We have a 10-game MLB slate on Thursday, and despite the early start of half of those games, there is plenty of fantasy baseball advice to deliver your way.
Why the Athletics Lineup Is a Top DFS Stack Against Jack Leiter
Leiter was having a strong start to the season until he met the Dodgers, and it’s unclear if he’ll be able to bounce back here. His start against Los Angeles was pretty poor, as he allowed five runs on five hits and four walks while striking out four batters over 3.2 innings. The Athletics are a better matchup than the Dodgers, but they’re far from an offense you should sleep on.
The fact that two of the A’s best hitters have already had success against Leiter in the past boosts the chances of the A’s being a strong lineup to stack in a slate that looks pitcher-heavy. Shea Langeliers has hit .250 with a 1.025 OPS and one homer in eight at-bats against Leiter, whereas Tyler Soderstrom has fared even better with a .333 average and 1.067 OPS in nine at-bats.
Leiter has allowed current A’s hitters to hit .275 with a .392 wOBA and a 12.5% BB rate in 48 plate appearances. The fact that they’re also posting an xSLG of .503 doesn’t bode well for Leiter, either.
Streaming Steven Matz Is a Top Fantasy Baseball Option for Thursday
In a slate with several elite options for streaming purposes, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say Matz might be the best alternative of them all. Plus, it should be easy to get him in most formats, since he’s rostered in around 20% of most leagues.
This Thursday, Matz faces an excellent matchup against a Chicago White Sox offense that ranks dead last in scoring and collective OPS. They are averaging just 3.16 runs per game and own a subpar collective OPS of just .590; no other team has an OPS below the .600 mark.
The strong matchup is just one part of Matz’s upside, as he’s been pitching lights out as well. He has struck out 15 batters over his last two outings (11 innings) and has posted a 2.45 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in that span, so he should be good enough to dominate a White Sox lineup that’s not only far from threatening but also slumping of late.
With at least eight punchouts in each of his last two starts, the stage is set for Matz to dominate once again.
Why Gary Sanchez Is a Strong Hitter to Anchor in DFS Lineups
Gary Sanchez is not the hitter he was during the prime years of his career, but it’s clear that he’s capable of doing damage if the matchup is favorable, and that’s exactly what happens when he faces Patrick Corbin. In 11 at-bats against Corbin, Sanchez has hit .364 with a 1.091 OPS and one home run, so he has a history of success here that could very well be replicated.
This is a pitcher-heavy slate, so be mindful of which hitters you choose to anchor your lineups. At least on paper and based on previous success, Sanchez looks like a strong bet.
Sanchez has been displaying his usual power, hitting five homers already and hitting .233 with an excellent 1.128 OPS so far with the Brewers, who are routinely finding ways to keep his bat in the lineup.
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