Daily fantasy baseball: Start Sale, Cano, Upton to win today's games

SI's FanNation app has arrived, offering daily fantasy sports games that let you put your skills on the line for money or just for bragging rights, leading off with the launch of Baseball Throwdown. Every day, SI's Michael Beller will release his lineup for that day's Baseball Throwdown contest and offer up other recommendations to get your team ready for the day's slate of games. Download the FanNation app today and get started challenging your friends.

Here's a quick recap of the best and worst daily fantasy baseball performers from last week.

TOP TOTAL PERFORMERS

• IF Jonathan Schoop (2B, Baltimore): +15 points over five games, +3.0 average -- Schoop went 6-for-17 with three homers -- increasing his season total by one-third -- and five RBI last week.
• OF Travis Snider (RF, Pittsburgh): +20 points over seven games, +2.86 average -- Snider was 11-for-26 last week, leaving the yard three times and driving in seven runs
• P YovaniGallardo (SP, Milwaukee): +11.5 over two games, +5.75 average -- Gallardo picked up a pair of wins last week, posting a 1.20 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with nine strikeouts in 15 innings.

BOTTOM TOTAL PERFORMERS

• IF Derek Norris (C, Oakland): -20 over seven games, -2.86 average -- Norris went just 2-for-23 with one run scored last week.
• OF Mike Trout (CF, Los Angeles Angels): -23 over five games, -4.6 average -- Trout had what had to be one of his worst weeks in the majors in the last seven days, going 1-for-19 with one RBI.
• P Tommy Milone (SP, Minnesota): -13 over two games, -6.5 average -- Milone got roughed up for eight earned runs in 7 1/3 innings in his two starts last week.

And onto today's starts...

Pitcher

Chris Sale, White Sox (vs. Orioles) -- Before last week’s start against the Giants, Sale had put up what for him were two subpar outings. He pitched just six innings apiece in starts against the Twins and Rangers, allowing a total of six runs and 11 hits. So what did he do in San Francisco? The White Sox’ lefty went out and tossed a gem, shutting out the Giants for eight innings while allowing just four hits and striking out 12 batters. It was his sixth double-digit strikeout performance of the year and third start with at least 12 strikeouts.

Infielder

Robinson Cano, Mariners (@ Phillies, Jerome Williams) -- Cano has been swinging the bat well of late, going 8-for-22 with two homers and four RBI in his last six games. While Cano has been a bit of a disappointment in the power department this year, he has stll been plenty valuable in fantasy leagues thanks to a .332 batting average and .400 OBP. He’s second in the majors in hitting, trailing only Jose Altuve’s .339 batting average. He’s 5-for-8 with a homer and a double against Williams in his career.

Outfielder

Justin Upton, Braves (@ Pirates, Vance Worley) -- Upton is on an eight-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 9-for-25 with three homers, two doubles, nine RBI and six walks. He’s slashing .260/.403/.580 in August, and is coming off a very nice weekend series against Oakland. Worley has pitched well for the Pirates this season, but this remains a good matchup for the Atlanta outfielder.

Other recommendations

Pitchers

Ervin Santana, Braves (@ Pirates) -- Santana has allowed nine runs while striking out 40 batters in his last 34 innings, a stretch that covers five starts.
Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals (vs. Diamondbacks) -- Zimmermann has been very good since the calendar turned to August, surrendering three runs with 17 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings.

Infielders

Starlin Castro, Cubs (@ Mets, Bartolo Colon) -- Castro is 4-for-12 with a homer in the Cubs’ series with the Mets, a career .302/.321/.442 hitter at Citi Field, and 2-for-3 against Colon.
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox (vs. Angels, C.J. Wilson) -- Pedroia is 9-for-21 with three doubles, a homer, six RBI and three walks against Wilson in his career.

Outfielders

Billy Hamilton, Reds (@ Cardinals, Justin Masterson) -- Hamilton is 8-for-18 with three doubles, four runs and a steal on his current four-game hitting streak.
Yoenis Cespedes, Red Sox (vs. Angels, C.J. Wilson) -- Cespedes is hitting .400 with a .550 OBP in 20 career plate appearances against Wilson.