FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Helper: Friday 9/1/23

We end the work week with a gigantic 14-game main slate, and it's particularly loaded on the pitching side. But it's also a Coors Field slate, so we won't be lacking stacks.

Our daily fantasy helper is available every day to analyze FanDuel's main slate and help give you a starting point when you're building lineups.

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Let's check out the top options on today's main slate.

Pitching Breakdown

There are several notable names taking the mound, but Max Scherzer ($11,000) draws one of the better matchups against the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins' active roster checks in with a hard-to-believe 28.3% strikeout rate versus right-handed pitching. While they're an above-average offense with some power, the upside of this spot is too good to pass up when a guy like Scherzer is opposite them.

Sure enough, Mad Max piled up 10 Ks against Minnesota in his last start, and he's logged a tantalizing 33.6% strikeout rate in his five starts since joining the Texas Rangers. He's scored at least 46 FanDuel points in four of those five starts, as well.

The repeat matchup adds some risk, but in terms of ceiling, it's hard not to like Scherzer tonight. The Twins' 3.73 implied team total is among the night's lowest marks.

Kodai Senga ($10,400) also has a plus matchup for punchouts versus the Seattle Mariners (3.73 implied team total). Seattle's active roster might not swing and miss at the level of Minnesota, but we'll gladly take their 24.7% clip versus righties.

Senga's control has been an issue for much of the season, but he's really dialed back the free passes over the summer. Across his last dozen starts, Kodai has put together a 3.51 xFIP, 28.7% strikeout rate, and 8.1% walk rate.

As a result, he's become a more consistent fantasy option while still maintaining a potent ceiling. He most recently mowed down the Los Angeles Angels for 10 punchouts.

While Freddy Peralta ($10,600) gets a middle-of-the-pack matchup for strikeouts versus the Philadelphia Phillies, he's been crushing it against all comers of late.

Over his last six starts, Peralta has reached double-digit Ks three times, resulting in a ridiculous 2.19 xFIP and 43.4% strikeout rate over this stretch. Even if we expand out to his season-long 30.6% strikeout rate, that's still the slate's second-best mark.

In addition to that trio, we also have Zack Wheeler ($10,800) against the Milwaukee Brewers. Although the Brewers' active roster won't provide a boost in Ks for the righty (21.9%), their 91 wRC+ makes them easily the weakest offense we've run through.

Wheeler has posted a 27.0% strikeout rate and 4.6% walk rate this season, and he continues to be a difficult player to hit dingers off of, allowing under one per nine innings for the fourth straight season. All of it's helped him be a quality starts machine, with his 17 sitting just outside the league's top 10

Tyler Glasnow ($11,400) deserve a shout as the top strikeout pitcher on the board, but given all the other options, he might be someone to pass on in a tough matchup. Glasnow's pitch count has been held in the 80s this month, so it's difficult to see him putting up enough points in a low-strikeout spot versus the Cleveland Guardians.

Due to the plethora of quality pitchers out there -- I haven't even touched on Justin Verlander ($10,300) for instance -- this is a trickier slate to spend down.

But if you need a bit more cap space for your bats, James Paxton ($8,800) is at least worth considering.

Paxton's velocity has been steadily headed in the wrong direction, and his strikeouts have declined along with it. But he still hovering around 95 mph in most starts -- it's not like he's completely fallen off -- and he's endured a rough stretch of opponents.

The last time he got a plus matchup in early August, he threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts for 40 FanDuel points, and it just so happens he's facing that same Kansas City Royals team tonight. The Royals' active roster has the third-worst wRC+ (87) against left-handed pitching, and the bottom of their lineup is littered with high strikeout rates.

It will be hard for Paxton to compete with the slate's best, but this could be just the opponent he needs to turn things around.

Hitting Breakdown

The Toronto Blue Jays are taking their talents to Coors Field, so much like the Atlanta Braves earlier this week, they'll be a top stack over the next few days. In a shocking development, the Blue Jays have the evening's best implied team total (6.78)

Right-hander Chris Flexen is slated to be the latest sacrificial lamb. Flexen has shown reverse splits for most of his career, and 2023 is no different, as he has an awful 5.73 xFIP, 13.3% strikeout rate, and 9.6% walk rate versus righties.

That sets up perfectly for a lineup that relies on stud righty Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($3,800), along with guys like George Springer ($3,600), Davis Schneider ($3,400), and Danny Jansen ($3,200). Since getting called up in early August, Schneider has already slugged six dingers, and he held a .278 ISO in Triple-A.

Flexen's still average at best versus lefty sticks, so Brandon Belt ($3,300) and Daulton Varsho ($3,000) are quality options, too.

After losing five of the last six, the Boston Red Sox have pretty much kissed their slim postseason hopes goodbye, but a date with Jordan Lyles should help them get back in the win column.

Lyles has endured many tough seasons over his career, but this one has been especially brutal. Over 25 starts, he's produced a 5.22 SIERA and 16.0% strikeout rate while coughing up 2.09 home runs per nine innings off a 48.8% fly-ball rate. Both sides of the plate are getting in on the fun, too, making this stack all the more enticing.

Rafael Devers ($3,800) has paced the team with 29 home runs, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him reach 30 tonight. Adam Duvall ($3,200) and Triston Casas ($2,900) are other strong candidates for dingers, and Trevor Story ($3,000) remains a solid guy to buy low on based on his track record.

The Houston Astros are up against Carlos Rodon, who just can't seem to put it all together.

He showed some signs of life his last time out against the Tampa Bay Rays with seven strikeouts, but he wasn't able to get through five full innings. Prior to that, he managed just one punchout against the Washington Nationals. There's always the chance he suddenly turns things around tonight, but it's looking like a lost season at this point.

Over his eight starts, the southpaw has produced a 5.43 SIERA, 20.0% strikeout rate, and 12.1% walk rate, and he's given up at least one home run in seven of those outings.

Jose Altuve ($4,200) and Alex Bregman ($3,600) will have the platoon advantage atop the order, and Chas McCormick ($3,500) has been one of the team's better fantasy assets with 19 home runs and 14 stolen bases. Given Rodon's 2023 performance, we shouldn't hesitate to roster Houston's star lefty pair, too.

Both sides of the Baltimore Orioles-Arizona Diamondbacks have some stacking appeal.

Baltimore's lefties will be licking their chops against Zach Davies; the right-hander owns a 5.20 xFIP, 15.4% strikeout rate, and 11.5% walk rate in the split.

Other than getting grounders in same-handed matchups, lefty Cole Irvin could offer limited resistance against the Diamondbacks, too. Overall as a starter, Irvin's posted a pedestrian 4.90 xFIP and 19.5% strikeout rate this season.

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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.