FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball (DFS) picks for Monday, August 31: Chris Archer, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, more

Reminder: Always double check the lineup card before rosters lock to make sure that a player you've chosen to roster is playing that day, and check the weather to make sure your players won't get rained out of their game.

Pitcher

The highest upside pitcher for me today is Chris Archer ($12,000) against an Orioles offense that has the third highest K% vs RHP at 22.4%. Archer's 31.1% K%, which is third best in baseball, combined with the Orioles swing and miss vs RHP is a recipe for a high strikeout total. Potential issues with starting Archer is that the Orioles have a top 10 offense vs RHP by wRC+ and the matchup takes place in hitter friendly Camden Yards, but Archer has the run prevention skills to shut down the O's offense. In terms of the opposing pitcher matchup/run support for Archer, the Rays offense faces LHP Wei Yin Chen. Chen is having a strong season in terms of run prevention, but the Rays offense has been very productive vs lefties: their 114 wRC+ vs LHP is third best in baseball behind only the Blue Jays and Tigers. Archer will be the pitcher I play tonight.

Cubs lefties vs Michael Lorenzen

Lorenzen has been terribly ineffective vs left handed batters this year: his .326/.446/.594 slash line (1.040 OPS) vs opposing lefties isn't far off from Bryce Harper's slash line this year. He is also running a 6.90 FIP vs LHB with a 16% walk rate. Rookie monster Kyle Schwarber ($4,100) is my favorite hitting play of the Cubs hitters; he's hit RHP to an incredible .340 ISO and 187 wRC+. 2B Chris Coghlan ($3,100) has hit RHP to a 124 wRC+ and .212 ISO this year and is priced modestly. Anthony Rizzo ($4,300) has hit RHP to a 146 wRC+ and .264 ISO this year.

$2,400 and under

A fantasy owner will need multiple salary relief plays to fit Archer and a Cubs stack into their lineup. Three productive Dodgers lefties fit this price slot. They face RHP Jake Peavy, who is allowing 1.5 HR/9 against lefties this year with a walk rate just under 10%, representing some power and on base upside.

Andre Ethier ($2,300): he's hit RHP to an elite 153 wRC+ and .205 ISO.

Yasmani Grandal ($2,400): Grandal has dealt with a minor shoulder issue lately and is mired in a terrible slump, but that's why his price is so low. On the year, he's hit RHP to a strong 139 wRC+ and .222 ISO. Good players, unless there is strong reason to believe otherwise, eventually break out of slumps, providing ways to squeeze out extra value with low prices.

Joc Pederson ($2,400): Pederson is another Dodger lefty who has had his price tank because of an unproductive stretch but still has strong numbers vs righties on the year with a 134 wRC+ and .248 ISO.

Punt plays

These hitters are priced at the FD minimum and should provide good value based on their numbers:

Jhonny Peralta ($2,200) has been among the most productive players vs LHP in recent years with a 143 wRC+ since 2013, which ranks 16th overall for qualified hitters. He also hits them for power, with a .220 ISO. He faces LHP Gio Gonzalez, who has been below average vs RHB this year.

Pablo Sandoval ($2,200) has hit RHP to a 114 wRC+ and .178 ISO and faces Ian Nova, who has been below average vs LHB this year after returning from TJ surgery. Sandoval has also been hitting 2nd in the order vs right handed pitching.

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