This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We have only eight games Thursday, so making the right choices will be critical. In addition, four of them are day games, so make sure to check the early lineups to ensure you don't waste money on players who won't be in the field.
PITCHER:
Aaron Nola, PHI at WAS ($7,200): I really like Kenta Maeda ($9,100) at home against the Marlins, but Nola for $1,900 less is too good to pass up. Outside of one disastrous outing, Nola has been extremely effective so far this season. His control has been especially impressive, as his 4.9 percent BB rate attests, but he's also succeeded in the strikeout department (29.1 percent K rate), making him a perfect upside play at the cost. And don't be scared off by the matchup with the Nationals, who outside of Bryce Harper aren't as intimidating offensively as they're perceived to be; their .303 wOBA vs. right-handed pitchers ranks as the eight-worst mark in MLB.
CATCHER:
Stephen Vogt, OAK at DET ($2,700): Catcher is a barren wasteland of blah options but Vogt offers the most potential at an affordable price. The 31-year-old hits righties well (.330 career wOBA) and faces a terrible one in Anibal Sanchez, who is off to an especially rough start (7.00 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, 10.5% BB%) and has looked even worse than those awful numbers would portend.
FIRST BASE:
Brandon Moss, STL at ARI ($3,000): Moss is off to a strong start this season, sporting a .381 wOBA, and he has been batting cleanup against right-handed pitching. Moss faces the eminently hittable Rubby De La Rosa (5.94 ERA in 16.2 innings in 2016) who's never met a left-handed hitter he couldn't make look better. Moss is rocking an insane .395 ISO against righties this year and a solid .224 ISO over his career. For the amount of upside he offers, Moss is a relative bargain compared to the other first basemen on the board.
SECOND BASE:
Jonathan Schoop, BAL vs. CWS ($2,200): The options at second base are not pretty. In fact, they're downright hideous. As a result, Schoop leaps off the page as the best value at the position. While Schoop has mostly struggled this season, he's still flashed some power (.200 ISO), and he's also pounded left-handed pitching (.474 wOBA) and faces a lefty in John Danks who's been terrible against right-handed hitters (.381 wOBA in 2016 and .353 wOBA in 2015).
THIRD BASE:
Travis Shaw, BOS vs. ATL ($3,000): Despite raking all season (.395 wOBA) Shaw continues to be priced well below where his performance would dictate. Take advantage of this while you can. Shaw has been particularly deadly against right-handers (.447 wOBA) and faces one in Jhoulys Chacin, who's allowed a .333 wOBA to lefties over the course of his career.
SHORTSTOP:
Jedd Gyorko, STL at ARI ($2,300): Gyorko is way too cheap considering his upside and matchup. He seems to have supplanted Kolten Wong as the team's second baseman for the time being (Wong is also banged up), and he has been putting his power on full display (.304 ISO in 2016). He faces the aforementioned Rubby De La Rosa, who's struggled against all hitters (not just lefties) so far this season. For such a low investment, Gyroko is a terrific option with a high ceiling.
OUTFIELD:
Gregory Polanco, PIT at COL ($3,900): Polanco has been a beast so far this season (.411 wOBA), and he's been especially effective against right-handed pitching (.421 wOBA). He faces a very hittable righty in Tyler Chatwood and is playing in some place called Coors Field.
Gerardo Parra, COL vs. PIT ($3,500): Let's stick with Coors Field, as that is never a bad move in DFS. Parra has hit well in his new home this season (.337 wOBA) and has already chipped in five stolen bases to boot. He's hit right-handers well (.329 career wOBA) and faces Juan Nicasio, who's struggled against lefties (.379 wOBA in 2016 and .412 wOBA in 2015). And again: Coors Field.
Joc Pederson, LAD vs. MIA ($2,900): This is a go big or go home play, as a matchup with Jose Fernandez is always risky. However, Fernandez has shown some warts this season, while Pederson has been outstanding against right-handed pitching (.410 wOBA in 2016 and career .350 wOBA) and represents a nice measured risk that could end up yielding a big payoff.
