We have a LOT of moving parts on this Thursday's MLB DFS slate, don't we? The Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins' game has been pushed back off the main slate. The Cardinals have scratched Jordan Hicks from his start today and Steven Matz is replacing him. Keegan Akin, the projected starter, is not starting and 27-year-old right-hander, Bryan Baker, is. Next, we have zero weather issues according to the MLB DFS Weather center. Our MLB lineups page is updated as soon as lineups come in, so we know who's in and who's out. Our MLB DFS Projections, powered by FanJections, keep us hip to the plays we want to attack and the MLB DFS lineup generator ties it all together for us. Let's dive into the MLB DFS Core plays and find out who our top plays for today's slate!
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DK | Position | Top Tier | Mid-Tier | Value-Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP | Steven Matz | James Kaprielian | Taijuan Walker |
| C | Keibert Ruiz | Andrew Knizner | Christian Bethancourt |
| 1B | Pete Alonso | Paul Goldschmidt | Sheldon Neuse |
| 2B | Tommy Edman | Jeff McNeil | Tony Kemp |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | J.D. Davis | Kevin Smith |
| SS | Francisco Lindor | Jorge Mateo | Brendan Donovan |
| OF | Juan Soto | Brandon Nimmo | Juan Yepez |
FD | Position | Top Tier | Mid-Tier | Value-Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP | Steven Matz | Taijuan Walker | James Kaprielian |
| 1B | Pete Alonso | Paul Goldschmidt | Juan Yepez |
| 2B | Tommy Edman | Jeff McNeil | Tony Kemp |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | Sheldon Neuse | J.D. Davis |
| SS | Francisco Lindor | Jorge Mateo | Kevin Smith |
| OF | Juan Soto | Brandon Nimmo | Ramón Laureano |
Y!DFS | Position | Top Tier | Mid-Tier | Value-Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP | Luis García | James Kaprielian | Taijuan Walker |
| C | Salvador Perez | J.T. Realmuto | Christian Bethancourt |
| 1B | Pete Alonso | Sheldon Neuse | Seth Brown |
| 2B | Jeff McNeil | Whit Merrifield | Tony Kemp |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | Brandon Drury | J.D. Davis |
| SS | Francisco Lindor | Corey Seager | Jorge Mateo |
| OF | Juan Soto | Ramón Laureano | Anthony Santander |
Player News
Orioles’ interim manager Tony Mansolino told reporters on Friday that Ryan Mountcastle has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain and is expected to be sidelined for 8-to-12 weeks.
Oof. Mansolino had said on Thursday that Mountcastle would be out “a while” and now we find out it’s going to be two or three months. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues without injured reserve spots should probably cut bait as that’s an awfully long time to wait for the production that Mountcastle could provide upon his return.
Gunnar Henderson is not in the Orioles’ starting lineup for Friday night’s showdown against the Athletics.
The 23-year-old superstar shortstop will get a rare night off with opposing left-hander JP Sears on the mound for the Athletics. Jorge Mateo will start in his place and will bat ninth for the O’s on Friday evening at Sutter Health Park.
Justin Verlander (pectoral) threw around 35 pitches over two innings during a simulated game on Friday.
While he came away from the session feeling well, the real test will be to see how the 42-year-old right-hander is feeling on Saturday. It sounds like Verlander may not require a minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the Giants’ rotation, so as long as he’s feeling alright they could choose to insert him back in there at any time.
Giants’ manager Bob Melvin told reporters on Friday that Willy Adames will get a scheduled day off on Sunday.
Adames has played in all 63 games so far this season, so with the Giants being off on Monday, that will give him a full 48 hours to rest and reset. Melvin noted that Casey Schmitt would cover the shortstop position with Adames off. The 29-year-old has really struggled in his first season with the Giants, slashing a cringe-inducing .198/.288/.312 with just five homers, 26 RBI and three stolen bases.
Alex Cobb (hip) pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball in his second minor league rehab start at High-A West Michigan on Friday.
Cobb didn’t allow a hit in the contest while walking two and striking out two. He threw 34 pitches in the ballgame, 18 of them for strikes. The 37-year-old hurler has a long buildup ahead of him after missing all of spring training and the first two-plus months of the regular season. He has looked sharp so far though, with 4 1/3 scoreless frames allowing just one hit and two walks. He’s at least a couple of weeks away from being an option to help out the Tigers.
Francisco Lindor (toe) remains out of the Mets’ starting lineup for Friday night’s series opener against the Rockies in Colorado.
The Mets are still considering it a day-to-day type of thing for Lindor and manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Friday that he wouldn’t be surprised if the superstar shortstop was back in the lineup on Saturday or Sunday. Fantasy managers in leagues that utilize bi-weekly moves have a tough decision on their hands on whether to risk the zero by starting him or potentially miss a pair of games from Lindor at Coors Field over the weekend.