Thursday features a split slate of MLB action. The early slate is actually the larger slate of the day with six games on the docket. As with most small slates, instead of stacking, I’m more likely to use one-off plays and mini-stacks, so today’s On the Hill will just include a list of my favorite hitters. The pitching on Thursday afternoon is brutal, I can barely recommend two pitchers, let alone three, but I’ll give you my best of the worst options to consider. With the small slate and limited writeup, this article will be FREE. Enjoy!
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Let’s mow down the competition 3 Up and 3 Down…
3 Up
Ace
Aaron Nola (FD-$8,800 / DK-$10,700)
Your “ace” will likely have to come from the Mets/Phillies matchup with Nola facing Zack Wheeler. To be honest, I don’t love either option at their price in this matchup with the good hitting conditions in Philly. I’ll lean toward the hometown club who is a small favorite which gives Nola my recommendation in Cash games. Nola has pitched better at home than on the road this season with a decent 3.19 ERA while allowing a .304 wOBA with a 26.3% strikeout rate. That said, I’m perfectly fine with a pivot to Wheeler in GPPs if Nola becomes the chalk pitcher to own.
Value
Martin Perez (FD-$7,000 / DK-$7,900)
You thought finding the first pitcher to roster was hard, it only gets worse from there. Perez has allowed four or more runs in four of his last five starts, so he is hardly a safe option. He has pitched better at home this season which is where he will be against the Rays on Thursday. The Rays have been better against lefties recently but for the season they have the 2nd highest strikeout rate at 26.3%. I’m just hoping for six solid innings with limited damage, a handful of strikeouts, and a win.
Darkhorse
Ariel Jurado (FD-$6,800 / DK-$6,700)
The whole list of pitchers could just show up in the Darkhorse section for the early slate. My favorite of the rest is Jurado, who starts against the Tigers in Detroit. It’s a better park for pitching compared to Texas and the Tigers rank dead last this season in wOBA (.282) and wRC+ (73) against righties. They also strikeout at a 26.2% clip (2nd). Hopefully, the young right-hander and put it all together in this matchup.
3 Down
Hitters
JT Realmuto (FD-$2,800 / DK-$3,600)
Josh Bell (FD-$4,300 / DK-$4,800)
Eric Thames (FD-$2,500 / DK-$4,300)
Jose Altuve (FD-$3,700 / DK-$3,900)
Mike Moustakas (FD-$3,800 / DK-$4,800)
Alex Bregman (FD-$4,000 / DK-$5,000)
Tim Beckham (FD-$2,500 / DK-$3,500)
Christian Yelich (FD-$4,800 / DK-$5,800)
Michael Brantley (FD-$3,800 / DK-$4,400)
Will Calhoun (FD-$3,200 / DK-$3,900)
Kyle Schwarber (FD-$3,200 / DK-$3,600)
Christian Stewart (FD-$2,800 / DK-$3,200)
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