Thursdays in the MLB typically are lighter as teams get ready to start their upcoming weekend series. There are only five games scheduled for Thursday, April 18, with the first starting at 1:10 p.m. ET. Unfortunately, at DraftKings DFS, they have split the games into a three-game early slate and a two-game late slate. We usually focus our team stack articles on the biggest contest for the day, but here are our overall favorite team stacks for Thursday’s limited action.
Top MLB DFS stacks: Thursday, April 18
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels
Update: Early-day lineups are releasing, and Arozarena and Paredes are getting rest days on Thursday. Palacios is batting second, and Amed Rosario will bat third.
Randy Arozarena ($5,400)
Yandy Diaz ($4,900)Isaac Paredes ($4,500)
Harold Ramirez ($3,700)
Richie Palacios ($4,100)
Amed Rosario ($3,900)
The Rays and Angels are wrapping up a four-game series on Thursday. Tampa Bay needs a win to split the series after losing 5-4 on Wednesday. Los Angeles is starting Griffin Canning who enters with an 0-2 record and a 9.88 ERA. Diaz and Paredes each had two hits in Wednesday’s game. Ramirez and Arozarena each had a hit, with the latter adding an RBI.
The Rays are the -162 moneyline favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook. The Angels are the +136 underdogs, and the run total is set at 8.5.
Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers
Corey Seager ($6,100)
Adolis Garcia ($5,700)
Marcus Semien ($5,500)
Wyatt Langford ($4,300)
Texas and Detroit are also wrapping up a four-game series on Thursday, with the Rangers looking for the series win. They won 5-4 on Wednesday, with help from Garcia, who had a double and two RBIs. Semien and Langford each went hitless, but they should be able to rebound against Detroit starter Kenta Maeda, who enters with an 0-1 record and a 6.00 ERA.
The Tigers are technically the -112 moneyline favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook. The Rangers are the narrow -108 underdogs, and the run total is set at 8.5.
Chicago Cubs vs. Miami Marlins
Cody Bellinger ($5,000)
Ian Happ ($4,800)
Dansby Swanson ($4,500)
Christopher Morel ($4,300)
Chicago starts a weekend series against Miami on Thursday. The Marlins are going with A.J. Puk on the mound, who has a 0-3 record with a 5.91 ERA so far this season. Bellinger launched his third home run of the season on Wednesday and added another base hit in his 2-4 day. Happ went hitless in the leadoff spot, so don’t be surprised if they move him lower when the lineup is released. Swanson had two hits of his own in the team’s last game, but Morel will look to bounce back after going hitless.
The Cubs are the -162 moneyline favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook. The Marlins are the +136 underdogs, and the run total is set at eight.