This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Thursday's DFS action starts at 12:10 p.m. EDT with an all-day slate, so the four early games and the first game of the Yankees doubleheader can be included. The main slate starts at 7:10 p.m. EDT and is a smaller group consisting of only seven games.
Pitching
There's a large selection of stud pitchers taking the mound tonight, but the best option appears to be Cleveland's Trevor Bauer ($10,800). Bauer is the only pitcher out of the top four who is at home and arguably has the best matchup facing the Tigers. Detroit continues to have the worst wOBA against right-handed pitching (.284), and its 25.9 percent strikeout rate is the second highest. Bauer has as much upside as any pitcher on this slate, hitting 51 or more fantasy points six times.
The Mets' Noah Syndergaard ($9,200) has been inconsistent this season but has a solid matchup against the Giants. The game will be in San Francisco, a good pitcher's park, and with the game having an over/under of seven runs Vegas isn't expecting a lot of scoring. The Giants have a .299 wOBA against righties (fifth-lowest) but their 22.5 percent strikeout rate is only league-average. The .299 wOBA was just inflated after a successful trip to Coors Field, otherwise it would be lower.
Looking at the cheaper options the Braves' Julio Teheran ($7,500) is worth consideration. He has a home matchup with the Nationals and while that doesn't appear to be a great matchup Washington's .313 wOBA and 22.5 percent strikeout rate against right-handed pitching are both around league-average. Teheran has been much better at home this season with a 2.66 ERA and is striking out just under a batter per inning.
Key Values/Chalk
The Indians' Jordan Luplow ($2,700) has become a cash game staple whenever the Indians face a left-handed pitcher. He'll get that matchup with Detroit's Matthew Boyd, and Luplow has a .439 wOBA against southpaws. Boyd has struggled more on the road (4.53 ERA) than at home (3.36 ERA) this season and has allowed at least four earned runs in five straight starts.
Shortstop is thin tonight with the limited number of games and this is a spot to spend up. The Indians' Francisco Lindor ($3,900) will also face the aforementioned southpaw Boyd, and he has some positive history against him. Lindor has gone 9-for-24 against Boyd with two home runs leading to a 1.153 OPS. Lindor has always hit lefties sporting a career .391 at home against that handedness.
Yesterday, the Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb ($2,600) was recommended and came through and with another good matchup tonight, he's firmly in play. Lamb will be home facing Zach Davies, whose 2.89 ERA is a bit fluky considering it's paired with a 4.26 FIP. That suggests some correction is coming to the low ERA and Lamb has a career .352 wOBA against right-handed pitching.
Second base isn't quite as thin as shortstop tonight, and the Reds' Scooter Gennett ($2,800) should pay off his price tag. He had a great season a year ago with a .375 wOBA against right-handed pitching and has that matchup against Dakota Hudson, who has allowed a .385 wOBA to left-handed hitters this season.
Oakland's Mark Canha ($3,000) has been a beast this season, and while his .254 batting average might not say that, his .944 OPS does. He's hit right-handed pitching well with a .409 wOBA and will get that matchup against Twins righty Kyle Gibson. Look for him to possibly move up in the lineup into a better RBI spot with Matt Chapman dealing with an ankle injury.
Stacks
Indians vs. Tigers (Matthew Boyd)
Francisco Lindor (SS - $3,900), Carlos Santana (C/1B - $4,200), Jose Ramirez (3B - $3,500), Jordan Luplow (OF - $2,700), Oscar Mercado (OF - $3,100)
Finding the right combination of the five players listed could be the winning formula for GPPs. Mercado has been on fire over the last few games, and Ramirez overall has been disappointing. However, Ramirez still has a ton of upside, and all of these players are capable of a big game against a left-handed pitcher.
Astros at Angels (Matt Harvey)
George Springer (OF - $4,500), Jose Altuve (2B - $3,900), Michael Brantley (OF - $3,800), Josh Reddick (OF - $2,700)
Reddick is the wild card here, and this stack is all about fading Harvey. This will be only his second start off the injured list, and he carries into the game a 6.88 ERA. As a team, Houston has the fifth-highest wOBA against right-handed pitching (.335), and they strike out the lowest of any team (18.1 percent).
