We have a Kike Hernandez (Part II) scenario on FanDuel for the eight-game Thursday night slate. For those unfamiliar with what I am talking about, last season FanDuel accidentally priced Hernandez at $200 one day instead of their typical $2,000 minimum salary which spawned an all-day discussion in the industry on if you should roster him at a huge discount even if he doesn’t play so you can spend up at every other position.

Thursday night’s slate has the Royals’ rookie Ramon Torres priced at $0. Torres started at 2B while batting ninth last night and went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI for 12.5 FanDuel points. So, the question will surely be examined again today, should you roster the $0 Torres? My recommendation at this time is to NOT play him. He has a tough matchup against Lance McCullers and might not even play. Plus, more importantly, there is not a lot to pay up for on the slate with no pitcher over $10,000 and no game at Coors Field. So, my lineup below does not include him but he is worth consideration and surely a lot of discussion.

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

Lance McCullers (HOU): $9,700 @ KC
McCullers is putting together a great season continuing to build on his success last season with a 2.71 ERA, decreased walk rate (7.3%) and increased groundball rate (61.7%) while maintaining a high strikeout rate (28.2%). He continues to have more success at home than on the road which gives me some hesitation with a road start in Kansas City. However, the Royals have struggled against right-handers this season with a bottom five wOBA (.299) and wRC+ (83). Plus, McCullers is a huge favorite for the red-hot Astros giving him a high likelihood of a win.

Other Notables

• David Price (BOS): $9,500 @ NYY
• Jake Odorizzi (TB): $7,900 vs CHW

Catcher

Miguel Montero (CHC): $2,100 vs COL
Look for Montero to get the start behind the plate on Thursday with Willson Contreras starting each of the last three games. Montero’s cheap price and a favorable matchup against the Rockies’ righty Tyler Chatwood makes him a good punt option. Montero has a .432 wOBA at home versus righties this season.

Other Notables

• Evan Gattis (HOU): $3,200 @ KC
• T. Realmuto (MIA): $3,000 @ PIT

First Base

Matt Adams (ATL): $2,700 vs PHI
Adams has been on a tear over his last five games batting .364 with four home runs and nine RBIs. He will face off against the Phillies right-hander Ben Lively making just his second big league start. Lively picked up a win in his first start but failed to record a strikeout and seemed to have more trouble with lefties allowing a couple of hits and walks.

Other Notables

• Anthony Rizzo (CHC): $4,100 vs COL
• Ryan Zimmerman (WAS): 3,900 vs BAL

Second Base

Robinson Cano (SEA): $3,500 vs MIN
Cano performed well against Kyle Gibson in his career going 6-for-20 (.300) with a double and home run. He has a .385 wOBA versus righties this season and will also get an at-bat or two against a Twins’ bullpen that has a league-worst 5.36 ERA while allowing 1.66 HR/9 this season.

Other Notables

• Daniel Murphy (WAS): $3,700 vs BAL
• Dee Gordon (MIA): $2,900 @ PIT

Third Base

Evan Longoria (TBR): $3,400 vs CHW
Seems like there is never any cheap 3B options which force you to pay at least $3,000 at the position every night. Thursday is no different with an eight-game slate you will not find any cheap options worth rostering. Longoria has progressively been hitting better as the season has progressed and has had success against opposing pitcher Derek Holland in his career with a .321 average, four doubles and three homers in 28 at-bats.

Other Notables

• Miguel Sano (MIN): $4,200 @ SEA
• Mike Moustakas (KC): $3,200 vs HOU

Shortstop

Trea Turner (WAS): $4,200 vs BAL
Shortstop is either a position to go to the top or the bottom at tonight. If you want to punt the position and spend up elsewhere then use the $0 Torrens. With strong options at the top end, I am more likely to pay up at the position and go with Turner who can provide fantasy production in a variety of ways. He has at least nine FanDuel points in six of his last eight games and batting leadoff with a matchup against the Orioles young right-hander Alec Asher he should be able to produce again either by land (steals) or by air (homers).

Other Notables

• Carlos Correa (HOU): $4,300 @ KC
• Ramon Torres (KC): $0 vs HOU

Outfielders

Christian Yelich (MIA): $3,400 @ PIT
I like to roster Yelich in cash games because he rarely puts up a goose egg (only once in his last 16 games). My recommendation of him becomes even stronger tonight due to his tremendous BvP history against Gerrit Cole. Yelich is 7-for-14 with three homers off Cole in his career. His high floor and potential for a high ceiling tonight as well make him a great option. Also, consider him as part of a sneaky Marlins’ stack tonight in GPPs as he is not the only Marlin that has had success against Cole.

Seth Smith (BAL): $3,100 @ WAS
With Smith’s platoon splits his salary usual remains low which puts him on the radar anytime he is facing a righty. Smith has a career .356 wOBA and .199 ISO versus righties and will face Nationals right-hander Joe Ross. Ross has struggled in his last two starts allowing 11 runs in just seven innings, while lefties have a .431 wOBA off him this season (.366 in his career).

Ben Gamel (SEA): $2,900 vs MIN
Gamel should bat near the top of the Mariners’ lineup with Jean Segura on the DL and a right-hander on the mound. Gamel is riding a 10-game hitting streak with a .410 batting average and seven runs scored. He has a .392 wOBA versus righties this season and will face the Twins’ right-hander Kyle Gibson who has allowed a .413 wOBA to lefties.

Other Notables

• Bryce Harper (WAS): $4,700 vs BAL
• Giancarlo Stanton (MIA): $4,200 @ PIT
• Mookie Betts (BOS): $4,000 @ NYY
• Odubel Herrera (PHI): $3,100 @ ATL
• Andrew Benintendi (BOS): $3,000 @ NYY
• Michael Saunders (PHI): $2,600 @ ATL

My Lineup

• SP – Lance McCullers (HOU): $9,700
• C – Miguel Montero (CHI): $2,100
• 1B – Matt Adams (ATL): $2,700
• 2B – Robinson Cano (SEA): $3,500
• 3B – Evan Longoria (TB): $3,400
• SS – Trea Turner (WAS): $4,200
• OF – Christian Yelich (MIA): $3,400
• OF – Seth Smith (BAL): $3,100
• OF – Ben Gamel (SEA): $2,900

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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.