3 MLB FanDuel Studs to Target for Thursday 8/31/23

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 today's main slate.

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

Matt Olson, 1B, Braves ($4,400)

On this three-game slate, Matt Olson is a priority for me. The Atlanta Braves' first baseman was pretty quiet during Atlanta's early-week trip to Coors, but he can flip the switch today in a clash with Lance Lynn.

Lynn has really struggled with lefty bats this year, permitting a .398 wOBA and 2.49 homers per nine innings in the split. His strikeout rate is just 21.4% versus lefties while it's 30.1% in righty-righty matchups.

Olson, meanwhile, has been amazing with the platoon advantage, lighting up right-handers to the tune of a .415 wOBA, 42.2% hard-hit rate and 45.9% fly-ball rate.

It all adds up to Olson being the number-one hitter tonight, according to numberFire's projections.

Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, Padres ($3,900)

It appears the San Francisco Giants are deploying an opener tonight, with Sean Manaea the most likely candidate for bulk innings. That puts me on Fernando Tatis Jr..

While Manaea's numbers have improved since he started working behind an opener, he's still giving up plenty of production to righties, including a .360 wOBA and 1.67 jacks per nine.

Tatis offers an elite power/speed combination -- totaling 20 homers and 23 steals -- and he's been outstanding with the platoon advantage, racking up a .381 wOBA in the split.

Mookie Betts, 2B/SS/OF, Dodgers ($4,500)

It's not often we go out of our way to use a hitter against Spencer Strider. But we might have to get a little weird on a three-game slate, and there are reasons to be into Mookie Betts today.

The most obvious reason is that Betts is a world-class baseball player who is having one of the best seasons of his career, posting .427 wOBA with 36 dingers and 10 steals. Oh, and he's eligible at three positions, making him a handy piece to the lineup-building puzzle.

While Strider gets whiffs as well as anyone in the game, he also allows some loud contact. Right-handers have gotten to him for 1.19 homers per nine and a 46.7% fly-ball rate.

Betts' salary and matchup might cause him to be overlooked, and he has tournament-winning upside.

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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.