Thursday offers us a reduced slate in fantasy baseball, but despite having fewer games on the schedule, we still have plenty of fantasy recommendations for you.
Here are two lineups worth stacking if you’re playing in fantasy formats, as well as a hitter to avoid despite his red-hot start to the season and one to target even if his season didn’t start all too well. There’s also a pitcher we recommend streaming if you have the chance to do so.
Why You Should Stack the San Diego Padres on Thursday
If you’re looking to stack a lineup in Thursday’s slate, there’s no question that the San Diego Padres are one of the most attractive groups out there. First off, they’re playing in Coors Field, which is the most hitter-friendly environment in the majors, but the Padres also have several players who have had success against the Rockies’ projected starter, Ryan Feltner, in the past.
There’s Fernando Tatis Jr., who has hit .444 with a .889 OPS in 9 at-bats against Feltner. Another name worth highlighting is Jake Cronenworth, who has hit .375 with a .958 OPS against Colorado’s hurler. There’s also the power threat of Ramon Laureano, as he’ll be facing a pitcher who has allowed 2.8 HR/9 to right-handed batters in 2026.
And that’s not even mentioning the struggles Feltner has had in 2026, as he sports a 6.00 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP in 18 innings to date. Stack the Padres’ lineup with confidence.
Why the Philadelphia Phillies Are a Strong Secondary DFS Stack
If you’re looking at hitters with a favorable matchup for Thursday’s slate, there are other options out there. One viable alternative could be to stack the Phillies’ lineup, although there are some reservations since this is a matchup in Wrigley Field, which has been a favorable park for pitchers all season long. If you’re willing to go down that route, though, there are some solid alternatives to consider.
There’s Kyle Schwarber, who has gone yard twice against Edward Cabrera in his career. Bryce Harper has hit .400 with a 1.300 OPS in 10 at-bats against Cabrera, and Trea Turner has an .862 OPS against him as well.
Why Kerry Carpenter Is an Intriguing DFS Target
Carpenter is hitting just .219 on the season, but he’s sporting a .794 OPS with a .250 ISO, meaning he’s making hard contact when he connects the ball. He went yard in Wednesday’s game against the Brewers, and 3 of his last 5 hits have left the yard, so there’s some promise, although there’s also some boom-or-bust potential with how streaky he’s been.
Still, Carpenter offers a solid matchup alternative Thursday, which is always nice in reduced slates like Thursday’s. He’ll be facing Brandon Sproat, who’s allowing 2.3 HR/9 to left-handed hitters so far in 2026. Don’t look at just the recent games and the average in Carpenter’s case because he has a favorable matchup that could pay dividends.
Why You Should Avoid Oneil Cruz in Thursday’s DFS Lineups
Cruz stepped up right when the Pirates needed him the most in Wednesday’s win over the Texas Rangers, going 1-for-5 but launching a 3-run homer that gave Pittsburgh a huge win on the road. Cruz’s numbers have regressed a bit after a hot streak that saw him ride a 12-game hitting streak between March 31 and April 13.
Since the end of the streak, the star outfielder has hit .167 with a .599 OPS, so the inevitable regression is hitting the slugger. Cruz can still hit for power and steal bases, as he has 2 homers and 3 steals over his last 8 games, but he’s not seeing the ball as well as he had earlier in the year.
Don’t be dazed by the 3-run homer on Wednesday because Cruz isn’t producing enough of late to justify paying a premium for his services in DFS formats, especially since he faces Jacob deGrom.
Why Davis Martin Is a Strong Pitching Streamer vs. the Diamondbacks
Yes, starting a pitcher in a hitter-friendly environment such as Chase Field might not be the best idea. However, Martin has been on a roll in recent weeks and continues to deliver excellent numbers across the board.
He lowered his ERA to 2.16 after his last outing, when he tossed 7 innings of 1-run ball against the Athletics on April 17. Martin has pitched at least 6 innings in his last 3 outings and has recorded a quality start each time. Furthermore, he’s yet to allow more than 3 earned runs in any of his 4 starts in 2026, which also translates to an excellent 1.00 WHIP and 3.49 FIP.
His velocity is a bit down, so there might be some regression coming, but you should trust Davis on Thursday, especially considering the other options available on the slate.
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