This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Monday has a variety of start times around the holiday, and the main slate on Labor Day has only six games, and goes off at a nontraditional 6:05 p.m. EDT. It's a top-heavy slate for pitching, so paying down there may be a challenge.
Pitching
Zac Gallen, ARI at SFG ($10,600): The Giants are statistically a Top-10 offense against righties, but it's best to not overthink. Gallen will make his third start against the Giants and has put up 37 and 46 FanDuel points (FDP) in his first two tries. Gallen's been worth at least 27 FDP in every outing, giving him an incredibly safe floor.
Zach Plesac, CLE vs. KAN ($10,300): Plesac picked up right where he left off after being demoted for a month, earning 43 FDP against these same Royals. He's allowed only four runs total in his four starts, fanning at least six, and the Royals rank 27th with a .298 wOBA against righties.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, TOR vs. NYY ($9,500): Ryu could make for a nice GPP pivot here. It's always scary going against the Yankee's lineup, but they aren't as potent as the names suggest, carrying a .300 wOBA, 88 wRC+ and .175 ISO while striking out 24.3 percent of the time. After a slow start, Ryu has been worth 30+ FDP in six straight, allowing only four runs in that span, and four times topping 40 FDP. He's likely going to be overlooked with the names around him and figures to see decent run support facing Jordan Montgomery and his 5.76 ERA.
Frankie Montas, OAK vs. HOU ($6,300): I'm not really sure I'm recommending Montas here, especially in his current form, where he's allowed 18 runs over his last three starts, spanning 9.2 innings. There's just no upside outside of him if you insist on paying down for pitching. Montas was great prior to this current stretch. He's faced Houston twice, and gone for 46 and 10 FDP. Clear volatility, clear upside that we just haven't seen recently.
Top Targets
Trea Turner, WAS vs. TAM ($4,100): Turner is the hottest of the top bats, and with Juan Soto sidelined, he's been dropped into a more run-producing spot in the lineup rather than a table setter. He banged out 24 hits during the Nats recent 11 game road trip. He can alter games in multiple ways, and has an inviting matchup with the Rays' Trevor Richards, who is allowing a .388 wOBA to righties and 2.53 HR/9 to same-handed bats on the road.
Jose Ramirez, CLE vs. KAN ($3,800): Truth be told, this slate sets up perfectly to splurge on arms, and pay down for bats, as none of the 4k-plus bats present favorably, minus the Padres stack mentioned below. Ramirez's .327 wOBA against righties isn't ideal, but he feels like a better play than Rockies bats against Dinelson Lamet. Ramirez has had sound success in limited exposure to Brad Keller, and given the limited splits, he'll certainly come with low usage.
Value Bats
Michael Brantley, HOU vs. OAK ($3,300): We touched on Montas' recent struggles above, and he's allowing a .389 wOBA to lefties on the year, making Brantley a nice pivot to a more expensive Kyle Tucker ($4,000). Brantley has a .400 wOBA and reasonable 41.7 percent hard-hit rate against righties, and has logged 9.2 FDP or better in eight of 10 entering Sunday.
Austin Meadows, TAM vs. WAS ($2,900): It's unlikely to be a winning strategy stacking bats against Max Scherzer, but he simply hasn't been himself this year, including allowing a .369 wOBA to lefties. Ray bats are priced down given the matchup, and Meadows offers a nice blend of power and speed atop the lineup, bringing a stable .371 wOBA, 140 wRC+, and .246 ISO to the table. Brian O'Grady merits a look as well.
Brock Holt, WAS vs. TAM ($2,200): This is simply a name drop on a hot bat. Holt entered the weekend ice cold, but leaves Atlanta with eight hits in 12 at bats. With the cost being so minimal, it opens up flexibility across your lineup with minimal risk...so long as Juan Soto doesn't return from an elbow injury.
Stacks to Consider
Blue Jays vs. Jordan Montgomery: Randal Grichuk ($3,300), Cavan Biggio ($3,600), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($3,100)
This is a tricky stack given Blue Jays injuries, but we touched on Montgomery's struggles a bit above, and we'll target them now. Grichuk is an obvious play, sporting a .444 wOBA and .348 ISO, which pairs terrifically with the .394 wOBA and 2.6 HR/9 Montgomery allows to righties. Those splits against righties brings Guerrero into play as well, whose .341 ISO brings upside, and he can't help but improve on his .156 BABIP. Biggio is a lefty and has no power in this spot, but his .399 wOBA and 155 wRC+ still play well. Teoscar Hernandez ($3,800) is a great matchup play as well, but seems unlikely to play due to injury.
Padres vs. Kyle Freeland: Wil Myers ($3,200), Manny Machado ($4,000), Fernando Tatis ($4,600)
Straight chalk here, and it's going to be challenging to fit the top bats in here with a top arm. But it's clearly a juicy matchup, as Freeland has allowed eight runs and 19 hits over his last two starts, lasting just 6.1 innings. Myers is simply raking against lefties to the tune of a .517 wOBA, 231 wRC+ and .419 ISO. Machado isn't far off at .436/178/.277. Tatis' numbers don't scream he's worth the cost, but .375/135/.295 isn't something to scoff at.
