Thursday’s FanDuel Lineup Advice will be focused on the five-game evening slate of MLB action. As with any small slate, there are only limited options to choose from which means that there will be a lot of overlap in lineups in both Cash and GPPs. One way that I like to try to differentiate is to construct mini-stacks or “suited connectors” as I like to call them. Thursday is a perfect slate to pick out your favorite mini-stacks when constructing your lineups in both Cash and GPPs. Be especially aware of the weather for the Cardinals and Pirates game in Pittsburgh as it may turn into a four-game slate.
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.
Win cash playing in FanDuel’s MLB Squeeze 
Pitcher
Luis Severino (NYY): $9,400 @ NYM
Severino is coming off his worst start of the season giving up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings to the Red Sox. He should be able to rebound against a depleted Mets’ offense that recently traded away both Jay Bruce and Neil Walker. Severino has also been at his best on the road this season with a 2.59 ERA while allowing just a .266 wOBA with a 28.8% strikeout rate. He is the biggest Vegas favorite on the board and has a pitcher-friendly umpire behind the plate to boost up this strikeout count.
Other Notables
- Jeff Samardzija (SF): $8,900 vs PHI
- Jhoulys Chacin (SD): $6,900 vs WAS
Catcher
Gary Sanchez (NYY): $4,100 @ NYM
You either pay way up to get Sanchez or punt the position with a cheap catcher that might hit a long ball. I’d prefer to pay up and get Sanchez who has a .271 ISO versus lefties this season and will face Mets’ southpaw Steven Matz who has allowed a .365 wOBA and 2.01 HR/9 to righties this season. Those numbers are even worse when he pitches at home this season.
Other Notables
- Robinson Chirinos (TEX): $2,700 vs CHW
- Austin Hedges (SD): $2,500 vs WAS
First Base
Ryan Zimmerman (WAS): $3,200 @ SD
The Nationals aren’t in the best spot traveling to pitcher-friendly San Diego against Jhoulys Chacin who has been solid this year, especially at home. However, even on a small slate, this could make them somewhat contrarian giving you an advantage if they produce. Zimmerman has homered in two of his last three games and is 6-for-18 (.333) with two homers off Chacin in his career.
Other Notables
- Joey Gallo (TEX): $3,800 vs CHW
- Josh Bell (PIT): $3,300 vs STL
Second Base
Daniel Murphy (WAS): $3,300 @ SD
Murphy has moved up to the third spot in the order with Bryce Harper out which puts him in the prime run-producing spot in the Nationals’ lineup. Chacin has struggled more against lefties than righties this season giving up a .349 wOBA and 1.54 HR/9 this year. Meanwhile, Murphy has feasted on right-handed pitchers on the road this season with a .460 wOBA and .325 ISO. One more Nationals’ bat in the middle of the lineup, yet to come.
Other Notables
- Rougned Odor (TEX): $3,100 vs CHW
- Yangervis Solarte (SD): $3,000 vs WAS
Third Base
Todd Frazier (NYY): $3,400 @ NYM
Frazier has had a down year which hasn’t improved since coming to the Yankees with a .217 average and three homers in 26 games. Thursday’s matchup offers some hope with Frazier hitting two home runs off Matz in his career in eight at-bats. He has also been solid against lefties, in general, this season with a .277 ISO. Options are limited at third base on the slate unless you can afford Adrian Beltre‘s big salary.
Other Notables
- Adrian Beltre (TEX): $4,300 vs CHW
- Jedd Gyorko (STL): $2,800 @ PIT
Shortstop
Elvis Andrus (TEX): $3,600 vs CHW
The next three players will be popular as potentially the top three hitters in the Rangers’ lineup for a team that has the highest Vegas implied run total on the slate. Andrus has a huge game on Wednesday with three hits including a home run to go along with three runs, four RBIs and a steal. He will look to stay hot against White Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez who gave up a pair of long balls in his season debut last week.
Other Notables
- Paul DeJong (STL): $3,800 @ PIT
- Wilmer Difo (WAS): $3,200 @ SD
Outfielders
Shin-soo Choo (TEX): $3,000 vs CHW
Choo has hit 13 of his 14 home runs this season off right-handed pitching. He has a .384 wOBA at home versus righties with a 40.7% hard hit rate. It’s hard to make room for the Rangers’ big boppers (Beltre/Gallo) if you pay up for pitching but stacking up the top of the lineup could be just as productive.
Delino DeShields (TEX): $2,700 vs CHW
DeShields has started and hit leadoff the last four games with Carlos Gomez out. Be sure DeShields is starting and hitting leadoff before plugging him into your Rangers’ mini-stack. He has three multi-hit games in his last four starts and is always a threat to steal a base with 20 swipes on the year.
Adam Lind (WAS): $2,300 @ SD
Lind rounds out the mini-stack of Nationals in the middle of the lineup. He comes cheaply at just $2,300 but has hit well this season with a .307 average and nine homers. He moves up in the order with Harper out and is batting .400 over his last seven games. With all nine of his homers coming off righties this season, Lind has the power to take it out of any park including San Diego.
Other Notables
- Aaron Judge (NYY): $4,300 @ NYM
- Nomar Mazara (TEX): $3,600 vs CHW
- Andrew McCutchen (PIT): $3,500 vs STL
- Aaron Hicks (NYY): $3,300 @ NYM
- Jose Pirela (SD): $2,900 vs WAS
- Howie Kendrick (WAS): $2,600 @ SD
- Nicky Delmonico (CHW): $2,400 @ TEX
My Lineup
- SP – Luis Severino (NYY): $9,400
- C – Gary Sanchez (NYY): $4,100
- 1B – Ryan Zimmerman (WAS): $3,200
- 2B – Daniel Murphy (WAS): $3,300
- 3B – Todd Frazier (CHW): $3,400
- SS – Elvis Andrus (TEX): $3,600
- OF – Shin-soo Choo (TEX): $3,000
- OF – Delino DeShields (TEX): $2,700
- OF – Adam Lind (WAS): $2,300
Create Optimal FanDuel lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud | Google Play | TuneIn | RSS
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.
