MLB

3 Under-the-Radar MLB FanDuel Plays for 6/5/19

Thomas Vecchio  —  @DFS_Tom Jun 5th, 2019
Brad Peacock has noticeably lower strikeout rate compared to the top pitchers tonight. Will that cause him to come in at lower ownership?

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 is the name of the game if you plan on taking down one of those highly lucrative DFS tournaments. Whether it's because of Vegas totals, other options at a given position, or some gem you've found that everyone is overlooking, we can always find potential under-owned plays if we look hard enough.

Here are three such players to consider branching out for on FanDuel's main slate

Brad Peacock, P, Houston Astros

FanDuel Price: $8,600

The name recognition might not be there for Brad Peacock but he has a good matchup tonight in a solid pitcher's which should help him limit the damage.

Peacock comes in with a 25.1% strikeout rate which is clearly a step below some of the elite pitchers on the slate, but that should have him be passed on by the majority of DFS players, leaving him as a lower-owned tournament option. He is facing off against the Seattle Mariners, who got off to a hot start this season and have a 108 wRC+ and a 25.2% strikeout rate versus right-handed pitchers for the entire season, but that has dropped to a 92 wRC+ and a 26.2% strikeout rate since the start of May.

The Mariners have been getting worse and with Peacock allowing three or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight games, he should be able to keep them in check tonight.

Kole Calhoun, OF, Los Angeles Angels

FanDuel Price: $3,700

Kole Calhoun has been really good this season, like really good, and is now up against a home run prone pitcher which should allow him to continue posting strong numbers.

Calhoun has 12 home runs this season (after hitting 19 last year), his strikeout rate is lower this season compared to last, his ISO is higher this season compared to last, his wOBA is higher, and his fly-ball rate is higher. By several significant metrics, Calhoun in on pace for his best season in the majors and there is no reason it shouldn't continue tonight.

He is facing off against Daniel Mengden, who doesn't have a ton of innings pitched this season, but if we look to 2018, we can see he allowed 1.54 homers per nine innings, a 42.9% hard-hit rate, and a 42.4% fly-ball rate to lefty hitters. The platoon advantage is there big time for Calhoun and the Los Angeles Angels tonight and with nine teams having higher implied run totals, he should be considerably overlooked.

Kevin Kiermaier, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

FanDuel Price: $2,900

The Tampa Bay Rays have a positive park shift in their favor tonight and a 5.13 implied run total, which is the second highest on the slate, but they have players come in at lower ownership?

Kevin Kiermaier comes in with hits in 10 of his last 12 games, three doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI over that span. Those are some solid numbers yet we often see Kiermaier overlooked in tournaments since he hits at the bottom of the lineup for the Rays. Yes, there is an argument to be made that you are losing out on some overall offense equity, but the consistency he has lately along with the affordable price tag shouldn't be passed on when you want to pay up for pitching tonight.

Our models have him projected for 10.1 FanDuel points which are very reachable tonight since he is up against Spencer Turnbull, who has a 5.49 xFIP and allowing 1.21 homers per nine innings to lefty hitters this season.