This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Thursday's main MLB slate is tiny, with only four games on tap after 7:05 p.m. ET. Even so, there's value to be found if you know where to look. Below, you'll find which individual pitchers and hitters are primed to provide the best value, as well as the top lineup stacking options in this slate.
Pitching
Despite the lack of overall selection, owners will have a choice between two top-end starters: St. Louis' Jack Flaherty ($10,900) at Wrigley Field and Cleveland's Mike Clevinger ($11,800) at home against the Tigers.
Conventional wisdom says to go with Clevinger, considering the Tigers average a league-low 3.71 runs and league-high 9.98 strikeouts per game, but Flaherty's 1.05 ERA in 12 starts since the All-Star break is hard to ignore. Both pitchers are great sources of strikeouts: Clevinger has a 35.3 percent strikeout rate, and Flaherty's is at 29.5.
Those looking to spend a little less on pitching can turn to the Cubs' Kyle Hendricks ($8,800) at home against St. Louis. He's 3-0 with one run allowed in 23 innings against the Cardinals this season and has a 1.75 ERA in 87.1 innings at Wrigley Field, compared to a 4.94 mark over 78.1 road frames.
Key Values/Chalk
The Twins, Blue Jays and Indians are all primed for success here, but there's still value to be found outside of those stackable lineups among the few alternatives in this slate.
Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini ($3,800) should help keep his team in this one against Blue Jays southpaw Anthony Kay. Mancini has a .400 home wOBA against lefties, while Kay has surrendered seven earned runs in 10 innings through two starts.
Royals outfielder Jorge Soler ($4,100) has a .376 wOBA against righties, and 37 of his 45 home runs have come in that split. He could easily drive another one out against Minnesota's Kyle Gibson, who has allowed at least one home run in each of his last five appearances.
Those who don't believe in Hendricks can counter with Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong ($2,900). The left-handed slugger will have the platoon advantage and sports a .386 road wOBA against righties.
Stacks
Twins vs. Royals (LHP Mike Montgomery)
Mitch Garver (C/1B - $3,000), Nelson Cruz (OF - $3,800), Miguel Sano (3B - $3,600)
Montgomery has been brutal on the road, with a 7.85 ERA and .464 wOBA allowed over 36.2 innings. Garver leads off against lefties and has a .464 wOBA in that split, Cruz's wOBA against lefties is .438, and Sano's at .384 in that split.
Blue Jays at Orioles (RHP Gabriel Ynoa)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3B - $2,900), Bo Bichette (SS - $3,900), Cavan Biggio (2B - $3,900)
Ynoa has a 5.74 ERA and 6.02 FIP, while Oriole Park at Camden Yards has been the league's fifth-most hitter-friendly venue with an ESPN park factor of 1.1 -- plus a league-high 1.33 for homers. Toronto's young talent should take advantage of these favorable conditions. Guerrero's road wOBA in righty-on-righty matchups is over .400, and Biggio's just under that mark at .396. Biggio hasn't been quite as impressive as his two fellow rookies, but he has the platoon advantage as a left-handed slugger and is finishing strong, with an OPS over .970 since Aug. 12.
Indians vs. Tigers (LHP Daniel Norris)
Carlos Santana (C/1B - $3,800), Jordan Luplow (OF - $2,800), Oscar Mercado (OF - $2,900)
Norris has been average at best this season with a 4.62 ERA and 4.76 FIP, and the Indians should capitalize on facing the vulnerable southpaw. The switch-hitting Santana has a .419 wOBA from the right side this season, Luplow has excelled against lefties to the tune of a .472 wOBA, and Mercado has a .372 home wOBA against lefties this season.
