Why does MLB keep doing this to us on Thursdays? They know there aren't many other sports in the summer, and it's weird to have so few games on any given day. After getting just three games last Thursday, we have four here. What's even more frustrating is that they're all spread throughout the day, with only three games making up the main card. Those are the ones we'll focus on, so let's get started with two of the most talented young pitchers in baseball.
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Pitching
Paul Skenes, PIT vs. CIN ($10,700)
We would recommend Skenes on a slate with 15 games, but he's impossible to avoid with only three games to choose from. The Pittsburgh ace has arguably been the best pitcher in baseball since his call-up last year, compiling a 1.99 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 46 starts. Those are numbers you typically see from the best closers, but to see a starter do that across 5-6 innings every game is truly remarkable. He's also got a 1.87 ERA and 0.85 WHIP at home this year, with Pittsburgh playing as a pitcher's park. It's not like this Cincy matchup is dangerous, with Skenes sporting a 0.53 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 13.2 K/9 rate in three starts against them.
Eury Perez, MIA vs. ATL ($9,400)
Perez doesn't get talked about as much as Skenes, but this guy has all the talent in the world. He had a 3.15 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 10.6 K/9 rate during his first stint in the majors in 2023 but missed last year due to elbow surgery. The righty struggled in his first four starts back but has a 1.06 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 9.8 K/9 rate in six starts since then. His stuff is just as good as the numbers would indicate, and he should benefit from pitching in a spacious stadium like LoanDepot Park. He has a 2.00 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 rate there throughout his career, while Atlanta ranks 22nd in K rate, 23rd in runs scored and 20th in wOBA.
Logan Gilbert ($10,200) and Brady Singer ($8,500) are safe options against two of the worst offenses in baseball, too.
Top Targets
Kyle Stowers, MIA (vs. Carlos Carrasco) $3,700
There's never much talk about Miami players, but Stowers has developed into one of the best sluggers in the game. The All-Star has a .293 AVG, .370 OBP, .566 SLG and .936 OPS in what's developing into a career year. His second-half numbers are even more absurd, accruing a .427 OBP, .785 SLG and 1.212 OPS across his last 37 fixtures. His splits are equally as ridiculous, registering a .376 OBP, .617 SLG and .993 OPS against right-handers this year. That's amazing since Stowers faces the worst righty on this slate, something we'll dive into more in the Stacks To Consider section.
Matt Olson, ATL (vs. Perez) $3,400
Using any hitters against Perez is risky, but Olson has been outstanding for a few months now. The slugger has a .374 OBP, .487 SLG and .861 OPS across his last 68 outings. That's on par with what we've seen from Olson for years, as he's generated a .356 OBP and .864 OPS since 2021. It's the splits that make him a worthy risk against Perez, because Olson has a .377 OBP and .895 OPS against right-handers over the last three years. We didn't even mention that Perez has struggled against Atlanta throughout his career, surrendering nine runs across five innings in two starts.
Bargain Bats
Josh Naylor, SEA (vs. Shane Smith) $3,200
Dare I say that Naylor has become the fastest player in baseball since being traded to Seattle? That's obviously a joke given that he's one of the largest humans in baseball, but 10 steals over his last 11 outings is truly mind-boggling. What makes it more impressive is that we're talking about a power hitter, with Naylor totaling a .276 AVG, .463 SLG and .803 OPS over the last three years. Most of that damage has happened against righties, and he's accrued a .823 OPS with the platoon advantage during that span. He's also averaging 16 FanDuel points per game in that 11-game stretch! It's not like Smith is a scary matchup, sporting a 4.53 xFIP. Seattle is our second-favorite stack of the day, with Cal Raleigh ($4,300), Julio Rodriguez ($3,300) and Jorge Polanco ($2,900) all in play.
Xavier Edwards, MIA (vs. Carlos Carrasco) $2,800
We want to stack the Marlins on this short slate, and we have to use their leadoff hitter against Carrasco. We're going to dive into the aging righty's numbers below, but Edwards has had his way with right-handers throughout his career. The speedster has a .321 AVG, .380 OBP and .781 OPS against righties since 2023. He's also got the majority of his steals against them as well, amassing a .313 AVG and .833 OPS across his last 24 fixtures. We also don't mind that Edwards went 4-for-5 with two runs, a double and a steal Wednesday.
Stacks to Consider
Miami vs. Atlanta (Carrasco): Stowers ($3,700), Agustin Ramirez ($3,100), Otto Lopez ($2,900), Edwards ($2,800)
We've been foreshadowing this stack throughout the article, so let's dive into Carrasco's numbers. The righty is only making this start because of how shorthanded Atlanta is right now, losing Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach and plenty of other starters to injuries in 2025. That's forced the team to pluck Carrasco off the scrap heap, and between Atlanta and the Yankees this season he's tallied a 5.68 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. Add in the prior two years with the Guardians and Mets, and those numbers rise to a 6.10 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.
We already discussed Edwards and Stowers having key spots in the Miami lineup, and they've helped make this a top-10 offense in the second half. Ramirez has been a major reason why as well, establishing himself as one of the best young catchers in baseball. Ramirez has been hitting third or fourth every day, averaging nearly 11 FanDuel points per game. He's also got at least 25 FD points in three of his last six outings! That's a terrific total from a catcher. Lopez has been an amazing value as well. Otto is flirting with a 20-20 season, accruing a .265 AVG and .762 OPS across his last 38 games. Almost all of that damage has happened against righties, and he's produced a .344 OBP and .765 OPS with the platoon advantage.
