It’s a classic get-away day in MLB, with seven of Thursday’s nine games getting underway in the afternoon on the east coast. That’ll open up your evening for other fun stuff, like stamp collecting or maybe parcheesi. …I don’t know what normal adults do with their free time.
Let’s dive in and find some studs and values.
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PITCHER
Stud
MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, $8,900 – There aren’t a lot of appealing options at the top of the pitcher pricing list, but Gore is somewhat intriguing. The former first-round pick has been dominant in his last seven starts, managing a 3.07 ERA and a 2.81 FIP with a 28.5% strikeout rate in his 41.0 innings of work. There’s a case to be made that Gore is now automatically viable on any slate where his price tag is below $9K. The Diamondbacks hit lefties very well — and they’ve been red-hot in June — yet Gore’s talent should win out on Thursday.
Value
Spencer Arrighetti, Houston Astros at Chicago White Sox, $7,600 – Nothing too complex here. We’re just picking on the White Sox and hoping Arrighetti’s last outing against the Tigers was a small-sample fluke. The rookie had allowed just two earned runs in the 14.2 innings he’d thrown prior to last Saturday and, for the season as a whole, he’s averaging 10.57 strikeouts per nine. The upside is clear and Chicago ranks dead-last in baseball in both wOBA (.277) and wRC+ (77) against RHPs. Don’t overthink it.
INFIELD
Stud
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies, $5,800 – Smith didn’t catch on Wednesday night, so it stands to reason he’ll be in there on Thursday afternoon against Ty Blach ($5,000). Smith has owned every southpaw he’s faced in 2024, hitting .364 with a 206 wRC+ within the split. Meanwhile, Blach has surrendered a .397 wOBA to RHBs. Add in some altitude and I’m willing to pay up for the Dodgers’ backstop.
Stud
Editor’s Note: Twins SS Carlos Correa is not in the lineup for today’s game vs. the Rays.
Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins vs. Tampa Bay Rays, $4,600 – The Twins are on fire. The team entered play on Wednesday with an AL-high 136 wRC+ in June and Correa has been a massive part of that. In his 69 plate appearances in the month, Correa is slashing .452/.478/.677 with a 222 wRC+. In simple terms: He looks health again. Zack Littell ($8,000) on the other hand is struggling. The RHP owns a 7.71 ERA across his last three starts.
Value
Ty France, Seattle Mariners at Cleveland Guardians, $3,500 – France has been great against LHPs this season, posting a 137 wRC+ in his 70 plate appearances within the split. However, his viability on Thursday is far more about his matchup with Logan Allen ($7,200). The lefty has been getting hit hard in 2024, surrendering 1.89 home runs per nine to opposing RHBs. Allen’s in possession of a 5.30 ERA and a 5.38 FIP. It’s been a rough go.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles, $6,600 – I’m going to assume Judge is back in the Yankees’ lineup on Thursday. According to Aaron Boone, Judge is day-to-day after leaving Tuesday’s contest with a wrist injury, but reports on Wednesday had the All-Star lobbying to start. If that’s the case, Judge will draw an amazing matchup against Cole Irvin ($8,200). No qualified American League batter has a higher expected wOBA versus LHPs this season than Judge (.482). He’s also just hitting .404 in June. Which is insane.
Value
Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies, $4,400 – In a perfect world, you’d have enough salary to pay up for Teoscar Hernandez ($5,900), but his teammate isn’t a terrible alternative. In his 54 plate appearances against LHPs in his rookie campaign, Pages is slashing .360/.389/.520 with a 159 wRC+. His price tag is a steal at Coors Field.
Value
Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins, $3,800 – You can’t keep a good man down. Arozarena got off to a nightmarish start to 2024, but after two hits and two stolen bases on Wednesday, the outfielder is now hitting .292 in June with a pair of long balls. In layman’s terms: He’s heating up. We all know what Arozarena can do when he’s seeing the ball well and that ceiling usually equates to a salary above $5K. Buy in low while you can.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $175K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is theglt13) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
