This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Thursday's holiday brings a wide range of start times across baseball. As a result, only four games will make up the main evening slate on Yahoo. While that doesn't leave us with a ton of options, that doesn't mean that you can't end the night a winner. He are some intriguing players to consider for your entry.
Pitching Overview
The pitcher who figures to be the most popular is Hyun-Jin Ryu ($51) for his outing against the Padres. He finally produced a dud in his last start, allowing seven runs across four innings. However, it's hard to read too much into that considering it came at Coors Field. He still has a 1.83 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP despite that bad start, so look for him to rebound nicely here against the Padres.
One of the more surprising success stories this year has been that of Lance Lynn ($46). Even though his 4.00 ERA might not look great, he has a 2.94 FIP and a 1.21 WHIP. He's also increased his strikeout rate to 26.3 percent while allowing only nine home runs across 108 innings. His ability to keep hitters inside the ball park is especially impressive considering his home games are played at Globe Life Park. This will be his third time facing the Angels and he had plenty of success in the first two outings, allowing four runs over 12.2 innings.
The cheaper options aren't very appealing. If you want to take a chance on one in tournament play, Zach Eflin ($36) might not be a crazy choice. He has an unfavorable matchup against the Braves, but he's allowed three runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts. Included in that stretch were some tough opponents in the Cubs, Brewers and Diamondbacks, so he's shown he can provide value despite not having a heavy advantage.
Key Values/Chalk
Marcus Stroman is scheduled to take the mound against the Red Sox, who he has held to run one over 12 innings this season. He's having a strong campaign overall, with his 3.18 ERA and 3.82 FIP. With that being said, it might not be a wise decision to fade Rafael Devers ($22), who is a scorching 32-for-70 (.457) with five home runs and eight doubles over his last 17 games.
The Padres will be receiving some reinforcements for their starting rotation in the form of Dinelson Lamet, who has been on the shelf since last April due to Tommy John surgery. He could very well be a key addition for him, but it is likely going to take him some time to get acclimated to the big leagues again. He could also be on a limited pitch count in his first outing back. This could be a prime spot to the Dodgers' lefties, including Cody Bellinger ($22), Max Muncy ($23) and Alex Verdugo ($17).
Stacks
Rangers vs. Griffin Canning (Angels)
Joey Gallo (OF - $25), Shin-Soo Choo (OF - $14), Willie Calhoun (OF- $12)
Originally scheduled to start Wednesday, Canning was pushed back a day to get some extra rest. While he's off to a strong start, he has allowed 1.8 HR/9. That could end up being his downfall against the Rangers, who are loaded with dangerous lefty bats. Gallo certainly has the highest ceiling of the bunch with his .391 ISO. Choo has also performed well with his 122 wRC+ that would be his highest mark since 2015. Calhoun checks in at a more cost-effective price and is worth considering with his .382 wOBA.
Blue Jays vs. Hector Velazquez (Red Sox)
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (OF - $25), Cavan Biggio (2B - $19), Freddy Galvis (SS - $16)
Velazquez has bounced between the starting rotation and the bullpen, with his last three outings all coming in relief. While he's set to start Thursday, he might not pitch that deep into this contest since he hasn't thrown more than 45 pitches in a game since the middle of May. He's largely been average with his 4.34 FIP and 1.30 WHIP for the season, overall. While the Blue Jays often struggle to score, they might be worth stacking in tournament play. Gurriel is their most enticing option since he has a 1.136 OPS since being recalled from the minors. Biggio has also started to come on of late, hitting 14-for-43 (.326) with four doubles over his last 11 games. Galvis has been ever better than Biggio, hitting 28-for-74 (.378) with five home runs across his last 19 contests.
