To avoid getting in the way of the trade deadline, MLB has a very light schedule on Thursday with only three games overall and only two in the evening. The DFS slate starts at 7:10 p.m. EDT. Don't skip out on entering contests! Here are my recommendations.
Pitching
George Kirby, SEA vs. TEX ($8,800): Omitting Kirby's first two starts back from injury during late May, the hurler has posted a 3.45 ERA over his last 10 outings. That includes a 2.86 at home this year and a 3.06 there since 2023. The Rangers list the worst offense of the slate's four teams, which is another point in Kirby's favor.
Top Target
Though there's not as much running, Elly De La Cruz ($6,000) has been more disciplined on the basepaths and at the plate. Thanks to his speed, he's still swiped 29 bags and has only been caught six times after 16 last season. The shortstop has registered a .361 OBP alongside 18 homers and 23 doubles. De La Cruz has a .933 OPS against righties, but also a .904 at home. Expectations are that Carlos Carrasco, whose services were recently acquired by Atlanta, will be getting the start Thursday. Clearly, And he comes in with a 5.36 ERA the last five seasons.
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Bargain Bat
In 72 games, Sean Murphy ($3,800) has popped 16 home runs. Over the last three years, he's slugged .493 against lefties. And that's as a catcher. Andrew Abbott is having a great season for the Reds, yet he's still allowed 1.3 homers per nine innings in Cincinnati's hitter-friendly ballpark. Righties have unsurprisingly notched 46 of the 52 long balls the southpaw has allowed during his career. Murphy is a righty with some power, so I'd take a chance on him given the limited options.
Stack to Consider
Mariners vs. Rangers (Kumar Rocker): Randy Arozarena ($5,000), Josh Naylor ($4,900), J.P. Crawford ($3,300)
Remember when the Mets were getting dunked on for not signing Rocker after taking him in the 2021 Draft? Right now, they're probably not sweating it. Though this is only Rocker's age-25 season, he's been subpar with a 5.73 ERA, 7.99 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 3.17 BB/9 rate. Even more concerning, he's struggled to a career 8.49 road ERA. I have two lefties in this stack as they've gone .320 against Rocker this season.
Arozarena is a righty, though he's already compiled his fifth straight 20/20 campaign. And while some Mariners struggle at home, the former Ray isn't one of them with an .806 OPS this year. Naylor is, of course, a recent addition to the club. We don't know how he'll fare in his new home park, yet we know he's provided 12 homers and 15 stolen bases with an .855 OPS versus righties. Crawford, a shortstop, doesn't really rely on power to make Seattle's park less of a concern. What he does is get on base and help his teammates drive in runs. Crawford has recorded a .374 OBP against righties and a .388 at home.
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