3 Under-the-Radar MLB FanDuel Plays for Friday 7/30/21
When being contrarian in daily fantasy sports, there's a fine line between taking a calculated risk and being reckless. But differentiating your lineups from everyone else's is the name of the game if you plan on taking down one of those highly lucrative DFS tournaments. Whether it's because of bookmaker totals, other options at a given position, or some gem you've found who everyone is overlooking, we can always find potential under-rostered plays if we look hard enough.
Here are three such players to consider branching out for on FanDuel's main slate.
Chris Bassitt, P, Oakland Athletics ($9,400)
Despite being one of the more consistent pitchers on the slate, Chris Bassitt shouldn't be popular tonight.
Corbin Burnes, Lance Lynn, and Kevin Gausman are all more expensive than Bassitt and all hold a higher strikeout rate than Bassitt. It's not difficult to see why Bassitt isn't going to be prioritized in the top-tier of pitchers tonight and that makes him a clear tournament option. Bassitt has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 7 of his last 10 starts, along with racking up six strikeouts or more in that same time.
On a point-per-dollar basis, Bassitt is showing strong levels of fantasy production compared to the top three pitching options tonight. Bassitt's 3.83 SIERA, 42.7% ground-ball rate, 55.9% medium-contact rate, and 24.9% strikeout rate are no joke this season and exactly the type of pitcher you should roll with tonight.
Kyle Seager, 3B, Seattle Mariners ($3,100)
The Seattle Mariners have a 4.30 implied run total tonight and that isn't high enough.
It's a bit shocking to see their run total that low but if that means they are going to be a bit under the radar, I'll take it. It's a bit low since they are going up against Kolby Allard, who comes in allowing 1.61 HR/9, a modest 22.0% strikeout rate, and a 40.5% fly-ball rate overall this season. This is why I have some real interest in the Mariners tonight because there is a clear path to fantasy upside for them in this matchup. Not to mention Allard's numbers are worse -- 2.04 HR/9 and a 41.7% fly-ball rate -- against lefties this season compared to his overall numbers.
This has me leaning towards Kyle Seager, who despite being a lefty hitter, has some serious power versus left-handed pitchers. Seager comes in with a .210 ISO, a 47.1% fly-ball rate, and a 36.5% hard-contact rate. That type of power can play in any matchup, and if Seager is going to be under the radar, I'll roll with him in tournaments.
Jorge Soler, OF, Kansas City Royals ($3,300)
Can Jorge Soler continue to bring the power tonight?
Soler did not do much in the first half of the season, legitimately nothing of note. But, what is noteworthy is the fact he has 7 home runs in the month of July, giving him a total of 13 on the season. See what I mean by nothing? A total of six home runs in the first half and he has more than doubled that this month. We have also seen his ISO, wBOA, fly-ball rate, hard-contact rate, and xSLG rise in the second half of the season. Soler is surging while Ross Stripling is falling.
Stripling comes in allowing 2.22 HR/9, a 44.9% fly-ball rate, and an 18.2% HR/FB ratio versus right-handed hitters this season, all of which are worse in the second half of the season in the same split. I absolutely love the Kansas City Royals tonight for their home run upside versus Stripling.
