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Welcome to Thursday baseball over on FanDuel. If you're looking to win yourself some cash, tonight is the night. For just $9.99, you can take home a $20K top prize with an $111K prize pool. If you're a big spender, the Collosus is gifting $100K to the winner with a $200K pool. No matter the price point, you'll be able to find a tournament with a huge 1st place prize and there are some balanced tourneys as well.
There is plenty to look at on this slate, though we only have six games. The pitching is weak, but the hitting isn't great either. We play this middle ground game today where the pitchers aren't good enough to play but they also aren't bad enough to stack against. We fortunately have a few of those terrible arms, so we'll spotlight those teams. Let's dive in head first and find the top plays at each position!
Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @DFSVarney
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Jose Berrios - MIN @ CWS - $9,300
With only six games on the slate, there isn't all that much to love at pitching. There is plenty of upside, but I don't think you can sit safely with any of these guys in cash games. Jose Berrios and Lucas Giolito are the two best pitchers on the slate and they'll be facing off in Chicago. The Twins are -140 favorites and we'll therefore focus on Berrios. He's been up and down recently, but is still sporting a .289 wOBA against both sides of the plate. He's striking out just over eight batters per nine and walking just under two. The White Sox lineup has picked it up in the last few months, but they still rank 266th in baseball against righties with a .301 wOBA and 25.6% strikeout rate. Berrios isn't perfect, but nobody on this slate is and he has just a few more things working for him than the field.
Jose Suarez - LAA vs. BAL - $6,200
Like I said, pitching is weak on this slate. You can pay up for a number of guys, but they all have a ton of risk. Jose Suarez and the Angels will host the Orioles, who are projected to put up just under four runs by Vegas. It's one of the lowest on the slate as Vegas thinks they'll struggle with the downgrade from Camden Yards to spacious Angel Stadium. Against lefties, they rank 26th with a .302 wOBA and 26.5% strikeout rate. It gets even worse on the road, so it makes sense why they're only projected for three runs. Suarez has struck out 10.19 batters per nine innings and it's just a matter of his pitch count. If he can stay in the game for five innings, Suarez may very well end up as the best value arm of the slate.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
C/1B - Matt Olson - OAK vs. TEX (Jurado) - $3,700
While we don't have all that many arms worth playing, we also don't have a ton to pick on. Ariel Jurado is one of the select few that you can completely stack against. On the season, he's allowed a 5.58 xFIP to lefties and has given up eight homers in just 40 innings of work. Matt Olson has sported a .361 wOBA against righties and has hit 13 of his 21 home runs against them. He's held a .400+ wOBA over the last month and has hit the ball hard 53% of the time. Jurado is a terrible pitcher and the A's are one of the top stacks of the night.
2B - David Fletcher - LAA vs. BAL (Eshelman) - $2,700
There re a few expensive second baseman you can play, but you'll need to save money somewhere. David Fletcher will be hitting lead off and he's only $2,700 on FanDuel. He's not an exciting hitter, but he's consistent and seems to be on base two to three times a game. He's been far better against righties, holding a .310 average and .344 wOBA. Tom Eshelman hasn't profiled as a good pitcher through the minors and he's been terrible through his first 14 innings in the majors. The Angels are going to put up runs tonight and Fletcher is affordable in the lead off hole.
3B - Tim Beckham - SEA vs. DET (Norris) - $2,700
If you're looking to spend up and are tired of hearing about these value options, Matt Chapman is a great play and has a ton of upside. He'll be in most of my lineups, but I don't want to drown you with the A's. We'll instead look towards Tim Beckham, who's always been a lefty masher and draws a great match-up with Daniel Norris. Norris isn't a gas can, but he has big problems with home runs against righties (1.52 HR/9) and only strikes out seven batters per nine. Beckham on the other hand, has posted a .348 wOBA against lefties since last season and will be in the heart of the order. He's a solid play if you're electing to pay up for a top pitcher and need some value.
SS - Francisco Lindor - CLE @ KAN (Montgomery) - $4,100
We're going to be able to pay up for whatever three or four bats we want, and Lindor should be one of those guys. Shortstop is limited outside of him and he has a phenomenal match-up with Mike Montgomery and a weak bullpen. Montgomery has given up a 4.7 xFIP to righties and all of his peripherals point to even more regression. The Indians have been tough against lefties (8th in wOBA) and Lindor is the start of it all. He has just as much power against lefties and will see two or three at-bats from righties out of the bullpen (ranks 26th). Lindor won't be very popular and he's an easy play in cash games.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Mike Trout - LAA vs. BAL (Eshelman) - $5,000
If I have to pay up for an outfielder tonight, it's Mike Trout. You can probably pay up for two of these guys, so it'll be tough to stay away from Trout. Eshelman is just a poor overall pitcher and he's been just as bad against righties as he is lefties. Trout has actually been better against righties and has posted a .466 wOBA on the season. He's hit 26 of his 33 home runs against righties and now sees one of the worst pitcher's he faced on the season. Without much pitching on the slate, Trout should be a priority in cash games.
Ramon Laureano - OAK vs. TEX (Jurado) - $3,100
The A's are one of the top stacks and I could have highlighted five or six of these guys. Matt Chapman, Marcus Semien, and Mark Canha are a few others that will be scattered through my lineups in all formats. We've already highlighted how bad Ariel Jurado is, allowing a 5.58 xFIP and 37% contact rate allowed. Ramon Laureano has been one of the most dominant rookies in baseball, already hitting 20 homers behind a .358 wOBA and 44% hard contact rate. He's only $3,100 on FanDuel and I can't see why he wouldn't be close to 30% owned. I'll make sure to be over the field and possibly at 100%. Good luck tonight and feel hit me up on Twitter with any questions @VarneyDFS!
