Another small Thursday night slate with five games of MLB action to dissect. With the small slate and the options available tonight, I will be providing a sample GPP lineup with two full four-man stacks to consider pairing up. We finally have an ace pitching option to select with Jacob deGrom taking the hill in a favorable matchup at home against the Padres. However, he did have a blister at the end of his last start and there is rain in the forecast for New York tonight. So, I am going to pivot away from him with my GPP lineup below, although he is still likely the best option in cash games if the rain diminishes.
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
Drew Pomeranz (BOS): $7,500 vs TEX
Pomeranz has pitched four innings or less in each of his last three starts due to high pitch counts and ineffectiveness. However, he has the biggest strikeout upside of the cheap pitching options. He is a big favorite pitching at home against a Rangers’ offense that has a 24.3% strikeout rate against southpaws and ranks in the bottom seven in wOBA and wRC+. The weather conditions are also positive for pitchers with temperatures in the 50s and the wind blowing in. Pomeranz has something to prove to his manager after a heated exchange following his last start, which should give him the motivation to put together a strong outing. He is only viable for GPP lineups.
Other Notables
- Jacob deGrom (NYM): $11,000 vs SD
- Robbie Ray (ARI): $9,200 @ MIL
Catcher
James McCann (DET): $2,500 @ HOU
McCann will likely draw the start behind the plate for the Tigers with Alex Avila leaving the previous game with a hand injury. McCann has shown significant power this season with seven home runs through 32 games. He will face Astros’ righty Mike Fiers who has already allowed 17 long balls this season. Hoping for a homer from a cheap punt option at the catcher spot.
Other Notables
- Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $3,400 vs STL
- Chris Herrmann (ARI): $2,500 @ MIL
First Base
Paul Goldschmidt (ARI): $4,800 @ MIL
As a Brewers fan, I am fully aware of the success Goldschmidt has against the Brewers, especially in Miller Park. Just listen to these numbers. In 16 games, he has a .500 average with seven home runs, 19 RBIs, and 19 runs. Be sure to start Goldschmidt in your DFS lineups all weekend long. If he doesn’t light it up tonight he will in at least a couple of games during the four-game series.
Other Notables
- Miguel Cabrera (DET): $3,900 @ HOU
Second Base
Ian Kinsler (DET): $3,300 @ HOU
Kinsler posted a .348 wOBA and .189 ISO versus right-handed pitchers last season. While his overall numbers have been depressed this season, he has been coming on lately with a .298 average over his last 13 games with 10 runs while batting leadoff for the Tigers. Meanwhile, Fiers has given up a .467 wOBA to right-handed hitters this season.
Other Notables
- Jonathan Villar (MIL): $3,400 vs ARI
- Brandon Drury (ARI): $2,600 @ MIL
Third Base
Jake Lamb (ARI): $4,100 @ MIL
Lamb has homered in back-to-back games. While those were both at home in Arizona, his move to play in Milwaukee against the Brewers is not much of a hitting environment downgrade. Lamb has a .537 wOBA on the road against righties this season and will face Brewers’ right-hander Zach Davies who has a 6.93 ERA at home this season.
Other Notables
- Jedd Gyorko (STL): $3,000 @ LAD
- Alex Bregman (HOU): $2,600 vs DET
Shortstop
Chris Owings (ARI): $2,900 @ MIL
Owings is putting together a career year as the Diamondbacks shortstop this season, batting .321 with five homers, 26 RBIs, and nine steals. He has multiple hits in five of his last nine starts and a .353 wOBA versus righties this season. Meanwhile, his opposition, the right-hander Davies, has allowed a .424 wOBA to right-handed hitters this year.
Other Notables
- Xander Bogaerts (BOS): $3,600 vs TEX
- Corey Seager (LAD): $3,500 vs STL
Outfielders
J.D. Martinez (DET): $3,700 @ HOU
Martinez has been on fire since returning from injury on May 12 with a .364 average, six home runs, and 12 RBIs. After a day off on Wednesday, Martinez is in a prime spot to take advantage of right-hander Fiers who has given up a massive 5.82 HR/9 to righties this season. If there is one Tigers hitter that is a must-own tonight, it is Martinez.
David Peralta (ARI): $3,400 @ MIL
Peralta got a day off on the Diamondbacks’ travel day on Wednesday, so he should be rested coming into the weekend series with the Brewers. Peralta will likely bat in the two-hole of the Diamondbacks’ big boppers giving him a lot of good pitches to hit against Davies who has allowed 1.82 HR/9 to lefties this season.
Justin Upton (DET): $2,800 @ HOU
By now you know the drill. Fiers has been burnt by opposing hitters all season, especially right-handed bats. While Upton has struggled this season, and is hitless in his last five games, his cheap price tag for a power hitter with two-homer upside is the perfect opportunity to include him in your GPP lineup.
Other Notables
- Michael Conforto (NYM): $4,500 vs SD
- Mookie Betts (BOS): $4,300 vs TEX
- Ryan Braun (MIL): $3,900 vs ARI
- Rey Fuentes (ARI): $2,400 @ MIL
- Andrew Romine (DET): $2,300 @ HOU
- Gregor Blanco (ARI): $2,200 @ MIL
My Lineup
- SP – Drew Pomeranz (BOS): $7,500
- C – James McCann (DET): $2,500
- 1B – Paul Goldschmidt (ARI): $4,800
- 2B – Ian Kinsler (DET): $3,300
- 3B – Jake Lamb (ARI): $4,100
- SS – Chris Owings (ARI): $2,900
- OF – J.D. Martinez (DET): $3,700
- OF – David Peralta (ARI): $3,400
- OF – Justin Upton (DET): $2,800
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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.
