Owing to the MLB schedule Thursday, the main slate of DFS contests is actually in the afternoon. There are six games on the slate, and the first pitch is at 1:10 p.m. ET. Maybe that makes it a bit trickier to get your lineups in, but hopefully you can make it happen. Here are my lineup recommendations.
Pitching
Sean Manaea, NYM at WAS ($8,100): While Manaea has a 4.78 ERA, he has a 5.29 K/BB rate as well. His issue is that he's given up 1.69 home runs per nine innings since returning from his lengthy injury. This matchup isn't one where the long ball is a worry, though. Washington is just outside the bottom 10 in runs scored, but they are in the bottom five in home runs and is one of a handful of teams not to average at least one homer per game. Plus, Manaea is a lefty, and the Nationals' two best hitters are left-handed.
Michael Lorenzen, KAN vs. TEX ($7,000): Lorenzen briefly pitched with the Rangers last year but he seems plenty happy with being a Royal. He has a 5.06 ERA on the road this season, but a 3.40 ERA at home. The Rangers are 24th in runs scored, and Patrick Corbin is starting for them. That increases Lorenzen's chances of getting a win, because it increases his chances of getting run support.
Top Targets
The Dodgers are at Coors Field, so a stack would be nice. However, on DraftKings the salaries for the Dodgers' bats are quite steep. A stack would really eat into your available salary. As such, I have opted just to go with a single Dodger in Freddie Freeman ($6,200). The lefty has an 1.047 OPS over the last three weeks, and on the season he has an .874 OPS versus righties. Chase Dollander, well, the rookie has a 9.16 ERA at Coors Field.
I mentioned Patrick Corbin, and so in turn I will not mention Bobby Witt ($5,800). He already has his fourth season with at least 30 stolen bases, and he's primed to get over 20 home runs and 40 doubles once again. Witt has a .900 OPS over the last three weeks, whereas Corbin has been scuffling, even for him. He has a 9.20 ERA over his last four starts, and on the season he has a 5.17 ERA on the road.
Bargain Bats
Through 106 games, Brenton Doyle ($3,500) has 12 home runs and 12 stolen bases. He's slugged .533 at Coors Field and he's slugged .545 against lefties as well. Clayton Kershaw, a well-venerated southpaw, has a 3.01 ERA. However, he's really been working around the margins to get there. The veteran has a 5.68 K/9 rate, and he has a 3.87 FIP. It's harder to get by with putting balls in play at Coors.
We're a long way from when Luis Urias ($2,500) had 23 home runs with the Brewers, but he's the starting second baseman for the Athletics and he has a salary that is easy to work around. He has a .702 OPS against his fellow righties, which is palatable enough as an upside play in a good matchup. Jose Urena is on his fourth team this season, and the 33-year-old has a career 4.82 FIP. Since 2023 righties have hit .271 against Urena. Urias needs to do little at this salary to deliver good value to your lineup.
Stack to Consider
Padres vs. Giants (Justin Verlander): Fernando Tatis ($5,200), Ryan O'Hearn ($3,700), Jake Cronenworth ($3,700)
The fact Verlander has been a mid-rotation starter making more than 20 starts in his age-42 season is impressive in its way. Of course, that doesn't mean he's pitched like he used to. He has a 4.23 ERA this season, bolstered in part by a 21.1 line-drive percentage. Verlander also has a 4.36 ERA on the road for good measure. The future Hall of Famer is a righty, and lefties have hit .281 against him. Thus, two southpaws in this stack.
Why a righty in Tatis, though? Well, right-handed hitters have still averaged .265 against Verlander. On top of that, Tatis has an .853 OPS versus righties. He's stolen 25 bases this year, and it's easier to still on right-handers as well. O'Hearn has contributed well to the Padres since joining the team, and he's perhaps adjusted to the change. He has an .835 OPS over the last three weeks, and a .912 OPS over the last two weeks. Cronenworth has been his steady self. He has a .756 OPS versus righties, a .757 OPS at home, and a .762 OPS over the last three weeks. For a second baseman, that more than suffices.
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