite sure how Céspedes warrants a sub-$4,000 price tag, but I’m snatching him up at this bargain price today versus Boston. He has a career .228 ISO and 123 wRC+ against left-handed pitching and Pérez was awful in his first start of the season. I’m pairing Dickerson and Yastrzemski today despite facing off against a very imposing Dinelson Lamet. Although Lamet has been nothing short of dominant, he can struggle against left-handed bats. He has a career 4.53 FIP against that side of the plate and both Dickerson (120 wRC+) and Yastrzemski (119 wRC+) are solid in that situation. Yastrzemski definitely fares better against left-handed pitching, but he’s strong enough against both sides of the plate to warrant a selection today. While Cruz has the less-favorable righty/righty matchup and is over the hill in baseball years, he continues to post elite numbers at the plate (.328 ISO in 2019). It’s hard to ignore his potential value for such a modest price.

5 Studs Worth Their Salary

• Mookie Betts, LAD ($5,600): Betts can do it all – at the plate, on the base paths, in the field. He always has a shot to surpass his price tag in value.
• Fernando Tatis Jr., Team ($5,200): Tatis Jr. showed in 2019 that he has the talent to live up to the hype. He’s worth every penny of his price tag.
• J.D. Martinez, BOS ($5,100): Martinez continues to rake no matter the situation. He has a favorable matchup today against LHP Matz.
• Pete Alonso, NYM ($5,100): Alonso is one of the most talented hitters out there right now and continues to improve.
• Aaron Judge, NYY ($4,900): Judge is always a threat to explode and hits in one of the best lineups in the league.

5 Notable Players to Fade

• J.A. Happ, NYY ($10,400): He has a favorable matchup, but just is not worth his inflated price tag today.
• Ozzie Albies, ATL ($5,600): Off to a cold start and bound to turn it around at some point, his price is a bit high for his matchup today.
• Hunter Pence, SF ($5,200): Pence has had a rough go of it so far and isn’t likely to turn it around today.
• Max Muncy, LAD ($4,900): Muncy is a talented and versatile player, but will have a difficult time finding his stroke against Ray.
• Rafael Devers, BOS ($4,900): I love Devers and think he is still working up to his peak, but he’s been cold this week and has an unfavorable matchup today.

All advanced statistics sourced from FanGraphs.

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Tyler Burgess is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Tyler, check out his archive and follow him @ty_burg.