This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Wednesday's MLB main slate begins at 7:05 PM Eastern time and features eight games. Below, you'll find which individual pitchers and hitters are primed to provide the best value, as well as the top lineup stacking options in this slate.
Pitching Overview
There's a nice balance of established top starters and enticing options from lower down the price spectrum in this slate, but one pitcher stands out thanks to his combination of effectiveness and matchup. Cleveland's Shane Bieber ($11,000) has tossed eight consecutive quality starts and has a 31.0 percent strikeout rate for the season as he prepares to host the 28th-ranked White Sox offense.
Among middling pitchers, Jakob Junis ($7,900) stands out thanks to his extremely favorable matchup. He comes in with a pedestrian 4.93 ERA, 4.58 FIP and 21.5 percent strikeout rate, but Junis' numbers should start to look better by the time he's through with the Tigers. Detroit averages a league-low 3.64 runs and a league-high 10.07 strikeouts per game.
Marlins rookie Robert Dugger ($6,500) was shelled by the Mets during his major-league debut in early August, but he looked much more prepared after getting called back up later in the month, holding the Reds without an earned run while walking one and striking out seven over seven innings Aug. 29. Owners looking to take a risk on an affordable option should look Dugger's way against Pittsburgh.
Value Plays/Chalk
The Athletics, Royals and Dodgers are all primed to take advantage of favorable pitching matchups, but there's also value to be found outside of those three stackable lineups.
Switch-hitting Indians first baseman Carlos Santana ($4,000) has a .421 wOBA from the left side at home, and he should continue to find success against White Sox righty Ivan Nova.
Among cheaper options at first base, San Francisco's Brandon Belt ($3,200) is an enticing pick. Belt's road wOBA against righties is .380, and Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha will be starting this one on three days' rest.
Left-handed hitters have a .373 wOBA against A's starter Tanner Roark this season, and Angels slugger Shohei Ohtani ($3,100) is primed to add to Roark's struggles. Ohtani's in the midst of his second major-league season, having posted a .392 wOBA against righties thus far in his career.
Stacks
Athletics vs. Patrick Sandoval (Angels)
Marcus Semien (SS - $4,100), Matt Chapman (3B - $3,800), Mark Canha (OF - $3,400)
Sandoval has a 5.24 ERA through 22.1 major-league innings, and the A's have plenty of dangerous right-handed bats capable of adding to the rookie lefty's woes. Semien leads off and has a .425 wOBA at home against lefties. Chapman has been even better with a .484 home wOBA against southpaws, while Canha has a home wOBA well over .400 overall.
Dodgers vs. Antonio Senzatela (Rockies)
Cody Bellinger (OF - $4,800), Corey Seager (SS - $3,400), Gavin Lux (2B - $2,500)
Left-handed hitters have brutalized Senzatela all season, producing a .413 wOBA over a 226-batter sample. The Dodgers have plenty of options to throw at him from that side. Bellinger has a .434 wOBA against righties, Seager is over .350 in that split, and Lux has been thrust into the leadoff spot right away with Joc Pederson (abdomen) sidelined.
Royals vs. Edwin Jackson (Tigers)
Whit Merrifield (2B - $3,600), Jorge Soler (OF - $3,800), Hunter Dozier (3B - $3,900)
Stacking Royals is rarely a winning strategy, but an exception can be made against a pitcher with a 9.35 ERA over 52 innings this season. Jackson is less than a week from his 36th birthday, and the veteran righty's tank is running on empty, as evidenced by his .471 wOBA allowed in righty-on-righty matchups. Merrifield's wOBA in those matchups is close to .350, while Soler's at .370 in that split and Dozier's over .360.
