This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
The DFS baseball slate normalizes after the holiday with no day games and only a main slate consisting of eight games starting at 7:05 PM EST. It makes a lot of sense tonight to play it safe with Justin Verlander (see below) and then build around him. That leaves an average of $2,850 per player which is more than doable on this slate. With less than stellar pitching being an overall theme tonight several different teams make for good stacks (ex. WAS, BAL, DET)
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Pitcher
Justin Verlander, HOU vs CHW ($12,200): Verlander has looked more human over his last two starts, scoring only 24 and 26 fantasy points. The other pitchers for this slate are mostly mediocre and the more expensive ones — Johnny Cueto and Tyler Skaggs — are both making their first starts off the DL. The White Sox have the ninth-lowest wOBA (.309) against right-handed pitching and strike out at the fifth-highest rate (24.9 percent) in baseball. With no Coors game or a game with a high over/under, it makes sense to go with Verlander and then build around him — especially in cash games.
GPP Fade: Jhoulys Chacin, MIL vs ATL ($7,700): Chacin comes into Thursday's main slate as the sixth highest-priced pitcher despite a 5.74 ERA and 1.85 WHIP over his last three starts. The Braves are around league-average with a .316 wOBA against right-handed pitching (14th in the league to be exact) but their 20.2 percent strikeout rate (sixth-lowest) is reason enough to avoid them.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Jeremy Hellickson, WAS vs MIA ($6,300): Hellickson gets a good home matchup against the visiting Marlins. While it's a small sample (48 innings pitched), Hellickson has a 2.63 ERA and his 1.02 WHIP seems to support that. As always, the Marlins are a good team to target with only a .297 wOBA (sixth-worst) against right-handed pitchers and a 23.5 percent strikeout rate (11th worst in the league). On the road this season, the wOBA has been lower while the strikeout rate has been higher.
Catcher/First Base
Jesus Aguilar, MIN vs ATL ($3,900): Aguilar has a .466 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season, and while it's in a small sample, it's worth noting he had a .372 wOBA against that handedness in 2017. Max Fried is something of a prospect, but he's making just his seventh big league start and has given up a .345 wOBA the last two seasons to right-handed hitters.
Second Base
Jurickson Profar, TEX at DET ($3,300): Profar was moved into the cleanup spot once Adrian Beltre was a late scratch last night and responded by going 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base for 24.9 fantasy points. He's done more damage to southpaws this season, hitting them to the tune of a .363 wOBA. Matt Boyd will toe the rubber for the Tigers and has allowed a .345 wOBA for his career against right-handed hitters.
Third Base
Eduardo Escobar, MIN vs BAL ($3,300): Escobar is $400 cheaper than teammate Eddie Rosario, giving him the slight edge. Truthfully, using both is possible and probably the ideal situation to use against David Hess. Hess has allowed at least five earned runs in each of his last three starts and is allowing a .365 wOBA to left-handed hitters. Escobar comes into this contest with a .392 wOBA, and that number goes up to .426 playing in Minnesota.
Shortstop
Nick Ahmed, ARI vs SD ($2,600): Everyone will be flocking to Paul Goldschmidt given that he'll be facing lefty Eric Lauer at Chase Field. However, Ahmed has been lethal against lefties in his own right and is $1,700 cheaper than Goldy. After a .450 wOBA against lefties last season, Ahmed has proven that wasn't a total fluke with a .366 mark in 2018. Lauer has been crushed by right-handed hitters this season, as evidenced by giving up a .387 wOBA to that side of the plate.
Outfield
Niko Goodrum, DET vs TEX ($3,100): Goodrum has found himself in the cleanup spot lately against right-handed pitching and has an .840 OPS over his last seven games. Tonight it's all about his matchup as he faces off against Yovani Gallardo and the Rangers. Gallardo brings in a 9.00 ERA and has allowed a .364 wOBA to opposing left-handed hitters.
Adam Eaton, WAS vs MIA ($3,200): Teammate Bryce Harper ($4,300) is a good option against Pablo Lopez, who has only made five starts above the Double-A level this season. Eaton will be hitting in the leadoff spot tonight against Lopez and continues to have success against right-handed pitching. Eaton has a .380 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season, and Lopez gave up two home runs over six innings in his first start for the Marlins.
Utility
Chris Davis, BAL at MIN ($2,300): Davis offers a lot of salary relief tonight at his price and gets a lefty-vs--righty matchup against a rookie pitcher. Aaron Slegers isn't much of a prospect and has already given up five home runs over 20.2 innings with the Twins the last two seasons. Davis has shown signs of life at the plate with two home runs and a double over his last seven games.
