This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Thursday brings a fairly quiet schedule in the majors with just eight games. Most of them have early start times, so let's examine the main Yahoo slate that includes all eight contests and highlight some names worth considering for your entry.
Pitching Overview
After playing a double-header Wednesday, the Rays will wrap up their series against the Royals with Charlie Morton ($49) on the mound. After turning his career around during a two-year stint with the Astros, Morton has carried over his success to the Rays, recording a 1.13 WHIP and a 29.1 percent strikeout rate across his first six starts. The Royals have a ton of speed, but they are in the bottom-half of the league in runs scored, setting Morton up for a potentially productive outing.
Mike Foltynewicz ($47) didn't have the best outing in his first start off the IL, allowing four runs and recording five strikeouts across six innings. He was victimized by two home runs, which is rare for him considering he allowed 0.8 HR/9 last year. He has a favorable chance to provide a valuable rebound performance against a Padres team that has scored the fifth-fewest runs (108) in the league while striking out the third-most times (298).
Speaking of teams that strike out a lot, the Blue Jays have recorded the sixth-most strikeouts (284) out of the gate. They also have the sixth-lowest OPS (.674), making Tyler Skaggs ($37) an intriguing option. He might not be a sexy name, but he was productive last year with a 3.79 xFIP and a 24.2 percent strikeout rate.
Key Values/Chalk
The Rays should be a popular team to pursue for their matchup against Danny Duffy. He held the Angels to three runs across five innings in his first start off the IL, but he only had one strikeout. He's also coming off of an ugly 2018 campaign in which he recorded a 4.92 xFIP and a 1.49 WHIP. His 9.6 percent swinging strike rate was also his lowest mark since 2015.
Another team that could be among the ownership leaderboard is the Mets. They're in a favorable spot to be productive against Tyler Mahle, who recorded a 1.59 WHIP and allowed 1.8 HR/9 last year, which isn't exactly a recipe for success. He's off to a better start this season, but his 1.39 WHIP is still nothing to write home about.
After showing promise out of the bullpen last year, it's been an ugly transition to the starting rotation for Dakota Hudson. He has a whopping 1.92 WHIP through his first 24 innings, which has been compounded by the fact that he's allowed eight home runs. He's not a big strikeout pitcher, so this could be a spot for the Nationals to hang a crooked number Thursday.
Stacks
Rays vs. Duffy, (Royals)
Tommy Pham (OF - $20), Yandy Diaz (3B - $21), Avisail Garcia (OF - $15)
If you're going to attack Duffy, do it with right-handed hitters. Although he held lefties to a .284 wOBA last year, righties got to him for a .344 wOBA. Building a stack around Pham is the key considering he has recorded a wRC+ of at least 143 against left-handed pitchers in back-to-back seasons. Diaz has proven to be a wise pickup from the Indians, recording a .275 ISO and a .382 wOBA in the early going. Garcia has been forced into more playing time with Austin Meadows (thumb) on the shelf and brings plenty of upside at this price after registering a .344 wOBA versus lefties last year.
Mets vs. Mahle (Reds)
Michael Conforto (OF - $21), Robinson Cano (2B - $15), Jeff McNeil (OF - $16)
One thing the Mets have is quality left-handed bats. That could prove troublesome for Mahle considering he's allowed a career .415 wOBA versus lefties. Conforto brings the power to this stack with his .243 ISO and McNeil carries a high floor based on his career .382 wOBA against righties. After returning from his hand injury Wednesday, Cano checks in as one of the top options at second base.
Nationals vs. Hudson (Cardinals)
Juan Soto (OF - $22), Matt Adams (1B - $13), Adam Eaton (OF - $18)
Hudson has been extremely tough on right-handed hitters, holding them to a .213 wOBA during his brief tenure in the majors. However, lefties have thrived with a staggering .453 wOBA. Soto has started to heat up, recording at least one hit in eight of his last nine games. He also slugged three home runs during that stretch. It will be important to monitor his status leading up to first pitch after he was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to back spasms. Adams is locked in at first base with Ryan Zimmerman (foot) on the IL and Eaton rounds out this cost-effective trio after recording a .358 wOBA last year.
Rockies vs. Freddy Peralta (Brewers)
Charlie Blackmon (OF - $18), Daniel Murphy (1B - $17), David Dahl (OF - $16)
Peralta (shoulder) showed promise during his first taste of action in the majors last year, posting a 4.33 xFIP to go along with an impressive 29.9 percent strikeout rate. However, his first four starts this season weren't great, leaving him with a 5.01 xFIP and a 1.53 WHIP. He then found himself on the IL, which he will be returning from to start this game. The Rockies might not stand out as a great stack based on their decreased production on the road, but they could be an option in tournament play. Left-handed hitters recorded a .374 wOBA versus Peralta last year, so Blackmon, Murphy and Dahl might be a trio that does some damage against him.
