3 MLB FanDuel Studs to Target for Monday 8/28/23

Hitting on value plays in MLB DFS on FanDuel can make or break a lineup on any given day, but locking in strong performances with some of baseball's star players provides the backbone for any good DFS lineup.

These stars rightly come with high salaries as they usually live up to expectations and have the ability to outclass their peers at their position.

Here are three studs to target for Monday's main slate.

All advanced statistics come from FanGraphs. All projections via numberFire.

Kevin Gausman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays ($10,900)

Kevin Gausman is cruising right along in 2023 behind a proficient 3.17 SIERA, doing his best to keep the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League playoff race. On Monday, Gausman is scheduled for an appealing home tilt against the Washington Nationals, and Gausman is the most desired DFS hurler of the slate.

Through the entirety of the season, the veteran Blue Jay pitcher has been among the Major League leaders in punchouts. To date, he has tallied 195 Ks, which falls second in the Bigs to only Spencer Strider. For Gausman, he is left with an electric 31.7% strikeout rate entering his matchup with the Nats -- that would be the second-best clip of his 11-year career if the season ended today.

In 2023, the Nats have a team OPS of .718, so they aren't exactly a side we need to avoid (unlike Zac Gallen against the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight).

numberFire projects a dominant outing from Gausman on Monday, pegging him to score a slate-high of 39.2 FanDuel points; there is not another arm who I am more comfortable leaning on this evening.

Anthony Santander, OF/1B, Baltimore Orioles ($3,500)

Staying with a player from the AL East, Anthony Santander of the Baltimore Orioles catches my eye. He has compiled an OPS of .804 so far this campaign and has also done well to pace Baltimore in homers with 24.

Santander and the O's are set for a date hosting the Chicago White Sox on Monday. Right-hander Michael Kopech is scheduled to toe the rubber for Chicago -- he has been rocked for 2.10 home runs per 9 innings through 120 innings pitched this season. Yielding a platoon advantage, Santander has high upside against Kopech.

numberFire expects Santander to be the second-most productive option in the outfield tonight -- his projection currently sits at 15.7 FanDuel points. Baltimore's implied team total is at 5.51 runs, which is second to only the Braves at Coors Field.

Ronald Acuna Jr, OF, Atlanta Braves ($5,100)

Well on his way to his first NL MVP award, Ronald Acuna Jr. is still blazing around the bases. It certainly does not hurt that his Atlanta Braves have maintained the Senior Circuit's best record for the majority of 2023, but Acuna has done more than enough to distinguish himself among a talented row of teammates.

As previously noted, Acuna and the highest scoring offense in baseball (Atlanta is producing 5.78 runs per game at the moment) will be challenging the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field today. That is the literal embodiment of the "kid in a candy store" dynamic. With Acuna, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna and other boppers in the batter's box at 5,280-feet of elevation, we very well could see double-digit run totals from the Braves over the next couple of days.

Naturally, Acuna has the largest projection today among all bats, with numbeFire projecting him to amass 18.9 FanDuel points. As you might imagine, the Braves also have the highest implied run total by numberFire's game projections (7.77) of any side playing.

When you consider Acuna's consistent offensive prowess this season, he seems like a no-brainer selection. Through 129 games played in 2023, Acuna has produced a dizzying wOBA of .415. From there, the speedster has stolen an MLB-best 59 bases. Against Colorado's southpaw Austin Gomber this evening, Acuna can mash with the platoon advantage in advantageous surroundings.

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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.