MLB

3 Under-the-Radar MLB FanDuel Plays for Thursday 8/26/21

When being contrarian in daily fantasy sports, there's a fine line between taking a calculated risk and being reckless. But differentiating your lineups from everyone else's is the name of the game if you plan on taking down one of those highly lucrative DFS tournaments. Whether it's because of bookmaker totals, other options at a given position, or some gem you've found who everyone is overlooking, we can always find potential under-rostered plays if we look hard enough.

Here are three such players to consider branching out for on FanDuel's main slate.

Patrick Corbin, P, Washington Nationals ($7,200)

I'm voluntarily writing about Patrick Corbin.

Yes, one of the most inconsistent pitchers in the Majors this year is worth considering tonight. There's no doubt there are better/safer pitchers in action tonight, but they should be more popular than Corbin. We are aiming to find a pitcher who is going to be less popular, providing some potential upside in tournaments.

Corbin comes in with a modest 18.6% strikeout rate on the year but has seen that on the rise in recent starts. Over his last four starts, Corbin has posted a 31.8%, 21.7%, 20.8%, and a 28.6% strikeout rate -- a clear increase since August has started. That is where we've seen Corbin in previous seasons, and flashing that strikeout potential gives him some upside.

He will be up against the Miami Marlins, who come in with a league-worst 26.9% strikeout rate versus left-handed pitchers. They also carry a .138 ISO (28th), 89 wRC+ (25th), and 28.9% hard-contact rate (30th) versus lefties. This is undeniably a great matchup for Corbin, and he can capitalize on it tonight.

Salvador Perez, C, Kansas City Royals ($3,400)

With a 3.58 implied run total, the Kansas City Royals won't be popular tonight.

It's not going to be a shock when the team with the third-lowest implied run total isn't popular tonight, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't look at Salvador Perez. I'm not looking to fully stack the Royals by any means, but Perez makes the ideal tournament option tonight due to his home run potential.

He's going up against Yusei Kikuchi, who is allowing 1.88 HR/9 to right-handed hitters this season along with a .223 ISO, .357 wOBA, and 24.7% HR/FB rate. Those are really modest numbers and nothing that screams to stay away.

This is where Perez comes into play as a solid one-off. Perez is carrying a 179 wRC+, .359 ISO, 41.2% fly-ball rate, and 44.1% hard-contact rate versus left-hand pitchers. The veteran catcher is still getting it done and bringing plenty of power to the plate.

Daulton Varsho, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks ($3,000)

The Arizona Diamondbacks aren't a good team.

I know, I'm not breaking any major news over here, but that type of bias against them can help keep them under the radar on a lot of slate. They are going up against Zach Eflin, who is set to make his first start since returning from a knee injury. Eflin is a really average pitcher and comes in with a modest 23.2% strikeout rate versus lefties while allowing 1.26 HR/9 and a 41.8% fly-ball rate.

He's not a pitcher to worry about, and I'd rather target him for some upside. Daulton Varsho has a solid .215 ISO, 14.1% walk rate, 48.9% fly-ball rate, and 40.4% hard-contact rate versus right-handed pitchers this season. He's not overly expensive and has great splits in this matchup.