3 MLB FanDuel Studs to Target for Monday 7/31/23

In daily fantasy baseball on FanDuel, rostering the right high-salaried studs is an important part of building lineups.

These high-salaried studs are foundational components of lineups and are expected to deliver.

Monday's main slate features several situations that could provide high FanDuel point totals, with the San Diego Padres' clash with the Colorado Rockies at the top of the list.

Let's take a look at some of the top high-salary players for today's main slate.

All advanced statistics via FanGraphs. All projections via numberFire.

Alex Cobb, P, San Francisco Giants ($8,900)

While Alex Cobb isn't salaried like a stud, he has ben producing like one, and he can do the same today.

The San Francisco Giants' pitcher has numberFire's third-highest projection (32.5 FanDuel points) despite having the seventh-highest salary, and he's the second-best point-per-dollar option.

In 19 starts this season, Cobb has recorded a 6-3 record and is averaging 5.6 innings pitched per start. The righty has an above-average 3.65 skill-interactive ERA (SIERA), 15th-best in baseball and one spot ahead of New York Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole (3.66 SIERA). His 3.28 FIP ranks 12th, and he has a 22.0% strikeout rate. In his last start, Cobb tossed six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics, notching nine strikeouts. He has allowed one or fewer earned runs in three of his last four starts.

On Monday, the 35-year-old is expected to take the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona is a respectable 56-50 so far this season, but they enter this matchup with just 2 wins in their last 10 games. The Diamondbacks' 120 home runs this season rank 16th, but they have just one home run in their last seven games. Their .327 wOBA (9th) and their 20.5% strikeout rate (3rd) on the season are impressive, but during this 10-game skid, those numbers have shifted to a .323 wOBA (18th) and 22.5% strikeout rate (15th).

Against a slumping Arizona side, Cobb offers an excellent combination of upside and value on Monday.

Shohei Ohtani, OF, Los Angeles Angels ($4,600)

You already know -- if Shohei Ohtani is in action, he's worth serious consideration for your DFS lineups.

The Los Angeles Angels' phenom has numberFire's fourth-highest projection (16.0 FanDuel points) and the top non-Coors projection on the slate.

What more can be said about Ohtani that hasn't been said already? He continues to lead the league in homers (39), slugging (.680), wOBA (.441), and wRC+ (185). The two-way superstar is on pace for one of the greatest seasons in MLB history. His .379 ISO also ranks first and is a ridiculous .054 above the next closest player.

Ohtani keeps finding a way to build on and surpass his previous accomplishments. Every time he takes the field, he is an excellent option for your DFS lineups.

On Monday, Ohtani will be facing 39-year-old right-hander Charlie Morton and the Atlanta Braves. Morton's 4.33 SIERA ranks 43rd, and he posted a single-game ERA of 6.35 (vs. Arizona) and 9.82 ERA (vs. Boston) in his last two starts.

Advantage Ohtani.

Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres ($4,000)

numberFire's highest hitter projection on Monday's slate (17.6) belongs to a pair of teammates -- Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr..

Both will get to take advantage of Coors Field, but Machado's salary is $500 less than Tatis'.

Machado's 20 home runs this season rank 25th, and his .469 slugging ranks 44th. He has produced the 28th-most RBI in the league (62) and is sporting a 115 wRC+ that ranks 64th.

On Monday, Machado and the Padres are expected to face left-hander Austin Gomber. Gomber's well-below-average 4.98 SIERA ranks sixth-worst among 66 eligible pitchers this season. In his most recent start, he tossed six scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals, but before that one, he conceded at least two earned runs in 14 consecutive outings.

As a result, the Padres have the highest implied team total on Monday's main slate (6.61), according to numberFire's DFS heat map.

Coming off an impressive three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers over the weekend, look for Machado and the Padres to keep things rolling against the Rockies tonight.

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.