Games suspended by rain and doubleheaders are the name of the game in this week. Daily fantasy players would be wise to check and double-check their lineups right up to the first pitch.
If there is impending doom and gloom in the forecast (I’m looking at you, Chicago), you’ll need to be ready with a pivot play. The same goes for personnel; often times the managers decide to get cute with the lineups for the second game of a twin bill. Make sure all your guys are starting.
With that said, there are only six games on the evening slate for this Thirsty Thursday so start with your best lineup and adjust on the fly if necessary. Grab your favorite beverage and peruse this listing of value plays before adding in your studs. I’ll list my favorites from that category at the end.
Your author had a rough go of it on Monday. On the heels of several strong lineups, we laid an egg. Although anyone who followed the recommendation for Andrew Vaughn (my home run call of the night) was handsomely rewarded, as he smacked a two-run bomb in that contest. Should he be plugged in again this evening?
You can check out past DFS plays from every sport here.
***All prices listed are DraftKings***
Stacks
The Chicago White Sox are hosting the Baltimore Orioles, and specifically lefty hurler Bruce Zimmerman tonight. In seven starts, Zimmerman has amassed a 2-3 record with an unsightly 5.59 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. Pitching 38.2 innings on the season, he’s struck out just 30 and has served up nine taters. The White Sox make a great stack opportunity, albeit a popular one tonight. If the weather holds up, Chicago’s bats might make it rain on their own.
Even in non-stack situations, I’ll still have at least two players from the South Side in every lineup this evening.
Others:
Texas Rangers lineup at Seattle Mariners’ RHP Chris Flexen (5.09 ERA, 1.57 WHIP)
St. Louis Cardinals lineup at Arizona Diamondbacks’ RHP Matt Peacock (4.97 ERA, 1.09 WHIP)
Value on the Hill
Carlos Martinez – at Arizona ($6,800)
As you can see from the stack listing, I’m a fan of the Cardinals tonight to get to the young Peacock. This should amount to an easy stroll to the W for Martinez. He was not exactly setting the world on fire early in the season and landed on the IL with an ankle sprain, as well. In his first start back last Friday, he went six strong innings, surrendering just a pair of earned runs to division-rival Chicago. The hope is that the IL stint was a nice break to get his head right, and Arizona is not likely to scare him tonight. For the bargain price in a six-game slate, this is a no-brainer. Six scoreless frames is not out of the question, but we will have to hold our breath that he increases his strikeout numbers after picking up just two against the Cubs.
Value in the Field
Mauricio Dubon, SS – at Los Angeles Dodgers ($2,200)
This is about as close to a punt play as you can get. With much of the lineup holding studs and a severe lack of quality names at the position on the slate tonight, a bargain basement price is just what the doctor ordered.
Dubon (and the rest of the San Francisco Giants) get a bullpen day from the Dodgers, who will roll out David Price to start the game. He’s unlikely to pitch more than two or maybe three innings. The Giants can hit Price and they can get to other bullpen arms, so while this may be a punt, it’s also a pretty reasonable one.
San Francisco players should be excellent GPP plays tonight, as well.
Mike Tauchman, OF – at Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,200)
Sensing a theme, here? Again, it’s not like San Francisco is taking on Walker Buehler or Clayton Kershaw. The Giants picks might not be sexy ones, but they should be counted on to string multiple hits together before a timely bomb by one of their power guys.
Tauchman will be somewhere in the middle of the order and therefore in the middle of it all. In his time in The City by the Bay the outfielder has 16 hits, 14 runs scored, eight runs batted in, and a stolen base for good measure. He also drew 14 bases on balls during that timeframe. We are hoping he gets on base at least twice and scores each time… and a swipe of second would certainly be a bonus.
Andrew Vaughn, OF – vs. Baltimore ($2,500)
He’s baaaack. If the DK gods are going to keep putting Vaughn out there at these prices, I’m going to take him as a value play every single time. As I said, he was my home run call on Monday, and he came through for the second game in a row. Now he costs (gasp!) $300 more. Whatever will we do?
The struggles of opposing pitcher Zimmerman are well documented (see above in the Stacks section). Stick with what got you here. For me, that’s Vaughn. Should he be the home run call of the night again even after we load up on studs? Sure, why not. Let’s see if lightning strikes twice in the same week.
Stud Finder: Chris Bassitt (SP – OAK), Yermin Mercedes (C – CWS), Jose Abreu (1B – CWS), Tommy Edman (2B – STL), Nolan Arenado (3B – STL), Juan Soto (OF – WAS)
Believe it or not, with the money saved on the above value plays, this list of stud-worthy guys tonight is entirely affordable. Since they are pricey, it gives you plenty of wiggle room to switch out for big names that you like better as the price points are likely the same.
As a reminder, don’t forget to check weather and lineups all the way up to game time to make sure there’s no funny business. Then, on this Thirsty Thursday, sit back and relax. Grab your favorite beverage and watch the dollar signs roll in.
Remember: Always play the upside. Good luck tonight, everyone.
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