This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
As usual, Thursday is a smaller set of games with only five on the main slate and four starting earlier in the day at 1:10 PM EST. With the smaller main slate, there will be more chalk, so don't hesitate to go with contrarian plays in GPPs. While the chalk could hit, it'll likely be the players with a low ownership who make the difference in a big tournament.
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PITCHER
Zack Greinke, ARI vs SF ($8,900): With only five games on the slate it makes a lot of sense to pay up for Greinke and build around him for the rest of a cash lineup. Despite a few offseason moves to bolster the offense, the Giants have been pretty bad with the 11th-worst wOBA (.294) against right handed pitching and the tenth-highest strikeout rate (25.0%).
GPP Fade: Matt Harvey, NYM at ATL ($7,500): The Braves have a more potent offense this year, currently sporting the seventh-best wOBA against right-handed pitching with a .331 mark. On top of that, their 18.7% strikeout rate is the fifth-lowest in the league, making it difficult for opposing pitchers to rack up the fantasy points. Harvey started the season with a five-inning shutout of the Phillies but has seen his ERA climb to 4.80 after finishing his third start. He's given up three home runs in only three innings and has a tough road task tonight.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Chase Anderson, MIL vs MIA ($7,900): Outside of Derek Dietrich and Justin
Bour there aren't a lot of lefties in the Miami lineup or right-handed batters for opposing pitchers to fear. Oddly, Anderson has had reverse splits for his career (.298 wOBA vs lefties, .345 vs righties) so this matchup works out nicely in his favor. His 2.82 ERA is an elite number, and he hasn't allowed more than four earned runs in any of his four starts.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Mitch Moreland, BOS at LAA ($2,700): It would make sense for the Red Sox to find a way to get Moreland into the lineup tonight with righty Nick Tropeano on the mound. Moreland seemed to be finding his groove at the plate over his last five starts, going 11-for-22 (.500) with four doubles, seven runs, six RBI and a home run. Tropeano struggled against lefties when he last pitched in 2016, giving up a .376 wOBA against 157 batters.
SECOND BASE
Ian Kinsler, LAA vs BOS ($3,700): Kinsler should find himself in his usual leadoff spot tonight, and the middle infield seem like the places to spend money on this slate. Kinsler has always been a lefty-masher with a .378 wOBA for his career against them, and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez will be on the hill for the Red Sox.
THIRD BASE
Colin Moran, PIT at PHI ($2,800): With such a small slate of games, it's likely there'll be bats in the battle of Pennsylvania to help DFS teams. Moran comes in at a nice price below $3K, and in 49 plate appearances, he has a respectable .326 wOBA against right-handed pitching. Last season, Arrieta struggled with left-handed hitters, giving up a .354 mark to them on the season.
SHORTSTOP
Zack Cozart, LAA vs BOS ($3,700): Last season in Cincinnati, Cozart held a .440 wOBA against that southpaws, putting him in a favorable spot. While Eduardo Rodriguez has shown some decent numbers against right-handed hitters, he has given up 31 home runs to that side of the plate over the last two seasons.
OUTFIELD
Domingo Santana, MIL vs MIA ($2,700): The Brewers get Dillon Peters at home, making it an excellent matchup. Peters hasn't figured out Major League hitting yet (5.17 ERA last season) and is off to a tough start with a 6.75 ERA this year. Santana has been a lefty-killer with a .377, .401 and .405 wOBA against that handedness over his last three seasons. In a small sample, Peters has allowed a .431 wOBA on the road to right-handed hitters.
A.J. Pollock, ARI vs SF ($3,200): Pollock has raked at Chase Field for his career, sporting a .401 wOBA against left-handed pitching. While normally most flock towards Paul Goldschmidt (and rightfully so with a .458 career wOBA at home vs lefties), most will forget the success Pollock has had. Ty Blach gave up a .401 wOBA on the road last season to left-handed hitters and allowed seven earned runs in only 6.2 innings last season in Arizona.
UTILITY
Jay Bruce, NYM at ATL ($2,800): It appears with Anibal Sanchez hitting the DL that Lucas Sims could be in line to make his first start of the season. Bruce has always been good against right-handed pitching with a .348 wOBA, and Sims makes for a solid matchup. He struggled last season, putting up a 5.62 ERA that was in line with his 1.51 WHIP. Just make sure Bruce's foot injury doesn't act up and keeps him on the bench.
