3 MLB Studs to Target for Tuesday 8/8/23

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 Tuesday's main slate.

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

Max Scherzer, SP, Texas Rangers ($10,500)

"Mad" Max Scherzer -- now a member of the Texas Rangers -- is with his sixth franchise in Year 16 at the Major league level. By his standards, he has had an up-and-down campaign, but his 2023 strikeout rate of 27.7% is undeniably impressive.

On Tuesday night, Scherzer is yielding a FanDuel DFS projection of 31.6 points, per numberFire's model, which is the third-best of all available pitchers. The number makes sense when you consider he is facing the Oakland Athletics; the A's have scored fewer runs than any side in MLB by more than 30 runs over the current season. Also, Oakland's batting lineup is top-seven in strikeouts this year at 9.18 Ks per game.

Scherzer, as mentioned, is now in new threads. In his only prior appearance for the Rangers (August 3rd) thus far, he started rockily against the Chicago White Sox before coming on strong in the middle innings. By game's end, Scherzer earned the win and nine punchouts, ultimately producing 46 FanDuel points.

Against a struggling team in Oakland, Scherzer can collect strikeouts early and often with the freedom of a long leash to labor into the late innings. He can cruise in his first AL West clash.

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

Matt Olson and the slugging Atlanta Braves are at PNC Park on Tuesday to face the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Braves were actually defeated, 7-6, last night by the Buccos, but Olson did well to collect two hits and two RBI in Monday's loss.

The starting pitcher tonight for Pittsburgh will be righty Mitch Keller, who is having a respectable season in 2023. Still, Atlanta boasts the top team OPS (.838) in MLB at the moment. Also, PNC Park -- and its intimate right field dimension of 320 feet -- could play favorably for Olson, who is currently pacing the National League in home runs.

Olson will have the platoon advantage over Keller. Against right-handed pitching, Olson is sporting an OPS of 1.035.

The big first baseman shows 13.5 projected FanDuel points on Tuesday, per numberFire, and OIson always has the potential to boom for more.

Mookie Betts, OF/2B/SS, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,300)

Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers have been obliterating the baseball as of late. Through seven days of August, they are 6-1 and carry a staggering +31 run differential -- again, in only seven days.

Naturally, Betts has been one of the main catalysts atop Los Angeles' potent lineup. He is second on the Dodgers in total at-bats (416) and hits (118) while leading the club in home runs (31). On most nights, Betts is a good bet to be in and around the scoring.

After blasting a pivotal grand slam on Monday against the San Diego Padres, Betts is scheduled for a Tuesday clash with the Arizona Diamondbacks. For Arizona, they will send rookie Brandon Pfaadt out to initially toe the rubber. In 2023, Pfaadt has had a rough go of it; he has a 4.91 SIERA and is allowing 2.84 homers per 9 innings.

Betts has the highest DFS projection (17.9) of all hitters on Tuesday's main slate, according to numberFire. This is likely to due a favorable surrounding lineup in combination with facing a rookie starting pitcher. Additionally, Chase Field in downtown Phoenix sits at a lofty elevation of 1,100-feet and is a known hitter's park. Give me Mookie.

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.