This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Just five games make up Thursday's main, or evening, contest. Despite having four pitchers priced above $8,000, all but one game has a total of at least nine, and the one that doesn't, includes two arms priced at $6,000 or less. The limited player pool can force owners' hands with regard to position scarcity, and with a slightly more offensive night expected, paying up for bats may prove a wise strategy.
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PITCHER
Gio Gonzalez, WAS vs. COL ($8,600): While Gonzalez was solid throughout 2017, he was borderline spectacular at home, posting a 2.76 ERA and 23.7 percent strikeout rate while allowing just a .290 wOBA. It shouldn't come as any surprise, but the Rockies offense isn't as potent away from Coors Field, posting a .303 wOBA, 83 wRC+, .145 ISO and 24.6 percent strikeout rate. Gonzalez seems to offer less volatility than Jose Berrios at a $400 savings, making his floor and ceiling worth paying for. The Rockies could also be without Charlie Blackmon due to a quad injury.
GPP Fade: Sonny Gray, NYY vs. BOS: ($8,400): I didn't get much right yesterday, so I'll take great pride in fading Boston's David Price. Tempers flared in that contest, and I expect both teams to be aggressive Thursday evening, giving me little confidence in Rick Porcello, either. But Gray has struggled against Boston, allowing four homers, 27 hits and 17 earned runs over his last 28.2 innings. Mix in Boston's quick start against righties, a .348 wOBA and a 120 wRC+, and I'll pass on Gray here.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Bryan Mitchell, SDP vs. SFG ($5,800): This game comes with a total of only eight, the lowest of the evening, putting both Mitchell and his opponent, Chris Stratton ($6,000) in play. Neither offers any strikeout upside, so the play for me is strictly against the Giants offense. They have scored a mere 33 runs in 11 games and since the start of 2017, rank dead last with a .297 wOBA, 83 wRC+ and paltry .137 ISO against righties. The Padres aren't much better, going .300/85/.159, respectively, so you really could flip a coin and feel as safe as you can at this price.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Hanley Ramirez, BOS vs. NYY ($3,400): This position is a little trickier than usual with the smaller slate, so I'll roll with Ramirez's hot bat. He's hit safely in nine straight, six of which have been multi-hit outings. If I'm fading Gray on this slate, grabbing a few Sox bats makes sense, and Ramirez's .399 wOBA and 154 wRC+ from a likely cleanup spot in the lineup fit nicely.
SECOND BASE
Howie Kendrick, WAS vs. COL ($2,800): Kendrick has enjoyed a bit of a rebirth since joining the Nationals lineup a year ago. He owns a .372 wOBA and 134 wRC+ against righties as a Nat. I don't love his current sixth spot in the lineup, but that could change given his current form (seven hits in his last five games), which would only add to the appeal.
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas, KAN vs. LAA ($3,500): Similar to first base, there aren't a ton of options at the hot corner, with Rafael Devers ($3,400) being about as low as I'm willing to go. Moustakas always is an option against righties, carrying a .360 wOBA 124 wRC+ and .273 ISO, while the Angels will start Nick Tropeano, who missed all of 2017 with an elbow injury and has allowed a career .342 wOBA to lefties.
SHORTSTOP
Eduardo Escobar, PHI vs. CIN ($3,200): To be frank, this position presents little appeal outside of the top two, so if we're not paying up, we're simply paying down and moving on. Escobar hits in the middle-third of the order, has a .393 wOBA and 152 wRC+ against righties (compared to .149/-17 against lefties) and faces a struggling Lucas Giolito, who has walked seven while allowing eight runs over 11.2 innings and allowing a .415 wOBA to opposite-handed bats.
OUTFIELD
Bryce Harper, WAS vs. COL ($5,400): Few bats enter Friday with potential, a track record and current form to put up ace starting-pitching type scoring than Harper. He's topped 40 points twice, 37 once and 27 once, but he has only 12.4 points over his last two games. He has a .549 wOBA, 253 wRC+ and .500 ISO against righties this year after going .442/173/.332 a season ago. Further boosting my willingness to pay up; Rockies starter Chad Bettis has a 5.40 road ERA since 2016.
Brett Gardner, NYY at BOS ($3,100): Gardner is in the midst of a four-game hitting streak during which he's collected seven hits, six walks and seven runs atop he potent Yankees lineup. He has a .359 wOBA against righties since 2017, and is 14 of 46 (.304) in his career against Rick Porcello. At this price, he offers stability with moderate upside.
Brian Goodwin, WAS vs. COL ($2,600): We've touched on Rockies' starter Chad Bettis' struggles on the road, and Goodwin offers cheap exposure to the Nationals lineup and comes with the benefit of likely hitting atop the order. His .325 wOBA and 97 wRC+ from that top spot aren't huge, but certainly give him a chance to outperform his price.
UTILITY
Andrew Benintendi, BOS vs. NYY ($3,600): All of the Red Sox's outfielders are in play Wednesday, but Benintendi is the cheapest of the triumvirate, and he has rebounded from a slow start to earn at least nine fantasy points in six straight starts. He has a career .355 wOBA against righties, and at the worst, he has walked eight times in his last five games, giving the bats behind him plenty of chances to plate him.
