This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Thursday's six-game main slate is surprisingly filled with quality pitchers we can use to round out our rosters. The other side of that coin is that there are fewer arms to target on offense, but we can find at least two options in a prolific opener and a soft-tossing veteran.
Pitching
Ian Anderson, ATL vs. MIA ($8,800): Anderson has his flaws (13 percent walk rate) but a blistering 35 strikeouts in 25.2 frames make him someone worthy of a strong look on a short slate. The Marlins will enter Thursday's contest as a bottom-10 team in wOBA, as well as a top-10 team when it comes to strikeouts against right-handers. It should also be noted that they hit the ball on the ground at a league-leading 48 percent rate, while Anderson throws grounders at nearly a 60 percent clip.
Kwang Hyun Kim, STL vs. MIL ($7,800): Kim has been afforded a fairly easy schedule of late, as after Thursday's contest he'll have faced either the Pirates or Brewers in four of his last five outings. While he will never be confused with a strikeout artist, Kim has used his heavy groundball rate and fastball (6.0 RAA) to hold teams in check. This should once again work against the Brewers, who have logged a bottom-10 RAA against the heater as well as a 44 percent groundball rate.
Kris Bubic, KC vs. DET ($6,600): Bubic has had his growing pains in 2020 but turned a major corner this month, registering just a 1.56 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 17.1 frames. The Tigers have hit the ball well against lefty pitching in 2020 but have still recorded a strikeout rate just outside the top-10 teams in the league (24 percent).
Top Hitters
Salvador Perez, KC vs. DET ($5,300): Ordinarily I wouldn't recommend a catcher at this price, but Perez makes this list based on merit, as he has notched an extraordinary .511 ISO in 47 at-bats this month. Michael Fulmer has been absolutely tattooed by righty hitters this year, allowing an .894 slugging percentage in 9.1 frames. Fulmer is listed as an opener Thursday, but he generally throws between 50-65 pitches per outing, meaning we can plan around him as if he were a standard starter.
A.J. Pollock, LAD vs. OAK ($4,900): The Dodgers are packed to the brim with powerful hitters, and Pollock is no exception, as we can see from the .233 ISO he has logged against righty pitchers in 133 at-bats. Mike Fiers has thrown the ball with more success on the road this year, but I have no problem making him a target on a short slate, as he has kept an xFIP above 5.45 against both sides of the platoon.
Best Values
Bobby Dalbec, BOS vs. BAL ($3,800): Dalbec's price hasn't risen above $3,900 very much (if at all) this season, despite the fact that he holds an ISO above .340 against both righties and lefties. Against right-handers, a .388 wOBA accompanies that power in 44 at-bats. Meanwhile, Alex Cobb has been saddled with a 5.79 ERA in 18.2 frames on the road.
Miguel Cabrera, DET at KC ($2,800): Cabrera is likely viewed as someone who is no longer a DFS asset, but prospective owners would be wise not to dismiss him so quickly, as he has logged a robust .436 wOBA against southpaws in 32 at-bats. Bubic won't be a walk in the park for any lineup, but Cabrera represents a nice punt play at this price that we can use to load up on big bats elsewhere.
Stacks to Consider
Dodgers against Mike Fiers: Corey Seager ($5,800) A.J. Pollock ($4,900) Chris Taylor ($4,700)
Unfortunately, there aren't many bats in this lineup that can be referred to as money-savers, but we can still roster powerful hitters like Pollock and Taylor at prices that won't completely hamstring us. It may be a bit surprising for some to have Taylor in among these names, but the 30-year-old has excelled against same-handed opposition this year, logging a .248 ISO and .402 wOBA in 126 at-bats.
Royals against Michael Fulmer: Salvador Perez ($5,300) Hunter Dozier ($4,400) Jorge Soler ($3,100)
It's a shame we don't have more powerful righties to exploit Fulmer, but there is at least one heavy value play in the mix. Soler's recent activation after spending more than two weeks on the injured list with a strained oblique may cause him to go overlooked, but DFS players should keep in mind that he has tallied a .225 ISO against right-handed hurlers in 129 at-bats.
