3 MLB FanDuel Studs to Target for Friday 6/16/23

In daily fantasy baseball on FanDuel, finding and utilizing productive high-salary players is integral to building a successful lineup.

In terms of hitters, we're looking for individuals with big numbers, favorable matchups, and fellow players around them who are likely to produce, as well, increasing our chances for runs and RBI. For pitchers, we want high strikeout totals. Still, the ability to labor deep into a game while earning a win is also valuable.

With high-salary picks playing such a crucial role in your lineup, you can't afford to miss on these guys, so let's take a look at a few top high-salary plays for today's main slate.

Lucky for us, Friday's main slate features 14 games.

Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays ($11,000)

As the ace of the Tampa Bay Rays, Shane McClanahan is again pitching supurbly in 2023. Admittedly, I was between he and Toronto Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman for today's pitching stud. But Gausman is facing one of MLB's best offensive teams in the Texas Rangers, and I like McClanahan's ensuing matchup against the San Diego Padres.

McClanahan has been brilliant as a DFS selection this season. Considering his high strikeout production (10.02 Ks per nine innings) synergized with his ability to both collect wins (10-1 record) while keeping runs off the board (2.18 ERA over 82.2 innings pitched), McClanahan seems like a safe choice against a struggling Padres offense.

I prefer this matchup against San Diego because the Friars simply have not scored much this season (as opposed to the Rangers, who lead MLB in runs scored). The Padres are 23rd in overall run production and have the 12th-highest strikeout rate (23.3%). McClanahan should provide a strong effort inside the pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

numberFire's model projects McClanahan for 34.5 FanDuel points on Friday.

Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves ($4,600)

Ronald Acuna and the Atlanta Braves have continued to roll this year. The dynamic outfielder has been a run-producing machine lately. Acuna has popped two home runs in the last three days while also adding 11 RBI over the Braves' past six contests.

On Friday, Atlanta will face Colorado Rockies starter Dinelson Lamet. The righty has surrendered 25 earned runs, including 3 homers, in only 21.2 innings of work. He's allowing a 40.0% hard-hit rate.

Acuna is sporting an impressive weighted on-base average (wOBA) of .415 at the moment, which would be the highest mark of his career if the season concluded today. In 2023, He has scored more runs (60) than any other player in the Majors and is currently second in stolen bases (29).

Let us feast with Acuna against a team that simply does not pitch well--the Rockies are showing a collective 5.19 ERA this season. Once Lamet is out of the game, Acuna can keep it going against a Rockies bullpen that owns the fourth-worst expected fielding independent pitching (xFIP) at 4.57.

numberFire's model projects Acuna to produce 15.3 FanDuel points in this matchup, the second-most among all bats.

Shohei Ohtani, OF, Los Angeles Angels ($4,300)

Going with Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels really never gets old in DFS. I selected him as high-salary player to target on Wednesday, and he crushed a two-run homer. I am going back to him again tonight.

On Friday, Ohtani is set to square off against the Kansas City Royals and third-year starting pitcher Brady Singer (6.58 ERA). Immediately, the platoon advantage is in favor of the 2021 American League MVP versus the struggling Singer, who is giving up a .400 wOBA to left-handers this season.

As one of the most gifted left-handed bats in the game, Ohtani is still excelling at the plate in 2023, leading all hitters with a 1.002 OPS (the aforementioned Acuna is second-best at .979).

Per numberFire, Ohtani is projected to have the biggest night (16.3) of any batter on Friday. He has also homered in consecutive games, which is part of four home runs in four nights. In the most recent series against Texas, Ohtani totaled eight RBI.

He'll have a great shot to stay hot against Singer and the lowly Royals.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.