This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We will soon be out of the dog days of summer, but that means fall is around the corner. We're in the middle of August with 15 games on the slate. Are they primarily in the afternoon? Of course they are! Here are some players to target and to avoid for your daily MLB fantasy lineups.
PITCHING
Max Scherzer, LAD at NYM ($10,600): Scherzer has only made a couple of starts for the Dodgers, and one was shortened by the rain. But he comes in with a 2.67 ERA on the season. Also, he's Max Scherzer. I don't need to go with a heavy pitch here. However, I'll tell you the Mets rank 28th in runs scored.
Lance McCullers, HOU at LAA ($9,300): McCullers is back to striking out over 10 batters per nine innings while looking strong on the road considering he's posted a 2.70 ERA in away games. While the Angels rank in MLB's upper half when it comes to runs scored, they currently don't have Mike Trout or Anthony Rendon available and that changes things.
Sean Manaea, OAK at TEX ($9,600): Manaea has managed a 3.43 ERA, but actually enters with a 3.28 FIP. He's also not a product of Oakland's home stadium based on a 3.16 road ERA since 2019. The Rangers are battling the Pirates for the worst offense in the majors. While the Pirates are last in runs scored, the Rangers boast the lowest team OPS.
Eric Lauer, MIL at PIT ($8.900): Lauer is back from the COVID-19 list and is expected to slide into the starting role today. This represents a favorable matchup as the Pirates rank last in runs scored as they did in 2020. Lauer's salary is at the lower end, which provides him with upside.
TOP TARGETS
Marcus Semien, TOR at SEA ($4,000): Semien has made himself a lot of money with his bounceback campaign. Not only is he batting .273, but he's also produced 26 homers and 13 stolen bases. Over Semien's last five seasons where he's played over 100 games, he's recorded at least 15 home runs and 10 swiped bags. Rookie Logan Gilbert will be starting for the Mariners and comes in with a 4.05 ERA.
Xander Bogaerts, BOS vs. BAL ($3,900): Bogaerts is on pace for a batting average over .300 and a slugging percentage over .500 for the third straight season. That's what I call an elite bat. He's also logged a .964 OPS at home in 2021. Meanwhile, the Orioles are stuck trotting out southpaw Keegan Akin and his 8.23 ERA.
VALUE BATS
Jeimer Candelario, DET vs. CLE ($3,200): Candelario doesn't hit many homers - which is rare these days - but he can hit for average and get on base. The switch hitter has posted a .284 with a .366 OBP over the last two seasons. Triston McKenzie is enduring a brutal season for Cleveland with a 5.48 FIP.
Michael Taylor, KC vs. STL ($2,500): Taylor's OBP is hovering around .300, but he's still produced 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases. He's also a righty facing the lefty J.A. Happ, who enters with a 6.34 ERA while giving up 1.89 home runs per nine innings. I also mentioned the righty thing because Happ has let right-handed batters go .272 against since 2019.
STACKS TO CONSIDER
Padres vs. Zac Gallen: Manny Machado ($4,100), Jake Cronenworth ($3,600), Trent Grisham ($3,500)
Gallen had a 2.75 ERA last year accompanied by a 3.66 FIP that indicated things could go pear-shaped on him. That's clearly happened with a 4.87 ERA and 4.25 FIP this season. This game is also taking place in Arizona, which is a more batter-friendly place than San Diego. It took Machado a bit of time to get going, but he's now at 21 homers and a .504 slugging percentage while adding nine stolen bases. Cronenworth is a lefty facing a righty and has slashed .281/.351/.478 during his career. Grisham gets on base with a .347 career OBP and has swiped double-digit bases in each of the last two seasons.
Astros vs. Reid Detmers: Jose Altuve ($3,800), Carlos Correa ($3,500), Aledmys Diaz ($2,700)
Detmers has only made two MLB starts over 9.1 innings, but the 22-year-old has produced a 10.61 ERA. He seems in a bit over his head, and the Astros represent a tough team to face. Altuve's power isn't quite back to his peak, but he's hit .273 with 25 home runs. Correa is getting on base at his best rate in years with a .364 OBP. Diaz has been excellent against both lefties (.990 OPS) and in away games (1.041) this season.
