There is a split slate on Thursday with six games in the afternoon and six games at night. Today’s article will focus on the six-game night (main) slate. Six games is right on the edge of when I will consider using a full four-man stack of hitters in a Cash game lineup. With the way that lineup construction came together and where the value options are, today is one of those days where I will consider using a four-man stack in Cash games. My lineup takes a “stars and scrubs” approach which is a viable option for both Cash and GPP lineup contests.

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

Luis Severino (NYY): $9,800 vs LAA
Severino has topped 40 FanDuel points in four of his last five starts only falling short in his last outing against the Athletics when he posted 24 points. Severino is by far the biggest Vegas favorite on the night slate pitching at home against the Angels. While the Angels don’t strikeout too often, they also don’t hit well against right-handed pitching with a .306 wOBA (25th) and .154 ISO (25th) this season. Without many strong pitching options on a six-game slate, Severino is the clear cut number one option.

Other Notables

• Jake Arrieta (CHC): $9,500 @ MIA
• Jaime Garcia (ATL): $8,000 vs SF

Catcher

Willson Contreras (CHC): $2,700 @ MIA
The Cubs are the four-man stack included in today’s lineup, as they offer a lot of solid value options. Contreras carries a reasonable price tag for a catcher that is batting .350 with four doubles, a home run and seven RBIs over his last six games. He is also has a .355 wOBA versus left-handed pitching this season and will face Marlins’ lefty, Jeff Locke.

Other Notables

• Buster Posey (SF): $3,300 @ ATL
• Alex Avila (DET): $3,200 @ SEA

First Base

Edwin Encarnacion (CLE): $4,200 @ BAL
Encarnacion has been a monster at the plate recently with scoring at least 28 FanDuel points five times over his last eight games. That’s more than many starting pitchers score most nights! He will face Orioles’ left-hander Wade Miley who has plummeted back down to earth after a strong start to the season. He has a 7.94 ERA over his last five starts and has been pounded by right-handed hitters this season with a .352 wOBA and 1.35 HR/9. Encarnacion has also owned Miley in his career going 5-for-10 with two doubles and two home runs.

Other Notables

• Anthony Rizzo (CHC): $4,800 @ MIA
• Matt Adams (ATL): $3,400 vs SF

Second Base

Javier Baez (CHC): $2,400 @ MIA
Continuing the cheap Cubs’ bats parade is Javier Baez. Priced at just $2,400 he provides a cheap option at second base. He has five hits over his last three games including a pair of doubles and three runs scored. After getting a day off on Wednesday, look for him to return to the lineup on Thursday for the series opener against southpaw Locke and the Marlins. Baez has a .349 wOBA versus lefties this season and is 4-for-8 with a triple and home run off Locke in his career.

Other Notables

• Starlin Castro (NYY): $3,200 vs LAA

Third Base

Kris Bryant (CHC): $3,800 @ MIA
Bryant is the only high-priced Cub to make the lineup today. He has destroyed left-handed pitching this season, especially on the road where he has posted a .626 wOBA and .474 ISO in 31 plate appearances. Looking for a bigger sample size? How about a .437 wOBA and .269 ISO on the road versus lefties in his career. He is also 5-for-14 (.357) with a home run and six walks when facing Locke in his career.

Other Notables

• Wilmer Flores (NYM): $2,800 @ LAD
• Logan Forsythe (LAD): $2,500 vs NYM

Shortstop

Francisco Lindor (CLE): $3,400 @ BAL
Pairing Lindor with Encarnacion gives this lineup a nice little mini two-man stack to play against Miley. Lindor has two hits in back-to-back games with a double, a home run and five RBIs. He has a .360 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season and is 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of walks off Miley in his career.

Other Notables

• Didi Gregorius (NYY): $3,100 vs LAA
• Jose Reyes (NYM): $2,400 @ LAD

Outfielders

Nelson Cruz (SEA) : $4,200 vs DET
If you read any DFS analysis anywhere you will always see that you should start Nelson Cruz anytime he is facing a lefty. While he hasn’t performed as well against lefties so far this season with “just” a .352 wOBA and .189 ISO he could explode against lefty Daniel Norris tonight. Cruz appears to be heating up at the plate with two hits including a double in each of his last two games. Meanwhile, he has had success against lefty Daniel Norris going 4-for-6 with a triple, home run and two walks in his career. Feels like a two-homer night for Cruz against Norris and the weak Tigers bullpen.

Albert Almora (CHC): $2,300 @ MIA
Almora rounds out the Cubs’ stack for Thursday night. He has started three of the last four games with Ben Zobrist on the DL and should get the nod again with a left-hander on the mound for Miami. Almora has hit lefties very well in his career with a .397 wOBA and .239 ISO. He is a solid cheap option on an offense that should have runners on base all night.

Franklin Gutierrez (LAD): $2,100 vs NYM
Be sure Gutierrez is in the Dodgers’ starting lineup before considering him. I suspect he will draw the start with the Mets’ lefty Steven Matz on the mound on a getaway day. Matz is prone to the long ball against right-handed hitters allowing 19 of his career 21 homers to righties for a 1.23 HR/9. Gutierrez has a .380 wOBA and .247 ISO versus southpaws since 2015. He is the perfect cheap option that has a shot for a home run.

Other Notables

• Aaron Judge (NYY): $4,800 vs LAA
• Yoenis Cespedes (NYM): $3,700 @ LAD
• Brett Gardner (NYY): $3,700 vs LAA
• Aaron Hicks (NYY): $3,400 vs LAA
• Matt Kemp (ATL): $3,300 vs SF
• Seth Smith (BAL): $3,100 vs CLE

My Lineup

• SP – Luis Severino (NYY): $9,800
• C – Willson Contreras (CHC): $2,700
• 1B – Edwin Encarnacion (CLE): $4,200
• 2B – Javier Baez (CHC): $2,400
• 3B – Kris Bryant (CHC): $3,800
• SS – Francisco Lindor (CLE): $3,400
• OF – Nelson Cruz (SEA): $4,200
• OF – Albert Almora Jr. (CHC): $2,300
• OF – Franklin Gutierrez (LAD): $2,100

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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.