This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Happy Labor Day! Because of the holiday we have an atypical Monday on the MLB slate. There are more games, for starters, as 24 teams will be in action. Also, most of the games are in the afternoon. That means you have to get your lineup in by 1:05 p.m. ET to play the full slate. Here are a few recommendations to help make your holiday a lucrative one.
PITCHING
Max Scherzer, LAD at STL ($11,500): If you aren't worried about salary, obviously Scherzer is rarely a bad idea. He has a 2.40 ERA, and, since joining the Dodgers, he has a 1.29 ERA in six starts. The Cardinals aren't likely to provide much of a challenge, as they are going to finish in the bottom 10 in runs scored. Scherzer should really provide for your DFS lineup. It's just a matter if you are comfortable paying for it.
Sonny Gray, CIN at CHC ($9,200): Be glad Gray is on the road. While he has a 4.65 ERA at home, he has a 2.96 ERA on the road. Also, over his last five starts he has a 2.28 ERA. The Cubs are in the bottom 10 in runs scored, but we also have to remember they traded away the heart of their offense. Patrick Wisdom and Rafael Ortega aren't Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.
Lance McCullers, HOU vs. SEA ($9,000): McCullers is really stepping up this year with a 3.20 ERA and 10.47 strikeouts per nine innings. The Mariners have not made a ton of contact this year. Seattle is 30th in team batting average and will likely finish there when the season ends. McCullers could rack up some whiffs in this one.
Tarik Skubal, DET at PIT ($8,900): Skubal hasn't quite lived up to his prospect status yet, but he does have a 4.26 ERA now, which is at least not bad. On top of that, over his last five starts, he has a 3.25 ERA. This is about the matchup, though. Skubal will face a Pirates team that is going to repeat as scoring the fewest runs in MLB.
TOP TARGETS
Kris Bryant, SF at COL ($3,800): I mentioned Bryant earlier, and now I'm going to recommend him on a visit to Coors Field. He's completely rebounded from 2020, as he had a .861 OPS with the Cubs and since being dealt he's posted a .863 OPS. Bryant has been stealing more bases with the Giants as well, which is interesting. Unsurprisingly given the circumstances, Kyle Freeland has a 6.23 ERA at home since 2019.
Salvador Perez, KC at BAL ($3,500): Perez has 41 home runs, and he might set both the Royals' franchise record for homers and the record for most home runs by a catcher. He's developed incredible power, as he has a .565 slugging percentage over the last two seasons. Matt Harvey has allowed righties – like Perez – hit .324 against him and has a 6.40 ERA at home.
VALUE BATS
Josh Donaldson, MIN at CLE ($3,300): Donaldson remains a guy who gets on base and shows a bit of power. He has a .354 OBP – which is actually a bit low for him – and has slugged .480 with 21 home runs. Since joining the Twins, he's preferred to be on the road, as he had a .990 OPS in away games in 2020 and has a .904 OPS this season. Logan Allen has only made nine starts for Cleveland, but in those starts he has a 6.62 ERA.
Kevin Pillar, NYM at WAS ($2,500): Due to players missing from the Mets' lineup, Pillar earns regular playing time. He's also been hot recently, as he has a 1.168 OPS over the last 21 days. I'm mostly happy to be able to get a righty on a reasonable salary against Patrick Corbin. Corbin has been bafflingly bad this season, as he has a 6.26 ERA and has allowed 2.11 home runs per nine innings.
STACK TO CONSIDER
Blue Jays vs. Jameson Taillon: Marcus Semien ($4,200), Bo Bichette ($4,000), Teoscar Hernandez ($4,000)
Taillon's 4.44 ERA is not good, and the fact he's allowed 1.50 home runs per nine innings is also lackluster from a pitching perspective. Recently, though, he's also really struggled. The former Pirate has an 8.20 ERA over his last four starts. Now he has to face a Blue Jays team loaded with potent bats, including these three.
Semien doesn't get on base at a great level, but it has not mattered for fantasy players. He's hit 35 home runs, stolen 14 bases, and his .266 batting average more than suffices in this modern era. Playing a full season for the first time, Bichette's average has dropped, but he's still hitting .293. Also, he's now a member of the 20-20 club with 21 home runs and 21 stolen bases. Hernandez can hit for average as well, as he's hitting .292 on the season. He's also a guy with power and speed, as he has 24 home runs and nine swiped bags.
