FanDuel lineup advice for the weekend of Aug. 21-23

As for what we're going to be doing in this space: The goal here will be to direct your attention toward some players who you might not otherwise consider. If you're here and reading this, then you already know that Mike Trout is really good. But when filling out a roster you can't just pick out stars. You'll blow your cap that way and get stuck praying to the baseball gods that a guy like Ruben Tejada actually gets a few hits. No, if you want to win, you have to take advantage of certain matchups -- and in order to do that you have to know where to look. That's what we're here for. Below are three players to target and three to avoid for August 21-23.

Madison Bumgarner, P, Giants: He's going to kill your budget ($1,280), but you probably have to play him if you want to take home some cash Friday night. The left-handed hurler takes on the Pirates, a team striking out in 22.7 percent of their at-bats against southpaws (seventh-worst in baseball) and hitting just .258 against them. The game is also in Pittsburgh's PNC Park, one of the most pitcher-friendly stadiums in baseball. Add in how dominant the reigning World Series MVP has been of late -- six starts since the All-Star Game, 44 1/3 innings, 53 strikeouts, just four walks and just 10 earned runs -- and you have a must-play for Friday night.

Eugenio Suarez, SS, Reds: If you're not familiar with Suarez, well, you should be. Since stepping into the Reds' starting shortstop role following Zack Cozart's injury, Suarez has hit .297/.335/.483 and has eight home runs. This weekend the Reds get to play at home, which means they get to play in the bandbox that is Great American Ball Park, and they get to face the weak pitching staff of the Diamondbacks. On Friday, Rubby De La Rosa and his 4.40 ERA takes the hill. On Saturday it will be Jeremy Hellickson and his 4.60 ERA. Chase Anderson (4.51 ERA) will be the man on Sunday. Also, Suarez is going for just $2,700 on FanDuel and plays one of the most scarce positions in baseball.

Marlon Byrd, OF, Giants: Byrd will make his Giants debut this weekend and, as fate would have it, he gets to take on a couple of pitchers who he's had a ton of success against. On Friday it will be Pirates hurler Jeff Locke (4.31 ERA, 1.61 WHIP). The two have faced off 16 times in the past and in those at-bats Byrd has collected five hits and hit two home runs. On Saturday it will be the talented Gerritt Cole on the hill. Byrd has faced him 16 times as well and is batting .500 in those at-bats with another two homers. Right now he's listed on FanDuel at $2,400.

Johnny Cueto, P, Royals: Cueto has been excellent since being acquired by the Royals at the trade deadline. He's made four starts and has an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP 0.93. His strikeouts, however, are down a bit: just 21 in 30 innings. That's why he's on this avoid list. Cueto is facing the Red Sox on Friday, a team striking out in just 16.8 percent of their at-bats against righties, the second-lowest number in the league, to go along with a .315 wOBA. Even if Cueto keeps runs off the board, the strikeouts likely won't be there. In a FanDuel format, that's a problem.

Danny Salazar , P, Indians: Another talented pitcher with a bad matchup this weekend. Salazar has been great this year (3.16 ERA, 156 strikeouts), but he faces the Yankees on Saturday, a team with a .323 wOBA against right-handers, the sixth-best in MLB, and whiffing in just 19.2 percent of those at-bats. Guys like Chris Young and Mark Teixera have crushed right-handers all season, and this game will be taking place in Yankee Stadium. Salazar is excellent, but the numbers don't favor him here.

Carlos Gomez, OF, Astros: He has to face both Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw this weekend. If that wasn't bad enough, he's hitting just .188/.233/.261 in the 74 at-bats he's had for Houston since the team acquired him in July.

As mentioned above, the Astros are facing Greinke and Kershaw this weekend. Stay away from as many of them as you can. ... The Orioles are home this weekend, which means they get to play in the homer-friendly Camden Yards (only one park, Miller in Milwaukee, has seen more home runs this season). Baltimore is also facing a Twins staff that has allowed 131 home runs this season, the eight-most in baseball. ... Chase Utley is going for just $2,500 despite being traded to the more potent Dodgers. He's also been red-hot since coming off the DL.