FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Helper: Sunday 7/30/23

Our daily helper is available every day to analyze FanDuel's main slate and help give you a starting point when you're building lineups. Be sure to also incorporate our great tools into your research process.

Whether you're looking for daily projections, the latest starting lineups and weather, or batting and pitching heat maps to find the best matchups -- we've got you covered!

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

Pitchers

Jesus Luzardo ($11,000)

Despite a recent 10% jump to his highest salary this season, Luzardo is clearly Sunday's top pitcher versus a Detroit Tigers' lineup with a .301 weighted on base average (wOBA) and a 21.9% strikeout rate.

In his last five starts, Miami's left-hander has performed at his highest level so far this season, accounting for an impressive 2.89 expected Fielding Independent Pitching rating (xFIP), a 15.8% swinging strike percentage, and a 34.7% K-rate.

With eight or more strikeouts in 80% of his appearances since June 29th and today's highest strikeout prediction at 7.02, there are numerous reasons to back Luzardo's 38.2 FanDuel point projection on Sunday.

Justin Verlander ($10,100)

At his most expensive salary point during July, Verlander is another viable option on Sunday with a 31.0 fantasy projection and 5.24 expected strikeouts in 5.85 projected innings.

While some may be concerned with Verlander's potential ceiling versus a low strikeout Washington Nationals' unit with a 20.6% K-rate, the 40-year old has been in ideal form, producing a quality start in four of his last five starts.

Kenta Maeda ($9,900)

In his second encounter against a Kansas City Royals' offense with a .319 wOBA and a 24.6% K-rate against right-handed pitching in their last 1850 plate appearances, Maeda is currently ranked third overall with a 29.6 FanDuel point projection.

Through his most recent 32.2 innings, the Twins' veteran has flown under the radar with his stellar production, recording a 3.34 xFIP and a 16.1% swinging strike percentage while exceeding eight or more strikeouts in 66% of his last six starts.

When considering Maeda's previous track record versus Kansas City this season (2.53 xFIP, 37.5% K-rate) and his underrated ability to rack up strikeouts, Maeda is an extremely undervalued option on Sunday even at his highest salary this season.

Stacks

Atlanta Braves

In a nine game slate with several intriguing offensive spots, Atlanta's elite offense is an important decision point with an eye-popping 6.61 expected run total against Colin Rea.

While the veteran has performed at an average level in his second largest sample size in the Majors, the Brewers' right-hander has struggled when he is unable to produce ground-balls especially when facing left-handed bats (5.36 xFIP, .352 wOBA).

With these weaknesses in mind, the most potent Atlanta bats from the left side or their best fly-ball power batters are a priority including Matt Olson (18.5% barrel rate, 33.4% fly-ball percentage), Ozzie Albies (8.5% barrel rate, 35.7% fly-ball percentage), Eddie Rosario (10.2% barrel rate, 30.1% fly-ball percentage), Michael Harris II (7.8% barrel rate), and Marcell Ozuna (15.2% barrel rate, 33.3% fly-ball percentage).

Oakland Athletics

Colorado's journeyman Ty Blach will make his second start this season against a recent hot Oakland lineup ranked second with a 6.2 expected implied run total.

Through 387.0 career innings, the veteran can be characterized as a below-average MLB starter when observing his 4.77 xFIP and a lame 12.8% strikeout percentage.

To best counter his 47.8% ground-ball percentage and his splits against right-handed bats (.352 wOBA, 4.92 xFIP), ideal Oakland stacks can feature Brent Rooker (14.5% barrel rate, 33.8% fly-ball percentage), Zack Gelof (11.8% barrel rate), Ramon Laureano (28.0% fly-ball percentage, 9.8% barrel rate), and Shea Langeliers (10.6% barrel rate).

Colorado Rockies

Despite scoring just three runs in Coors Field last night, the Rockies cannot be overlooked in a favorable matchup versus Luis Medina and his inability to get outs against left-handed bats (.346 wOBA, 18.8% K-rate, 12.0% walk percentage).

Potential Colorado stacks should prioritize Jurickson Profar (.309 expected wOBA), Ryan McMahon (.341 expected wOBA, 12.4% barrel rate), Nolan Jones (.346 expected wOBA, 12.1% barrel rate), and Mike Toglia (41.0% hard hit rate) while C.J. Cron (15.8% barrel rate, .358 expected wOBA) and Ezequiel Tovar (7.4% barrel rate) are viable options with their power and recent batted ball form.

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.