Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. Another entry into MLB DFS arrives just in time for a fun Thursday afternoon slate that features seven games beginning at 1:10pm EDT. After some large successes of late on our picks, we’re getting back behind the wheel in order to continue building the daily fantasy bankroll.
This Thursday afternoon features some enticing matchups. There is a lot of rain in the Midwest and in the East as well, so I encourage everyone to double-check their lineups before the first pitch. Nothing torpedoes a DFS lineup like postponed games. With that said, we have some serious values available for our lineups. As always, I’ll highlight the values first and list some fantasy studs afterwards to assist in filling out your lineup with big boppers. Skyrockets in flight, let’s launch some baseballs for this afternoon delight.
Make sure to bookmark our DFS page for our daily lineup picks.
***All prices listed are DraftKings***
Value on the Hill
Dylan Cease – at Cleveland ($10,100)
Fool me twice, shame on me. I’ve avoided Cease thus far this season because of his cost, and have been buried for doing so. The White Sox righty is now 2-0, carrying a 1.69 earned run average, a sub-1.00 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts on his way to averaging 27 points per start in DFS. While it may be silly to consider the most expensive pitcher on the slate as a “value” pick, in this case he is. Cease is unavoidable, as he is likely to be rostered by most of your opponents. You cannot expect that the savings on him being invested in a batter will equal the difference. Cease is a must-start, otherwise one risks being set up behind the eight ball from the jump.
Zach Davies – at Washington ($5,400)
Here is where we pick up some of the lost salary on Cease. Davies had a horrible outing versus the New York Mets, but facing a toothless Nationals lineup he is due for a bounce back start. As long as he doesn’t walk a bunch of hitters (Davies currently has a 1.61 WHIP through two starts), he should easily be in line for a win. The Diamondbacks are a terrible team, but we are not far removed from Davies being viewed with ace potential. Washington may be 6-8 but are destined to be cellar-dwellers, and this is an opportunity for the Arizona pitcher to mow down the opposition on swings-and-misses.
Value in the Field
Eric Haase, C – at Detroit ($3,600)
The slate is not loaded at catcher (and it is a position that I usually play boom/bust), so for the cost, Haase fits the bill. The diminutive 29-year-old was a daily fantasy darling last season thanks mostly to getting hot and still being inexpensive. He crushed 22 homers and single-handedly won people numerous DFS contests. Salvador Perez is the top-rated catcher on this slate, but a $1,500 difference is not worth it. No one expects a huge game from their catcher, so why not roll the dice?
Brandon Nimmo, OF – vs San Francisco ($3,900)
Jeff McNeil, 2B – vs San Francisco ($3,800)
Nimmo is off to a fantastic start, and for the price he is a total bargain. I actually debated putting teammate McNeil as the outfielder here. He is $100 cheaper, but Nimmo is the guy against Anthony DeSclafani. Nimmo and McNeil are left-handed bats that could take advantage of the pitcher’s flaws, though McNeil is more likely to watch pitches go by instead of taking advantage. I would actually recommend both New York players, as I expect DeSclafani to get shelled in New York. Playing Nimmo and McNeil (at 2B) in tandem saves a lot of money for studs.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS – at Detroit ($3,400)
Another bargain, here. Kiner-Falefa is 6-for-12 in his last four games, and swiped two bases his last time out. While not a sexy pick, the upside remains for daily fantasy players. He could go 0-4, but he also could replicate yesterday’s 2-3 with a walk, run, and two stolen bases. the Yankees’ infielder is loaded with upside for the price, and is still sitting on a .286 average to go with a .714 OPS. It is another opportunity to save some cash for your heavy-hitters.
Stud Finder: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B – TOR), Alex Verdugo (OF – BOS), Eduardo Escobar (3B – NYM), Whit Merrifield (OF – KC), Aaron Judge (OF – NYY)
With plenty of bargains at the weak spots in your lineup, there is a ton of money to blow on the big boppers. Lock and load that lineup, there is a lot of cash to be made today. Keep in mind many of your studs will be matched by opponents, so being a savvy spender on the right value plays is the name of the game. Best of luck with today’s lineups. Let us know in the twitter comments who you played and how nice the payoff was.
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Sam Schneider on Twitter @BuyAndSellYou
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images
