This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
August closes with a 13-game main slate, with an early Cardinals-Reds matchup and the resumption of a suspended game between the Mets and Marlins omitted. With three $10,000-plus options and four more at at least $9,000, we've got plenty of pitching to choose from.
Pitching
Lucas Giolito, CWS vs. PIT ($10,200): The two arms priced above Giolito both have strikeout-positive matchups, but the ceiling here is equally as high with a nice price break. Giolito is in great form, going for at least 30 FDP in four straight, with those games coming against the likes of Tampa, New York and Toronto. He gets a nice step down in class here, giving him a terrific floor.
Lance McCullers, HOU at SEA ($9,200): Seattle has just a .298 wOBA against righties, fanning 25.7 percent of the time. McCullers has faced them twice since late July, striking out 16 in 12 innings and averaging 41 FDP.
Austin Gomber, COL at TEX ($8,200): Gomber's form certainly doesn't justify this salary, having allowed 13 runs in his last three starts. Mixed in with three starts of 23 FDP or fewer, however, are flashes of upside with 55 FDP vs. Miami and 43 FDP at the Angels. Perhaps the floor is a little more stable in this spot with Texas having the worst wOBA in the league against lefties at .285, adding an 80 wRC+ and .132 ISO. No chance I trust him for cash, but for GPP differentiations? Sure, why not.
John Gant, MIN vs. CHC ($6,400): Gant hasn't been good in the Twins rotation, allowing eight runs across 7.1 innings, but that came against the Yankees and Red Sox. Making his third start, he's hopefully stretched out a bit more and capable of five-plus frames Tuesday. He's also fanned eight in those 7.1 frames, so pairing that with the Cubs propensity to swing and miss, and we could see 4-5x value if he can limit runs.
Top Targets
Luis Robert, CWS vs. PIT ($4,000): Normally, Eloy Jimenez ($3,600) is the target against righties from this lineup, and he's certainly a viable option at that salary, but give me a surging Robert on Tuesday. He's sporting a .398 wOBA and 157 wRC+ in this spot and is knocking it around lately. Robert has three homers in as many games, riding a six-game hit streak in which he's collected 11 knocks total, driving in six while scoring nine times.
Giancarlo Stanton, NYY at LAA ($3,800): Given the month Stanton's had, it's hard to understand why he isn't more expensive. He's collected nine homers, 31 hits, 24 RBI and scored 18 times in 27 games this month. It equates to a .417 wOBA, 168 wRC+, .342 ISO, and .998 OPS. Angels' starter Jaime Barria has allowed 12 runs in his last 14.1 innings (four appearances).
J.D. Martinez, BOS at TB ($3,800): Martinez hasn't been his usual lefty-mashing self this season, but we know we want pieces of the Red Sox lineup against Ryan Yarbrough, who Boston has roughed up for 16 runs in 12 innings across three starts, and with the team being short-handed, our choices are limited. Martinez gets the nod for his past success against southpaws, as well as his success against Yarbrough, having gone 12-of-21 (.571) against him in his career with two homers, eight RBI and a 1.752 OPS.
Value Bats
Josh Donaldson, MIN vs. CHC ($3,200): Donaldson is surging, collecting multiple hits in three straight games and five of his last seven, homering four times in that stretch. His season-long .361 wOBA and .229 ISO work well at this salary, and there's little to fear in Cubs' soft tosser Zach Davies.
Jake Meyers, HOU at SEA ($2,900): The Astros have had Mariners' starter Yusei Kikuchi's number, getting to him for 15 runs over 21.2 innings across four starts, which includes one seven-inning shutout. If we're not paying up but still interested in a piece of this lineup, Meyers makes sense. It's a small sample size, but he's got a .472 wOBA, 210 wRC+, .269 ISO and 1.115 OPS against lefties. He's hit safely in six straight games and 16 of 18, collecting 24 hits in that span.
Keibert Ruiz, WAS vs. PHI ($2,200): This is a game I'd consider stacking, as both starters are getting knocked around the yard regularly. Phillies' starter Matt Moore is allowing a decent .375 wOBA and .893 OPS to righties. Ruiz made his Nats' debut Monday, hitting in the run-producing five spot. He's got nice power upside, and it could be on display tonight.
Stacks to Consider
Blue Jays vs. Keegan Akin: George Springer ($3,800), Teoscar Hernandez ($3,700), Alejandro Kirk ($2,100)
It's probably beyond obvious we want as many shares of the Jays as we can get against Akin, who continues to get pummeled and also allowed six runs to this lineup across 4.1 innings. This isn't a traditional stack based on likely lineup order, but it hopefully gives us some exposure and some price breaks. Hernandez is automatic against lefties, boasting a .458 wOBA, .366 ISO, 193 wRC+ and only an 11.3 percent soft contact rate. Springer and Kirk have far fewer plate appearances due to injury, but go .423/.280/170 and .444/.242/184 respectively. Kirk is nearly bottom-tier priced, and quietly had a five-game hitting streak prior to Monday.
Phillies vs. Patrick Corbin: J.T. Realmuto ($3,500), Jean Segura ($3,200), Andrew McCutchen ($2,700)
We can get a little creative here and target three righties that surround Bryce Harper ($4,400) and hopefully reap the rewards of his potential production as well. There's plenty to like about this trio. McCutchen leads Phillie regulars with a .441 wOBA, 178 wRC+ and .328 ISO. Segura goes .377/136/.183 and Realmuto .357/123/.190. All three have faced Corbin at least 24 times, all have taken him deep, and only McCutchen is hitting lower than .285 against him. Corbin is allowing a .375 wOBA to righties, and has allowed nine homers and 22 runs in his last five starts. Obviously, we need to keep an eye on Realmuto's health, as there aren't ideal replacement options should he again miss time.
