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There are 5 MLB games on FanDuel's Thursday evening slate . The first games begin at 7:05pm with the last ones at 10:10pm. Please be sure to check your lineups and of course check the weather to make sure your players are actually playing tonight.
Pitching
As you can imagine with only 5 games on tap there aren't that many options; it isn't going to be easy to find our 3 components for a successful night but here is what I have for you pitching wise for Thursday.
Francisco Liriano ($10,600) has a a nice matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers tonight. The Brewers are dead last in the National League against left handers with a 21 percent strikeout rate, .150 ISO and wRC+ of 72. Liriano has been decent over the last month with nearly 8 strikeouts and less than 5 walks and 1 bomb per nine innings pitched. His 4.52 xFIP is a bit high so enter at your own risk.
Jordan Zimmerman ($9,300) has a favorable matchup on Thursday evening with the Atlanta Braves. Over the past 5 starts Zimmerman has been solid with a 3-1 record striking out nearly 9 hitters and walking less than 2 hitters per nine innings and a solid 3.14 xFIP. Over the past 30 days the Braves have been hopeless with a nearly 19 percent strikeout rate, .106 ISO and wRC+ of 79.
Of the two I will be going with Zimmerman on Wednesday.
An interesting contrarian play is Taylor Jungmann ($8,800) going against the Pirates. Jungmann has actually been the best pitcher over the past 30 days than every other pitcher on tonights slate. Averaging nearly 11 strikeouts and less than 4 walks and 1 bomb per nine with a 3.55 xFIP is pretty good stuff. Over the past 30 days the Pirates have a 20 percent strikeout rate, a .139 ISO and a wRC+ of 99. Could be a dandy or it could be a dud tonight with Jungmann.
Offenses to Stack
Look to start Dodgers left-handed bats like Adrian Gonzalez ($3,100), Chase Utley ($2,500) and Andre Ethier ($2,200) and you should also look to stack right handed Giants bats and left handed Rockies bats when the Rockies and Giants play against each other tonight.
Value Picks for Sunday Evening.
Besides the inexpensive Dodgers picks above here are a couple of other picks that could provide you with some good value tonight.
Jonny Gomes ($2,400) has a nice matchup with the Tigers leftie Matt Boyd. Gomes had 3.75 Fantasy Points last night and this could be another ultra-value tonight. Over the last month Boyd has allowed 1.80 bombs and less than 6 punch-out's per nine so this could wind up being profitable.
Alcides Escobar ($2,200) has a favorable matchup with the Tigers Matt Boyd tonight. Nice .272/.323/.347/.670 line against lefties this season with some occassional pop in his bat and swipes bases. He might be a good play tonight.
Good luck today Fantasy Baseball owner!!
On this week's Phil's Fantasy Sports Fake Teams Ray Guilfoyle joins me to discuss the top 25 starting pitchers for 2016, Draft Kings Playbook writer Jason Walker and I have a great Fantasy Football discussion regarding sleepers at the running back position, Rotowire NHL Fantasy Hockey expert Brian Rutherford and I discuss defensemen who might be considered Fantasy Hockey sleepers and SLC Dunk NBA expert Amar joins me to discuss the Fantasy Basketball value of several NBA rookies as well as the Fantasy Basketball value of Nicolas Batum, Aaron Afflalo, Robin Lopez and Lou Williams. You can download the show from my site or just listen on the player provided below.
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