At FantasyLabs, we believe that we have the best tools and data available for those who play daily fantasy sports. We also realize that these tools and data are only as beneficial as our ability to communicate their functionality and worth.
With this in mind, our Trend of the Day series features articles that each weekday walk subscribers through an important trend, created with our Trends tool. Also, shortly after you create a trend, you will be able to see it under the “My Trends” column in our Player Models.
I typically fill the catcher spot with the remaining salary after constructing the rest of my lineup. I assume most catchers are interchangeable, and if you’re going to punt on the position, why not fixate on those rostered by teams implied to score many runs?
There’s truly one way to uncover the value of cheap catchers: Develop a trend!
MLB Trend of the Day: Cheap Catchers with High Implied Runs
Step 1: Player Filters > Position > C
I opted for only players listed at catcher. Ignoring C/1B and C/OF only drops the count by three once we complete the entire trend. On their own, catchers don’t have a positive track record.
Step 2: Player Filters > Salary > $2,000 to $2,700
In today’s Main slate, no catchers on DraftKings or FanDuel cost $2,800 or $2,900, so I cut off this filter at $2,700 for relevance.
Step 3: Vegas Filters > Runs > 4.7 to 6.1
Sticking with the relevance theme, only five of the 16 teams in the Main slate are currently implied to score between 4.7 and 6.1 runs.
Step 4: Player Filters > Lineup Order > 5 to 9
Focusing on the tail removes only one game from the count on DraftKings. I felt this a necessary step to remove the outlier (John Jaso) and stay true to inexpensive catchers located at the end of the batting order.
Step 5: Trends > Pro Trends > 5 to 10
We were already on solid footing four steps in, but adding Pro Trends incrementally improves the Plus/Minus and Consistency. Ultimately, we’re mining through hitters who average 5.30 expected points on DraftKings. The bar is quite low.
Current Matches
The Rays catchers, Hank Conger and Curt Casali, both qualify, but since Conger is projected to start, he earns the featured image. However, prepare to possibly shift to Casali, as Drew Smyly’s 7.15 ERA and .293 batting average against in games where Conger catches is the worst mark of his pitching career. Either way, Conger or Casali will face Jered Weaver, which may earn itself Pro Trend status one day.
The Cardinals are currently teetering on the 4.7 implied runs that would add Yadier Molina to the list on DraftKings. He currently doesn’t possess enough Pro Trends on FanDuel to meet the requirements. Regardless of whether the Cardinals achieve and sustain enough implied runs to warrant Molina consideration, note the game in St. Louis will be greeted by rain later this evening.
Sandy Leon, Robinson Chirinos, and Josh Thole all qualify for DraftKings, but they aren’t projected to start. Jose Lobaton is the lone DraftKings match in the earlier slates, so keep an eye out in case Wilson Ramos gets the afternoon off following a night game.
If he plays, Chris Herrmann qualifies on FanDuel, where catchers have historically provided a +1.65 Plus/Minus on 45.6 percent Consistency. He’s currently questionable with a sore hamstring, but that didn’t preclude him from pinch-hitting in two of the Diamondbacks’ last three games.
