Another Thursday night and another weak list of pitching options to choose, sigh. On the bump tonight includes two pitchers making their first big league start and two the of highest-priced options squaring off against each other. Of course, with weak pitching options come excellent hitters to target on the small five-game night slate, so let’s get to it.
As always, be sure to pay close attention to the lineups when they are released and monitor the weather leading up to game time. For reference throughout the season, be sure to bookmark our overview of MLB Park Factors and how to Use Weather to Your Advantage in MLB DFS. Also, check out our GPP and Cash Games Primers to learn more about different daily fantasy game types specific to MLB.
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Pitcher
Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD): $7,100 vs MIA
Ryu has not been anything special this season with a 4.99 ERA and 1.76 HR/9 allowed through his first six starts but he has unfortunately drawn the short straw in three of those starts pitching in Coors Field twice and Wrigley Field once. He will get a much better pitching environment and opponent on Thursday pitching at home against the Marlins as the biggest favorite on the slate.
Other Notables
- Marcus Stroman (TOR): $9,200 @ ATL
- Hector Velazquez (BOS): $5,600 @ OAK
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $3,000 vs MIA
Grandal at home versus a weak right-handed pitcher is an automatic plug-and-play for me every time. He has a .417 wOBA and .200 ISO at home versus righties this season after posting an even better .417 wOBA and .376 ISO last season. Meanwhile, the opposing pitcher, Edinson Volquez, has allowed a .399 wOBA to lefties this season.
Other Notables
- Gary Sanchez (NYY): $3,700 @ KC
- JT Realmuto (MIA): $2,800 @ LAD
First Base
Cody Bellinger (LAD): $3,500 vs MIA
Stacking up some Dodgers’ lefties against the aforementioned Volquez. Bellinger has burst onto the scene with a .308 average and seven home runs through his first 21 games with the big club. He has been especially good against righties with a .438 wOBA and .407 ISO.
Other Notables
- Jose Abreu (CHW): $3,900 @ SEA
- Justin Smoak (TOR): $3,500 @ ATL
- Kendrys Morales (TOR): $2,900 @ ATL
Second Base
Carlos Sanchez (CHW): $2,800 @ SEA
Second base is a wasteland on Thursday’s small five-game slate, so give me the value option that has been hot over the last few games with Sanchez. Sanchez has primarily batted second over the last six games and is batting .440 during that stretch with a home run, five RBIs, four runs and steal.
Other Notables
- Dustin Pedroia (BOS): $3,300 @ OAK
- Chris Taylor (LAD): $2,900 vs MIA
Third Base
Kyle Seager (KC): $3,600 vs CHW
There is really only two options I am comfortable with a third base, Kyle Seager and Justin Turner. Since I prefer Dodgers at some of the other positions, Seager is the obvious play at third tonight. He has homered in two of his last three games and will face White Sox right-hander Dylan Covey who has a 7.98 ERA this season.
Other Notables
- Justin Turner (LAD): $3,400 vs MIA
Shortstop
Corey Seager (LAD): $3,600 vs MIA
I am pairing up the Seager boys’ on the left side of the infield. Corey Seager has mashed righties so far in his career, especially at home, with a .412 wOBA and .250 ISO. He will face righty Volquez to form a three-man stack of Dodgers for today’s lineup.
Other Notables
- Jean Segura (SEA): $4,100 vs CHW
- Alcides Escobar (KC): $2,200 vs NYY
Outfielders
Mookie Betts (BOS): $4,800 @ OAK
Betts has been on fire over his last nine games batting .366 with five home runs and 14 RBIs. He has performed better against righties this season clubbing six of his seven homers off right-handers with a .388 wOBA.
Matt Holliday (NYY): $3,500 @ KC
Holliday is having a good season batting third in the potent Yankees’ lineup. He performs better against lefties with a .463 wOBA this season and is 3-for-6 with a double and home run off the opposing lefty Danny Duffy in his career.
Khris Davis (OAK): $3,100 vs BOS
Davis is currently in a slump batting just .063 over his last eight games making him a risky option only worth considering in GPP lineups. Look to pivot to Ben Gamel in this spot in Cash games. However, he will face the Red Sox rookie right-hander Hector Velazquez who allowed a lot of contact in Triple-A this season and could make a mistake which Davis would certainly make him pay for.
Other Notables
- Nelson Cruz (SEA): $4,300 vs CHW
- Marcell Ozuna (MIA): $3,900 @ LAD
- Giancarlo Stanton (MIA): $3,800 @ LAD
- Ben Gamel (SEA): $3,100 vs CHW
- Leury Garcia (CHW): $2,900 @ SEA
- Joc Pederson (LAD): $2,700 vs MIA
My Lineup
- SP – Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD): $7,100
- C – Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $3,000
- 1B – Cody Bellinger (LAD): $3,500
- 2B – Carlos Sanchez (CHW): $2,800
- 3B – Kyle Seager (KC): $3,600
- SS – Corey Seager (LAD): $3,600
- OF – Mookie Betts (BOS): $4,800
- OF – Matt Holliday (NYY): $3,500
- OF – Khris Davis (OAK): $3,100
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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.
