MLB

3 Under-the-Radar MLB FanDuel Plays for 4/14/21

Will Carlos Rodon go overlooked on tonight's seven-game MLB slate? Who else should you target in tournaments?

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.

Carlos Rodon, P, Chicago White Sox ($8,300)

Carlos Rodon is off to a good start this season, but is he a viable option in tournaments tonight?

In his first start of the season, Rodon went five innings with nine strikeouts and no earned runs against the Seattle Mariners. He was then scratched from his start on Monday but is good to go tonight against the Cleveland Indians, who are carrying a low 3.66 implied run total.

Rodon may go overlooked due to the fact he is somewhat of an unknown entity on this slate. Zack Wheeler, Lance McCullers, Dustin May, and Christian Morton all offer more consistency compared to Rodon, but this is what makes him appealing in tournaments.

In 2020, Rodon pitched only 7.2 innings, so we can't take anything from that. In 2019, he pitched only 34.2 innings, and it's tough to take anything from that, as well. However, in 2018 Rodon carried a very solid 29.1% strikeout rate with a low 30.9% hard-contact rate. This is why I said Rodon is a bit unknown. We are hoping he can reach back into the old bag of tricks and pull out that upside.

The matchup is not one to be worried about versus the Indians but the potential inconsistency for Rodon could cause him to go overlooked.

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Philadelphia Phillies ($3,000)

There are six teams with higher implied run totals than Philadelphia Phillies (4.15) which should cause them to be less popular.

The Phillies are taking on the New York Mets, who will have David Peterson on the mound. Peterson made his MLB debut last year and struggled with right-handed hitters, allowing 1.12 HR/9, an 11.8% walk rate, a 39.1% fly-ball rate, and a 5.49 xFIP. Those aren't the most inspiring numbers from a young pitcher, and it's a matchup worth attacking with some righty power.

That leads us to Andrew McCutchen, who carried a high .267 ISO, 60.9% fly-ball rate, and a 47.8% hard-contact rate versus left-handed pitchers last season.

That is some serious power versus lefties and the type you should be targeting in tournaments -- especially if he could be going overlooked. While the park factor at Citi Field isn't the best for hitters, I'm not passing up a chance to get that type of power into some lineups tonight.

DJ Stewart, OF, Baltimore Orioles ($2,700)

The Baltimore Orioles don't scream offensive powerhouse, but they have some upside tonight.

The Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and even the Tampa Bay Rays are all shaping up to be some of the top stacks on tonight's slate. They should all be more popular than the Orioles despite the fact the birds carry a 4.93 implied run total.

There is also a potential for some rain in Baltimore, further causing the Orioles to fly under the radar. If this game does play and no one else is stacking the Orioles, it's all upside for their hitters. Yes, this is all risk-reward, but that's fine in tournaments.

D.J. Stewart is a player worth considering tonight with his .278 ISO, 140 wRC+, and 42.9% fly-ball rate versus right-handed pitchers from last season. Justin Dunn will be on the mound tonight, and he seriously struggles versus lefty hitters, as he allowed 2.31 HR/9 and a 49.2% fly-ball rate last season.