3 MLB FanDuel Studs to Target for Tuesday 9/12/2023

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.

Freddy Peralta, SP, Milwaukee Brewers ($10,500)

The Milwaukee Brewers are slated to welcome the Miami Marlins to American Family Field on Tuesday night, with right-hander Freddy Peralta on the mound. Peralta carries numberFire's highest projected FanDuel points on tonight's slate, with 35.6 fantasy points off of 7.0 strikeouts, 0.3 wins, and 1.9 earned runs over 5.6 innings.

The Marlins have not been a particularly tough out for opposing pitchers this season, earning a 21st-ranked 93 wRC+ on the year. That number has even taken a hit over the last month without slugger Jorge Soler, slipping to 89 wRC+ in that time.

Peralta has been enjoying a strong bounce-back year for the Brewers. He's throwing for a strong 11.5 K/9 rate and holds the league's 12th-best xFIP (expected fielding-independent pitching) with a strong 3.59 mark. He has topped 40 FanDuel points in five of his last six starts, including tough matchups with the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres in those outings.

Only Atlanta Braves pitcher Charlie Morton is striking out opposing batters at a higher rate than Peralta's 12.71 rate over the last month.

Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros ($4,200)

Jose Altuve caught fire in August and has not slowed down for the Houston Astros since; he has 6 home runs with a .261 batting average over the last 14 days.

You could even argue that he's been a little unlucky, too. While he has walked at a 2.0% rate in his last 49 plate appearances, he has been striking out at only an 18.4% rate. He's putting a ton of balls in play but has just a .194 batting average on balls in play (BABIP), MLB's 11th-worst BABIP in that span.

With a little bit more luck on his side, we'd be talking about him right alongside stars like Julio Rodriguez and Mookie Betts for what he's done this month. Fortunately, Altuve should get a chance to hit on the positive side of variance against the Oakland Athletics this evening.

A's starter JP Sears has been having a rough season, recording the 10th-worst skill-interactive ERA (SIERA) on the year with his 4.61 mark. The A's have a -67 DRS (total defensive runs saved above average), which ranks worst in the entire league.

A's pitchers have struggled, and their defense hasn't made up for it. In other words, if Altuve puts balls in play in tonight's tilt, he's probably going to hit for a better average than the .194 BABIP he's had recently.

Cody Bellinger, OF, Chicago Cubs ($4,600)

It's been good to have Cody Bellinger back in 2023.

In his first year with the Chicago Cubs, the former MVP is playing like it's 2019 again. His .910 OPS trails only his Rookie of the Year 2017 and MVP 2019 seasons, and somehow the slugger is striking out at just a 15.7% rate -- the lowest mark of his career. He's been a major driver behind the Cubs' surprising playoff contention this year.

Bellinger's 2023 stats have been outstanding, but his home run numbers haven't quite touched the heights he reached during those impressive years earlier in his career. He's been barreling the ball on just 6.5% of his hits but has still managed to slug for an impressive .550 SLG (the third-best mark of his career) while batting for a career-best .317 batting average.

He could boost his home run numbers tonight against the Colorado Rockies as the Cubs travel to Coors Field. The Cubs are slated to face Chris Flexen, who has posted a 7.36 ERA on the season and has coughed up 2.8 homers per 9 innings this season. It's a smash spot for Bellinger and the Cubs, who could be the key components of winning FanDuel lineups tonight.

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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.