There is a five-game MLB slate for Thursday night and my lineup advice will have a cash game mentality paying up for pitching and finding value on the hitting side. That said, there are some mini-stacks in the sample lineup below which could also make it a good lineup to use in a GPP.
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
Madison Bumgarner (SFG): $11,200 vs SD
Bumgarner returned from a lengthy DL stint to throw over 100 pitches over seven innings while allowing two runs and recording five strikeouts against the Padres on Saturday. With a start under his belt and another favorable matchup against the Padres, he is a huge home favorite. Bumgarner has a high floor and the potential for a big game against a Padres’ team that has struck out 25.7% of the time against lefties this season.
Other Notables
- Luis Severino (NYY): $9,400 @ SEA
- Cole Hamels (TEX): $9,000 @ BAL
Catcher
Jonathan Lucroy (TEX): $2,300 @ BAL
Lucroy has been the subject of recent trade rumors as he has underperformed this season which has lowered his salary down to $2,300. Despite his struggles at the plate, he is a good punt option at the catcher position due to his success against opposing pitcher Wade Miley going 5-for-13 with a double and a pair of homers in his career.
Other Notables
- Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $2,900 vs ATL
First Base
Matt Adams (ATL): $2,800 @ LAD
Adams has put together a breakout season since joining the Braves with a .286 average and 14 home runs in 49 games with the club. He has a .387 wOBA against righties this season (.403 on the road) and will face Dodgers’ right-hander Brandon McCarthy who Adams has gone 4-for-8 off during his career.
Other Notables
- Cody Bellinger (LAD): $3,900 vs ATL
Second Base
Jonathan Schoop (BAL): $3,200 vs TEX
Schoop has five hits over the last two days including a pair of doubles, three runs and five RBIs as the Orioles have reached double-digits in each game. Schoop has a massive .468 wOBA at home versus lefties this season and will face Rangers’ southpaw Cole Hamels in Baltimore. I think the Orioles could be in for a letdown game tonight but it is hard to ignore what Schoop is doing at the plate.
Other Notables
- Ian Kinsler (DET): $3,400 @ KC
Third Base
Todd Frazier (NYY): $3,200 @ SEA
The newest Yankee should play in his first game with the club on Thursday in Seattle. Frazier could bat anywhere from second to sixth in the lineup but my guess is they plug him into the two-hole ahead of Aaron Judge to maximize the production of their newest asset. Frazier has a .387 wOBA and .286 ISO on the road this season and is 4-for-8 with a pair of long balls off Felix Hernandez in his career. It could be a big welcome party for Frazier.
Other Notables
- Adrian Beltre (TEX): $3,500 @ BAL
Shortstop
Elvis Andrus (TEX): $3,000 @ BAL
Andrus was a very popular DFS play last night and he put up a goose egg going 0-for-4. He should be a popular option again on Thursday but may be lower owned than he should due to recency bias. He will face Orioles’ lefty Wade Miley who has allowed seven runs in two of his last three starts and has given up a .385 wOBA to right-handed batters this season.
Other Notables
- Corey Seager (LAD): $4,000 vs ATL
Outfielders
Brett Gardner (NYY): $3,500 @ SEA
If I am right that Frazier bats second tonight then Garnder will make a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the Yankees lineup for DFS. Gardner has two hit in each of his last two games and has a .354 wOBA on the road versus righties this season. He has also had some success against Felix Hernandez with a .364 average in 33 career at-bats.
Matt Kemp (ATL): $3,100 @ LAD
Kemp has shown a little bit of life since the All-Star break with batting .273 with a homer. He will return to Los Angeles where he spent the first nine years of his career to face right-hander Brandon McCarthy. Kemp has been at his best this season on the road versus righties with a .385 wOBA and .253 ISO. Look for Kemp to bring a little extra juice in his return to L.A.
Delino DeShields (TEX): $2,600 @ BAL
DeShields is only an option if he is batting leadoff with lefty Wade Miley on the bump. DeShields playing time has been limited since the All-Star break but he has a solid .332 OBA against lefties this season and is 5-for-11 off Miley in his career. He will be a good cheap source of exposure to the Rangers’ lineup if he bats leadoff.
Other Notables
- Aaron Judge (NYY): $4,600 @ SEA
- Justin Upton (DET): $3,600 @ KC
- Joc Pederson (LAD): $3,400 vs ATL
- Lorenzo Cain (KC): $3,000 vs DET
- Yasiel Puig (LAD): $2,400 vs ATL
My Lineup
- SP – Madison Bumgarner (SF): $11,200
- C – Jonathan Lucroy (TEX): $2,300
- 1B – Matt Adams (ATL): $2,800
- 2B – Jonathan Schoop (BAL): $3,200
- 3B – Todd Frazier (NYY): $3,200
- SS – Elvis Andrus (TEX): $3,000
- OF – Brett Gardner (NYY): $3,500
- OF – Matt Kemp (ATL): $3,100
- OF – Delino DeShields (TEX): $2,600
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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.
