Focusing on the Thursday night eight-game slate give us some high-end pitching options to choose from including Mr. Clayton Kershaw. I started building my lineup with Kershaw but did not like the value hitting options enough to recommend it as my preferred lineup construction for this slate. That said, there is enough value hitters listed below to make a Kershaw lineup work if need your security blanket at pitcher. Also, watch the weather in Chicago for the White Sox and Yankees game closely leading up to lock.

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

David Price (BOS): $9,100 vs MIN
Price is my favorite pivot off of Kershaw on Thursday night’s slate. He has ace upside but comes at a much more affordable price that allows you to fit in a lot of higher priced hitters. Price has been solid but unspectacular since returning from the DL but as the biggest Vegas favorite outside of Kershaw, he has a good shot to get both a quality start and a win against the Twins. Price has held Twins’ hitters to a .263 wOBA over 133 plate appearances in his career.

Other Notables

• Clayton Kershaw (LAD): $12,500 @ LAA
• JA Happ (TOR): $8,400 vs BAL

Catcher

Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $2,800 @ LAA
I prefer to play Grandal when he is at home facing a right-handed pitcher but with a reasonable price tag on a slate without many strong catcher options, he is worth consideration on the road against right-hander JC Ramirez. Ramirez has given up a .399 wOBA and 2.61 HR/9 to lefties this season.

Other Notables

• Gary Sanchez (NYY): $4,000 @ CHW
• Manny Pina (MIL): $2,300 @ CIN

First Base

Justin Smoak (TOR): $3,500 vs BAL
Vegas or BvP? That is the question when it comes to rostering Blue Jays hitters, including Smoak, against Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez has fared very well against Blue Jays’ hitters over his career and also in recent years. So, despite Smoak’s 2-for-21 with 11 strikeout track record against Jimenez in his career, I am going to trust Vegas which gives the Blue Jays the highest implied run total on the slate along with Smoak’s improvement at the plate this season over BvP.

Other Notables

• Cody Bellinger (LAD): $4,100 @ LAA
• Josh Bell (PIT): $2,600 vs TB

Second Base

Tyler Wade (NYY): $2,000 @ CHW
The young Yankees prospect drew the start and collected his first big league hit on Wednesday filling in for the injured Starlin Castro. The left-handed hitting Wade should get another start on Thursday with right-hander James Shields on the mound for the White Sox. Wade was performing well in Triple-A this season with a .313 average, five homers and 24 steals in 71 games. The perfect cheap punt option at a weak position hitting in a good offense against a weak pitcher.

Other Notables

• Scooter Gennett (CIN): $3,400 vs MIL
• Dee Gordon (MIA): $2,900 vs NYM

Third Base

Josh Donaldson (TOR): $3,900 vs BAL
If you want to play the red-hot Travis Shaw in this spot over Donaldson, go right ahead. But which seems more likely to happen: Shaw hits a home run in his fourth straight game or Donaldson hit his first home runs since June 11th. I don’t like to play the “he’s due” game but it has he hasn’t homered in 13 games and will face Jimenez who just gave up nine runs (including two homers) in 2 1/3 innings against the Rays in his last start.

Other Notables

• Travis Shaw (MIL): $3,800 @ CIN
• Matt Davidson (CHW): $2,700 vs NYY

Shortstop

Didi Gregorius (NYY): $3,100 @ CHW
With the injuries to some of the Yankees’ top of the lineup hitters, look for Gregorius to bat in the top half of the lineup with right-hander James Shields on the mound. Gregorius has hits in five straight games and went deep on Wednesday. He has a .392 wOBA on the road versus righties this season while Shields has allowed a .404 wOBA and 3.18 HR/9 to lefties this season.

Other Notables

• Xander Bogaerts (BOS): $3,600 vs MIN
• Orlando Arcia (MIL): $2,500 @ CIN

Outfielders

Mookie Betts (BOS): $3,700 vs MIN
Betts is one of my favorite hitters to roster in DFS, especially when his salary is under $4,000 on FanDuel. He consistently scores points whether it is from getting on base and stealing a bag or knocking one out of the park which is great for both Cash and GPP lineups. He will face Twins’ righty Kyle Gibson who has allowed a .395 wOBA and 1.50 HR/9 to right-handed hitters this season.

Marcell Ozuna (MIA): $3,700 vs NYM
Ozuna has done most of his damage this season when playing at home against a right-handed pitcher. He has hit 13 of his 20 homers at home against righties leading to a massive .355 ISO. He will face young Mets’ right-hander Seth Lugo who allows a lot of contact with a low 16.9% strikeout rate so far in his career. Ozuna will also get a couple of at-bats against a Mets’ bullpen that has the fifth-worst ERA (4.87) in the majors.

Brett Gardner (NYY): $3,200 @ CHW
Hitting atop the powerful Yankees’ lineup gives Gardner a lot of good pitches to see and a lot of opportunities to score runs. He has a .361 wOBA versus right-handed pitching this season with a .209 ISO. Facing the aforementioned James Shields, is a perfect storm for the Yankees’ bats, including Gardner. Let’s just hope the rain storms stay away so the game can play.

Other Notables

• Aaron Judge (NYY): $4,900 @ CHW
• Adam Duvall (CIN): $3,500 vs MIL
• Yoenis Cespedes (NYM): $3,300 @ MIA
• Scott Schebler (CIN): $3,000 vs MIL
• Keon Broxton (MIL): $2,900 @ CIN
• Hunter Renfroe (SD): $2,600 vs ATL

My Lineup

• SP – David Price (BOS): $9,100
• C – Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $2,800
• 1B – Justin Smoak (TOR): $3,500
• 2B – Tyler Wade (NYY): $2,000
• 3B – Josh Donaldson (TOR): $3,900
• SS – Didi Gregorius (NYY): $3,400
• OF – Mookie Betts (BOS): $3,700
• OF – Marcell Ozuna (MIA): $3,700
• OF – Brett Gardner (NYY): $3,200

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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.