This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Thursday doesn't leave us with a lot of options to choose from on Yahoo with only six games making up the main evening slate. Still, there is money to be won, so let's break down the matchups and highlight some of the better players to pursue.
Pitching Overview
The biggest name scheduled to take the mound is Jacob deGrom ($55), who will be faced with a very important start for the Mets versus the Cubs. They remain in the hunt for a Wild Card spot and the Cubs are one of the teams that they are battling for position. He's been as good as it gets again this season, recording a 2.56 ERA that is supported by a 2.67 FIP. Add in his 31.9 percent strikeout rate and he's still the top pitching option despite having to face the dangerous Cubs lineup.
Chris Paddack ($38) was hammered by the Red Sox in his last start, allowing six runs over 2.1 innings. He's going through a rough stretch with the season coming to a close having given up 20 runs (19 earned) over 17 innings in his last four starts. While he might be shut down soon, this is a prime matchup for him to have a bounce back performance versus the Giants. Not only do they have one of the worst lineups in baseball, but they only have a 74 wRC+ at home.
If you want to take a chance on a cheaper option in tournament play, rolling with Dereck Rodriguez ($28) might not be a crazy idea. Overall, he's pitched poorly with his 5.41 FIP and 1.43 WHIP. However, he has shown he can throw in the occasional strong performance, such as when he posted seven shutout innings two starts ago versus the Diamondbacks. With the Padres sporting a depleted lineup thanks to the injury to Fernando Tatis Jr. (back), we could see one of Rodriguez's better outings.
Key Values/Chalk
Any game at Coors Field is going to be popular and that should really be the case here with such a limited slate. The home team has a great opportunity to score in bunches versus Trevor Williams, who has a 5.04 FIP and has allowed 1.6 HR/9. Left-handed hitters have recorded a .393 wOBA against him, making Charlie Blackmon ($21), Ryan McMahon ($19) and Daniel Murphy ($13) prime targets.
Staying in that same game, the Pirates are also in a position to thrive against Chi Chi Gonzalez. He's basically eating innings for the Rockies down the stretch due to several injuries to their starting rotation. He's certainly not performing well based on his 6.92 FIP and 1.63 WHIP. Starling Marte ($24), Josh Bell ($21) and Bryan Reynolds ($25) are the top-tier options to pursue while Colin Moran ($17) is also worth considering. He's swinging a hot bat right now having gone 19-for-54 (.352) with two home runs and six doubles over his last 16 games.
In stark contrast to the Coors Field game is the Marlins playing in their pitcher-friendly home park. Their lineup has been awful, but they have a couple of bats worth considering with Alex Wood on the mound for the Reds. He just hasn't been able to get going after being activated off the IL, allowing 22 runs (20 earned) over 29.2 innings. One player to consider is Jon Berti ($21), who is 29-for-98 (.296) with three home runs and seven doubles over his last 26 games. Starlin Castro ($18) has also caught fire, hitting 27-for-78 (.356) with four home runs and six doubles across his last 20 contests.
Stacks
Rangers vs. Felix Hernandez (Mariners)
Shin-Soo Choo (OF - $16), Danny Santana (1B - $21), Willie Calhoun (OF - $21)
Hernandez actually pitched well in his first start off the IL, allowing two runs over 5.2 innings against the Blue Jays. However, he did give up two home runs and has now allowed 11 over 44.1 innings this season. He's nowhere near the pitcher that he was in his prime with his 1.44 WHIP, leaving this as a matchup to exploit. Santana stands out at first base based on his .369 wOBA against right-handed pitchers. Calhoun has taken advantage of his opportunity to play every day by posting a .369 wOBA.
Dodgers vs. Merrill Kelly (Diamondbacks)
Cody Bellinger (OF - $19), Will Smith (C - $23), Corey Seager (SS - $16)
The wheels have started to come off for Kelly, who has given up 31 runs (30 earned) over his last 29.1 innings. He recorded a 1.94 WHIP and allowed 10 homers during that stretch, leaving the Dodgers as one of the more appealing stacks to consider, especially if you want to fade the Coors Field game. Bellinger and Smith bring the power to this stack while Seager is also playing well, hitting 19-for-60 (.317) with three home runs and 10 doubles over his last 15 games.
Reds vs. Robert Dugger (Marlins)
Aristides Aquino (OF - $24), Eugenio Suarez (3B - $18), Josh VanMeter (1B - $10)
Jordan Yamamoto was scratched from this start with a right forearm strain, setting up Dugger to enter the rotation. In his only other outing in the majors this season, he gave up six runs over five innings versus the Mets. He posted a 6.02 FIP at Triple-A, making the Reds a team to at least consider stacking. Aquino has been an absolute monster since making his debut with his .467 ISO. VanMeter doesn't have nearly that type of upside, but he does have a .364 wOBA versus right-handed pitchers.
