This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Thursday's MLB main slate begins at 7:05 p.m. ET and features nine games. Below, you'll find which individual pitchers and hitters are primed to provide the best value, as well as the top lineup stacking options in this slate.
Pitching
Some of the top arms in this slate have highly favorable matchups, so expect most owners to spend big on pitching. Gerrit Cole ($12,200) has a tidy 2.87 ERA and 3.10 FIP, plus he's a phenomenal source of whiffs with a 36.8 percent strikeout rate. The sky's the limit for him against the league-worst Tigers offense.
Mike Soroka ($9,300) is another top-tier starter who should be worth paying for in a favorable home matchup with Miami's 29th-ranked offense. Atlanta's 22-year-old righty has a 2.41 ERA and 3.29 FIP this season, and he's been even better against the lowly Marlins. In three previous 2019 meetings with Miami, Soroka has allowed just one earned run on nine hits to go with an 18:5 K:BB in 22 innings.
Among cheaper options, Pirates lefty Steven Brault ($6,200) stands out based on his strong recent play. After a brief bullpen stint earlier this season, Brault has excelled since returning to the rotation, posting a 2.58 ERA and 3.46 FIP in 10 subsequent starts heading into this home meeting with Washington.
Key Plays/Chalk
The Astros, White Sox and Rays are all primed for success, but there's plenty of value to be found outside of those three stackable lineups as well.
The battle between the Rangers and White Sox promises to be high-scoring, with an over/under of 11 runs. Texas outfielder Hunter Pence ($4,000) should be among the most productive batters from this contest, as he has a wOBA well over .400 against lefties and will face Ross Detwiler, who has a 6.10 ERA and 7.33 FIP.
Left-handed batters have eviscerated A's righty Tanner Roark to the tune of a .488 wOBA this season. Brett Gardner ($2,900) -- who's available at a discount after recently sitting out due to an ingrown toenail removal -- is likely to add to Roark's struggles given the Yankees outfielder's .382 road wOBA against righties.
Bo Bichette's ($4,100) OPS is hanging around the 1.100 mark in the rookie's brief career, and the Blue Jays shortstop is unlikely to slow down against Kenta Maeda of the Dodgers.
Stacks
Astros vs. Tigers (RHP Jordan Zimmermann)
Yordan Alvarez (OF - $4,200), Michael Brantley (OF - $4,000), Alex Bregman (3B - $4,400)
Houston's primed to pounce on Zimmermann, who has a 6.66 ERA and a .386 wOBA allowed to batters from the left side. Alvarez and Brantley are both left-handed sluggers who have mashed against right-handed pitching, producing .458 and .401 wOBAs in that split, respectively. Meanwhile, Bregman has posted a .390 wOBA in righty-on-righty matchups.
White Sox vs. Rangers (RHP Ariel Jurado)
Jose Abreu (1B - $4,100), Tim Anderson (SS - $3,100), Leury Garcia (OF - $3,000)
Jurado has a 5.38 ERA and 4.96 FIP, and he's been trending in the wrong direction with a 7.11 ERA and 5.60 FIP since June 16. Right-handed batters have a .381 wOBA against the Rangers righty, so Chicago's top options from that side should do well despite the absence of a traditional platoon advantage. Abreu -- who has seven RBI in his last three games -- and Anderson -- who has a .368 wOBA in righty-on-righty matchups -- both fall into that category. The switch-hitting Garcia is also worth a flier, considering he'll likely bat out of the leadoff spot.
Rays vs. Orioles (RHP Asher Wojciechowski)
Austin Meadows (OF - $3,700), Eric Sogard (2B - $3,200), Ji-Man Choi (1B - $3,000)
Wojciechowski has had trouble against batters from the left side, allowing a .368 wOBA in that split this season and a .402 mark in his career. The Rays have plenty of options capable of capitalizing on Wojciechowski's struggles. Meadows' road wOBA against righties is well over .400, Sogard's above .380 in that same split, and Choi's at a respectable .350.
