This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Today there's some mid-afternoon DFS action with an early-only and all-day slate starting at 2:10 PM EST with two games, one of which is Arizona at Coors Field. The main slate starting at 7:05 PM EST consists of seven games and several elite pitching options.
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Pitcher
Max Scherzer, WAS at NYM ($12,000): It's a tough call between Scherzer and Ross Stripling ($9,200) for a cash game starting pitcher. Scherzer has been so consistent, and the Mets look like they've given up on the season. Stripling gets the Padres in Petco and doesn't have a start with less than 24 fantasy points on the season. With no Coors game and a small seven-game slate, the safe pick seems to be Scherzer (35.4 percent strikeout rate) with the Mets coming in with the eighth-worst wOBA (.306) against right-handed pitching.
GPP Fade: Luis Severino, NYY at CLE ($11,600): Severino has been nothing short of spectacular this season with a 2.12 ERA. However, a matchup against the Indians in Cleveland is a tough assignment. The Indians have the seventh-best wOBA (.326) against right-handed pitchers and strike out only 20.9 percent of the time (ninth-lowest in the league). Both of those stats improve for Cleveland when their home (.355 wOBA, 19.4 percent strikeout rate).
Cheap GPP Consideration: Jameson Taillon, PIT vs MIL ($7,300): Taillon has established a nice floor for himself, limiting the amount of earned runs he's allowed as of late. He hasn't given up more than three runs in his last eight starts and has scored at least 24 fantasy points in 10 of his last 11 (17 points was the other). There's a good argument that Taillon has been more effective at home this season, where his WHIP sits at a tidy 1.11.
FIRST BASE/CATCHER
Steve Pearce, BOS vs TOR ($3,500): If it isn't broke, don't fix it. Pearce has acclimated nicely to his new environment in Boston and should occupy the cleanup spot once again. He gets lefty J.A. Happ, who's been a disaster lately with a 10.05 ERA over his last three starts. Pearce also has a .419 wOBA against southpaws this season.
SECOND BASE
Brian Dozier, MIN vs TB ($4,400): Dozier is the ultimate contrarian play, as he's expensive and has a horrible matchup against lefty Blake Snell. Those two reasons alone should keep his ownership under five percent in GPPs, but he has as much upside as anyone at the position. First, Dozier's killed lefties throughout his career with a .341 wOBA at home against them and appears to be in the middle of a hot streak. He has a 1.081 OPS over his last seven games and has three 30-plus fantasy point performances over his last 10 contests. In each of his three years with the Rays, Blake Snell has struggled more on the road than at home.
THIRD BASE
David Freese, PIT vs MIL ($2,400): Freese will be hitting in the middle of the lineup in a good RBI spot against soft-tossing Wade Miley and has a career .357 wOBA against lefties. Miley has had a .360 and .374 wOBA against right-handed hitters over the last two seasons.
SHORTSTOP
Jordy Mercer, PIT vs MIL ($2,200): As usual, the shortstop position is tough to navigate Thursday, and it's probably wise to spend up on a Trea Turner ($3,900) or Xander Bogaerts ($4,300). However, Mercer got the start yesterday and went 2-for-3 (two doubles) against lefty Gio Gonzalez and holds a career .352 wOBA against left-handed pitching.
OUTFIELD
Andrew Toles, LAD at SD ($2,000): Despite being in Petco Park, it's worth taking a chance on Toles given he's at the minimum price and Tyson Ross has been a disaster. Ross has allowed 15 earned runs (four home runs) over his last two starts, which were a combined seven innings. Toles has been up with the big club before, finishing the 2016 season with a .870 OPS. As a lefty he'll get the platoon start Thursday in a good matchup, albeit in a bad hitter's ballpark.
Nelson Cruz, SEA at LAA ($3,700): Using a guy like Toles makes it possible to pair him up with an expensive player like Cruz, who faces a lefty. Cruz is at his usual .381 wOBA this season against left-handed pitching, which is right in line with his .383 and .385 marks the last two seasons.
UTILITY
Mark Reynolds, WAS at NYM ($3,200): The last time Reynolds got a start against a left-handed pitcher, he went nuts with two home runs and 10 RBI, finishing with 80.6 fantasy points. He'll get southpaw Steven Matz on Thursday, who has allowed a .351 wOBA at home to right-handed hitters this season. Reynolds is almost a must-play in cash games given his .383 wOBA against lefties recent success.
