There’s baseball on all afternoon on this fine Thursday, but this article will be focusing on this evening’s four-game slate that kicks off with the Braves and Phillies at 6:40 p.m. ET. Don’t like it? Well… I apologize. I’m truly sorry you feel that way and I hope I didn’t let you down.
Let’s dive in and find some studs and values.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $150K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Network app. You also can follow DK Network on Twitter @dknetwork.
PITCHER
Value
Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves, $6,900 – A week after being as cheap as he’s been all season, Sanchez is [checks notes] even less expensive on tonight’s slate. Weird. The left-hander has had an amazing campaign for the Phillies, compiling a 3.51 ERA and a 2.84 FIP across a career-high 146.1 innings of work. No qualified starter has allowed fewer opponent home runs per nine than Sanchez (0.37). He’ll square off with a Braves lineup that sits fifth in MLB in strikeout rate since the All-Star break (25.8%). When Sanchez faced Atlanta last Thursday, he struck out eight men.
INFIELD
Stud
Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles at Los Angeles Dodgers, $6,000 – Henderson is in the midst of another mini-slump, but the presence of Bobby Miller ($7,100) should be enough to cure that. Miller has struggled immensely at both the MLB and Triple-A level in 2024. Really, the only reason he’s back with the Dodgers is desperation due to several pitching injuries. Across nine starts, Miller owns a 7.49 ERA and he’s surrendered 2.50 home runs per nine. Yikes. Meanwhile, Henderson has a .275 ISO and a 161 wRC+ off RHPs. He’s certainly a candidate to go deep tonight.
Stud
J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves, $4,200 – Realmuto’s bat is finally starting to come around. The veteran backstop is slashing .361/.410/.639 with seven extra-base hits in his last 10 games. Tonight, he’ll get an opportunity to keep the good times rolling against Charlie Morton ($8,300). The RHP has looked mediocre at best since the beginning of May, pitching to a 4.91 FIP. RHBs have given Morton fits in that stretch, hitting .307 with a .391 wOBA. The 40-year-old might be starting to lose his fastball — both figuratively and literally.
Value
Addison Barger, Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox, $2,700 – Barger remains dirt cheap on DraftKings despite being red-hot over the past two weeks. Dating back to August 17, the rookie has three home runs, a .293 ISO and a 134 wRC+ his 44 plate appearances. He’s also moved up to the five-spot in the Blue Jays’ lineup. Another aspect of Barger’s viability? His handedness. Kutter Crawford ($7,600) has been destroyed by LHBs in his last seven starts, allowing nine long balls to the 85 he’s faced within that span.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Baltimore Orioles, $6,300 – This is an ideal spot for Betts, who is slashing .324/.395/.495 with a 150 wRC+ off of left-handed pitchers so far this season. Cade Povich ($5,300) is set to take the mound for the Orioles on Thursday. Povich has not been enjoying his time at the MLB level. In fact, Povich is pitching to a 6.10 ERA and he’s conceding 2.14 home runs per nine specifically to right-handed opponents. That’s a dangerous way to live against a stacked Dodgers lineup.
Stud
Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves, $5,500 – In an odd twist, Schwarber is actually having a much better season against LHPs than RHPs, but let’s ignore that quirk on Thursday night. At the end of the day, this is about Schwarber’s raw power in a direct matchup with the aforementioned Morton, who is surrendering 1.59 opponent home runs per nine since May 1. It’s also worth noting that Schwarber owns a career 1.000 OPS versus Morton in 21 at-bats. These two have seen a lot of each other.
Value
Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox, $3,800 – Varsho is more known for his glove than his bat, but the outfielder has been swinging it well in August, slashing .294/.368/.459 with a 138 wRC+ in the month. It’s more than validated a move up to the two-spot in Toronto’s lineup. Frankly, any LHB under $4K has to be considered against Crawford at this point, as the RHP has allowed opposing lefties to post a .645 slugging percentage and .407 wOBA since July 21.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $150K Relay Throw [$50K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
