This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Welcome to the Wednesday edition of our FanDuel value plays for July 8. Players are trying to finish strong over the next few days before the Mid-Summer Classic brings an end to the first half of the 2015 season. Wednesday's schedule includes 11 night games to choose your lineups from and an assortment of different high end pitching options. One of the most popular picks will be recent All-Star snub and Los Angeles Dodgers ace, Clayton Kershaw, who comes in at a price of $12,500.
Without further ado, let's take a look at tonight's selections.
Starting Pitcher:
Chris Archer, $10,600 - Archer comes in at $1,900 less than Kershaw which is understandable considering the fact that Kershaw pitches at home against a much less talented Phillies team, than the Royals squad that Archer will face. However, Archer has been as good as anyone in the league up to this point and he's certainly capable of being just as dominant on Wednesday night. The Rays ace holds a ridiculous record of 6-0 in seven road starts this season to go along with a 0.77 ERA and 0.81 WHIP. After you toss in a 57/9 K/BB ratio, it'd certainly be safe to say that no other pitcher likes pitching on the road as much as this guy.
Catcher:
Stephen Vogt, $3,100 - Vogt is having a sensational season up to this point for the Athletics as he ranks among the top 60 overall players in the world of fantasy baseball. He's coming off a 2-for-4 night which included a run scored and an RBI. Vogt will be playing in hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium on Wednesday with the short porch in right field. Assuming he's in the lineup following the 10-inning contest on Tuesday, Vogt will be a solid play at the catcher position.
First Base:
Pedro Alvarez, $2,900 - While Alvarez hasn't necessarily played up to his standards yet this year, he's still on pace for over 20 home runs and 75-80 RBI. The .242 average is slightly above his career .235 mark, so it'd be tough to imagine him hitting much higher than that over the course of a full season. The Bucs get a matchup with Andrew Cashner and the Padres on Wednesday at hitter-friendly PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The right-handed starter enters this contest with a 3-9 record to go along with a 4.06 ERA. This is a real nice matchup for Alvarez who possesses game changing power, and absolutely tears up right-handers - all 12 home runs have come against right-handed pitching.
Second Base:
Logan Forsythe, $2,800 - Forsythe has been a pleasant surprise for the Tampa Bay Rays this season, batting .281 with eight home runs and 34 RBI to go along with seven stolen bags. He's a true five-tool threat and he'll get a nice matchup against aging veteran Jeremy Guthrie of the Royals who enters with an ugly 5.42 ERA across 16 starts. Forsythe started both games of the double-header on Tuesday, so be sure to make sure he's in tonight's lineup before making the selection. If he's not in the lineup, Neil Walker at $3,200 would also be a solid option.
Third Base:
Evan Longoria, $2,900 - Longoria gives us another Rays player tonight against Guthrie in Kansas City. He also started both games of the double-header, hitting a home run in one of them. His price tag is very affordable due to the fact that he hasn't performed as well as he'd like to up to this point. Longoria is on pace to end the season with numbers well below his career averages, but he still possess plenty of talent and could certainly be in for a big second half. I love the Ray's tonight against Guthrie, and this guy will be hitting right in the middle. If Longoria happens to get the night off, Brett Lawrie at $2,900 could be a nice value tonight.
Shortstop:
Xander Bogaerts, $2,900 - Bogaerts enters Wednesday's contest on a six game hitting streak and he recorded multiple hits in four of those six games. He's been tearing the cover off of the ball as of late which has brought his average up to .304 for the season. In his last 55 at-bats the Red Sox shortstop has scored eight runs and driven in 10 to go along with a .382 average. He'll be playing at home tonight with the monster in left, and he's shown no signs of slowing down as of late. The very reasonable price tag makes him an easy selection to me.
Outfield:
Andrew McCutchen, $4,600 - This makes Pirates hitter number two for the night, and I've been having a hard time getting away from him as of late. In his last 42 at-bats, the franchise outfielder is hitting .357 with a home run, eight RBI and eight runs scored. After a brutal start to the season, McCutchen has bounced back extremely well and it seems that he'll be in for a big second half to the season. He gets the same matchup against Cashner at PNC Park, and he could have another big night.
Christian Yelich, $3,200 - Speaking of brutal starts to the season, Yelich might have had one of the worst. He enters Wednesday's contest on a nine game hitting streak, and he seems to be rounding back into last year's form. Yelich is batting .432 over the last two weeks and has been one of the hottest hitters in the game. He'll get a juicy matchup against Rick Porcello of the Red Sox on Wednesday who enters with an awful 6.08 ERA.
Billy Hamilton, $3,100 - Hamilton has converted 42-of-48 stolen base attempts this year, and he's well on pace to break his career high of 56 stolen bags. He's only hitting .221 which is certainly a concern, but when he gets on base he's almost a sure thing to steal a bag. If Hamilton isn't in the lineup on Wednesday, teammate Marlon Byrd could be a solid low-end option at $2,600.
Good Luck!
