This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Major League Baseball saw the NFL's opening game on the schedule for Thursday and decided to just step aside. There are only four games on the slate, and the first one is at 6:40 PM ET.
Here are some recommendations…
PITCHER
Zack Greinke, ARI vs. ATL ($10,500): Like I said, there are only four games Thursday, and that means the pitching pool is shallow. Greinke is the most-expensive option, but he's also pretty clearly the best. Despite pitching in a hitter's park, the 34-year-old has a 2.37 ERA at home. The Braves have a good offense, but on the road they rank 12th in runs scored. On a day like this, that counts as a good thing.
GPP Fade: Kyle Hendricks, CHC at WAS ($9,000): Hendricks' 2016 season fades further into the distance with each passing day. This year, he has a 4.00 FIP, and his road ERA is 4.26. The Nationals rank seventh in runs scored at home, and big bats like Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon can always wreak havoc.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Luis Castillo, CIN vs. SD ($8,200): Castillo's overall numbers are pretty ugly, but he does have a 3.23 ERA over his last 10 starts. This is primarily about matchup, though. The Padres have a .296 OBP as a team, which is lowest in the majors.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Yonder Alonso, CLE at TOR ($3,600): Alonso has had some struggles recently, but he still has 22 homers in 126 games after hitting 28 last year. The potential is there, and eventually the first baseman is going to snap out of it. Maybe that will happen against Sam Gavilgio. The Jays starter, who is coming off an injury, has a 5.02 ERA and has allowed 1.52 homers per nine innings.
SECOND BASE
Luis Urias, SD at CIN ($2,800): Urias has not played much yet, but the 21-year-old was considered an interesting prospect before his call up, and he's averaged 8.1 fantasy points per game with the Padres. Yes, Luis Castillo has pitched better recently, but he's not likely to throw a gem. There's still room for a player like Urias to make a little noise, and at this price he's worth a shot with only eight teams in action.
THIRD BASE
Eduardo Escobar, ARI vs. ATL ($3,600): Escobar has hit well since being traded from the Twins to the Diamondbacks. He has a .351 OBP and has hit five homers in 33 games. Anibal Sanchez may have a 2.98 ERA with the Braves, but his career ERA is 4.02, and he averaged a 5.65 ERA over his prior three seasons. On top of that, his FIP this year is a less impressive 3.80.
SHORTSTOP
Aledmys Diaz, TOR vs. CLE ($3,200): Unless you want to shell out big bucks for a shortstop, the pickings are slim. Diaz looks like the best of the bunch. He at least has some power, as he has a .452 slugging percentage in his career. Meanwhile, Indians rookie Shane Bieber has a 4.66 ERA, and over his last 11 starts that ERA has ballooned to 5.64.
OUTFIELD
Juan Soto, WAS vs. CHC ($3,900): Soto has been an incredibly impressive rookie, and he's averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game. He also has a .419 OBP, which is incredible for a 19-year-old. Less incredible is Kyle Hendricks' 4.26 away ERA, meaning there's a good chance Soto can build on his Rookie of the Year campaign in this one.
David Peralta, ARI vs. ATL ($3,500): Peralta has killed it at home this year, as he has a 1.021 OPS in his own ballpark. He's also been great against righties, putting up a .968 OPS in those matchups. Anibal Sanchez is a righty, and one with a 3.80 FIP to boot.
Scott Schebler, CIN vs. SD ($3,300): Schebler isn't going to hit 30 homers like he did last year in a breakout campaign, but thanks to an increase in batting average and OBP his OPS is higher than in 2017. Rookie Eric Lauer has struggled for the Padres thus far. He has a 5.01 ERA and has allowed 1.28 homers per nine innings despite the fact he plays his home games in Petco Park.
