This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Welcome to my Daily Plays article for Tuesday July 7, 2015. The baseball season is nearing it's midway point, as the All-Star break is coming up next week. Tuesday has a full slate of games on the schedule, so let's get on to the picks.
Pitcher
Corey Kluber, $11,000 - Kluber and Max Scherzer, $12,500, are both pitching at home, and both deserve strong consideration based on their recent performance and strikeout potential. Kluber gets the nod as the top pitcher choice since he is a bit cheaper than Scherzer, and his opponent, the Astros, lead the league in striking out. Kluber has also found a groove, as he has struck out 24 batters in his past two starts. He is also more likely to get run support than Scherzer, since the Nationals will be facing the very tough Johnny Cueto. With double-digit strikeout upside, and a strong bet to earn a win, Kluber is the clear cut top value at pitcher.
Brett Anderson, $7,900 - Anderson has picked up his strikeout rate as the season has progressed, and has a strong matchup at home versus the Phillies. He makes a nice value play since the Phillies will have Chad Billingsley on the mound, so run support will be there for Anderson. Anderson has struck out 17 batters combined in his past two starts, and he completed seven innings in each of those starts as well. The Phillies don't strike out a ton, but they also are last in the league in scoring runs, so Anderson makes a very safe and solid value play.
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal, $3,000 - There are quite a few offenses to target on Tuesday, as there is a game in Coors Field, but the Dodgers might have the matchup of the day facing Chad Billingsley at home. Grandal has moved up in the batting order, and has really swung the bat well versus right-handed pitching. Grandal has 12 home runs since May 1, and has hit all of his home runs off of right-handers. Chad Billingsley is just not a good pitcher anymore, and Grandal should have another big night at the plate. His power and affordable price tag make him a top value play.
First Base
David Ortiz, $3,200 - Ortiz is still under priced, and he loves facing right-handed pitching at home. Ortiz has home runs in three of his past eight games, and has 13 home runs off of right-handed pitching this year. He also has had success versus Dan Haren in the past, with three home runs and a .348 batting average in 23 lifetime at bats against the right-hander. Adrian Gonzalez, $2,900, is also under priced and has a prime matchup (like Grandal above) against Chad Billingley. Both are strong plays at very affordable salaries.
Second Base
Jace Peterson, $2,700 - Peterson usually leads off for the Braves, and he has a juicy matchup against minor league pitcher Tyler Cravy in Miller Park. Peterson has a .349 OBP versus right-handed pitching, and has stolen eight bases so far in 2015. He also has eleven doubles and three triples off of right-handers, and has the power to hit home runs in hitter-friendly parks (like Miller Park). Cravy is very medicore, so don't be afraid to roster a few Braves on Tuesday, with Peteson leading the charge.
Third Base
Adrian Beltre, $2,600 - Beltre has a very appealing price tag, and has always had success versus left-handed pitching. Beltre has three of his six home runs off of southpaws in 2015, and is slugging .447 against them (compared to .341 versus right-handers). Beltre is also very affordable on FanDuel, and the Rangers have a nice matchup at home versus Robbie Ray, who has been prone to giving up home runs in his brief career. Beltre has big time upside at a very affordable price tag, making him an excellent value play on Tuesday night.
Shortstop
Starlin Castro, $2,200 - Castro is minimum-priced on FanDuel at the moment, and shortstop is a good position to "punt" and save salary. Castro has a solid matchup, as the Cubs face Tyler Lyons in the night cap of their double-header. Lyons is a mediocre left-handed pitcher, and Castro has a .333 OBP versus left-handers in 2015. He also bats clean-up for the Cubs when they face a left-hander, putting him in a nice position to succeed. At the bare minimum salary of $2,200, he makes a tremendous value play at a difficult position.
Outfield
Joc Pederson, $3,300 - Pederson is another Dodger that is very affordable, and worth rostering against Chad Billingsley. Pederson has 20 home runs in 2015, with 17 of those coming against right-handed pitching. He also has a .384 OBP against right-handed pitching, and is among the league leaders in runs scored. He has big time upside leading off for the Dodgers, and his price tag is very affordable, making him a top value play in the outfield.
Jorge Soler, $2,500 - Soler was activated from the disabled list on Sunday, and his salary is very affordable at near-minimum price. Soler is batting .296 versus left-handed pitching, with a .429 OBP. Like Castro above, he has a strong matchup against Tyler Lyons, a minor league pitcher being called up to start the second game of a double-header. With big time power at a very attractive salary, fire up Soler on Tuesday night.
Kelly Johnson, $2,200 - Johnson is minimum-priced on Tuesday, and has swung the bat well recently. Johnson had a big game on Monday in Miller Park, and bats in the heart of the Braves lineup. Johnson also has sneaky power, with seven home runs in 150 at bats in 2015. He is slugging .433 off right-handed pitching, and has a juicy matchup facing Tyler Cravy. Fire up Johnson at a minimum price-tag of $2,200, one of the top value plays at any position.
Andre Ethier, $2,300, is another Dodger worth rostering at his near-minimum salary.
