3 MLB FanDuel Studs to Target for Monday 6/12/23

In daily fantasy baseball on FanDuel, finding and utilizing productive high-salary players is integral to building a successful lineup.

In terms of hitters, we're looking for individuals with big numbers, favorable matchups, and fellow players around them who are likely to produce, as well, increasing our chances for runs and RBI. For pitchers, we want high strikeout totals. Still, the ability to labor deep into a game while earning a win is also valuable.

With high-salary picks playing such a crucial role in your lineup, you can't afford to miss on these guys, so let's take a look at a few top high-salary plays for today's main slate.

Keep in mind, today's schedule features only eight games, which can be typical of a Monday.

Zach Eflin, SP, Tampa Bay Rays ($10,800)

Ironically, we see a matchup between the two MLB teams who are most in need of new stadiums.

For the majority of the 2023 MLB season, Zach Eflin (8-1) has been the second-best arm for the Tampa Bay Rays after early Cy Young frontrunner Shane McClanahan. In a favorable spot, Eflin will take the ball on Monday night while visiting the Oakland Athletics. Notably, the A's have largely been the worst team in the Majors this season, scoring only 3.66 runs per game (29th in MLB).

Per numberFire's model, Eflin boasts the third-highest fantasy projection (31.1) for Monday's main slate. On the year, he has held a stingy 2.97 ERA while averaging 8.91 strikeouts per nine innings. Eflin's expected ERA is even better, at 2.82. On the other side, Oakland has the seventh-highest strikeout rate (24.4%) and fourth-worst weighted on-base average (wOBA).

The A's are showing a slate-low 3.32 implied total, and Eflin is poised for a big night at the Coliseum.

Bryce Harper, 1B/OF, Philadelphia Phillies ($3,600)

In recent seasons, seeing Bryce Harper salaried under $3,800 was a rarity. Naturally, Harper is still working through the kinks of enduring Tommy John surgery last November (limiting his time in the outfield this year), but his approach at the plate has begun to come around. On Monday night, Harper will have his sights set on Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Tommy Henry.

For the Philadelphia Phillies' opening game of the series in Arizona, Harper is showing a fantasy projection (12.5) within the top-15 hitters on Monday, per numberFire. Although Harper has played in only about half of this year's games (34 of 65), he is 2-for-4 with an RBI lifetime against Henry. Additionally, Harper is producing 0.70 RBI per game, which is in the upper echelon of batters, and has a .392 expected wOBA.

Harper is more effective against righties than lefties (1.043 OPS versus .521) but has done well against Arizona as a team in 2023, collecting four hits in nine at-bats with four walks over three previous games.

The Phillies are capable of doing a lot of damage in this matchup (5.02 implied total), and Harper is a high-upside way to get exposure to their offense.

Elly De La Cruz, 3B/SS, Cincinnati Reds ($3,900)

The latest -- and perhaps most explosive -- infield product for the Cincinnati Reds is Elly De La Cruz. Playing and hitting alongside Jonathan India and fellow-rookie Matt McLain, De La Cruz will be in favorable positions both offensively and defensively.

De La Cruz is only six games into his MLB career, but he has done well to collect eight hits in 22 at-bats with four RBI and one home run (a blast that nearly landed in the Ohio River). So far, De La Cruz is slugging at .636 with an OPS of 1.117. Sure, his sample size is small, but De La Cruz's dynamic explosiveness both at the plate and on the basepaths should have him as a fantasy baseball cash cow for years to come.

On Monday, he'll face the Kansas City Royals, who are turning to struggling right-hander Zack Greinke (1-6 record, 4.59 ERA in 2023). Worth mentioning, the switch-hitting De La Cruz seems slightly more powerful when batting left-handed, and he could go off against Greinke.

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.