Tonight’s slate features only six games. So, I’ve streamlined the selections, including three pitchers, two stacks, and the customary number of core studs and value plays/punts.
Check out today’s MLB Grand Slam contest at FanDuel 
Thursday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
I'm not in love with cash games tonight. With that in mind, that's why my top cash game recommendation, Framber Valdez, appears at the bottom of the rankings table above. Touki Toussaint is my favorite pitcher tonight, thanks to his blend of upside and affordability. However, he profiles better in GPPs, making him my only GPP suggestion. Ross Stripling is the other featured pitcher. He's my preferred SP2 in cash games on DraftKings.
Tonight’s slate features only six games. So, I’ve streamlined the selections, including three pitchers, two stacks, and the customary number of core studs and value plays/punts.
Check out today’s MLB Grand Slam contest at FanDuel
Thursday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
I'm not in love with cash games tonight. With that in mind, that's why my top cash game recommendation, Framber Valdez, appears at the bottom of the rankings table above. Touki Toussaint is my favorite pitcher tonight, thanks to his blend of upside and affordability. However, he profiles better in GPPs, making him my only GPP suggestion. Ross Stripling is the other featured pitcher. He's my preferred SP2 in cash games on DraftKings.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Framber Valdez (HOU) vs. MIN
Valdez is the most talented pitcher on tonight's slate. He has a 3.01 ERA, 3.87 SIERA, 1.30 WHIP, 21.5 K%, and 71.3 GB% in a dozen starts lasting 71.2 innings, per FanGraphs.
He and the Astros are listed as the biggest betting favorites at -260, per Betting Pros. The matchup should be favorable, too. Yes, the Twins rank tied for 10th in wRC+ (102) against lefties this year. However, they've traded elite lefty-killer Nelson Cruz and could be without dinged up Josh Donaldson.
Ross Stripling (TOR) vs. CLE
Save for a pair of gnarly starts against the Red Sox; Stripling's been a rock-solid model of consistency since making a bulk-reliever appearance on May 24. He hurled seven scoreless innings in that relief appearance. Further, he's yielded two runs or fewer while pitching five or more innings in eight of 11 starts.
The soon-to-be Guardians provide him a favorable matchup tonight. Cleveland ranks tied for 23rd in wRC+ (87) against right-handed pitchers this season. Additionally, Stripling and the Blue Jays are commanding -200 favorites.
GPP Recommendations:
Touki Toussaint (ATL) at STL
Toussaint erased the goodwill he earned in the fantasy community after two stellar starts with a meltdown in his last turn. The Brewers hammered him for seven runs in 3.1 innings. Players have off nights, and it's unwise to ignore his two gems before his last start.
In his first start, Toussaint allowed one run on three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts in 6.2 innings against the Padres. Then, he held the Phillies to one run on five hits, zero walks, and 10 strikeouts at Citizens Bank Park in his second turn.
I'm completely enamored with Toussaint's combination of bat-missing stuff, strikeouts, a low walk rate, and high groundball rate through three turns in the rotation. He has a favorable matchup for a rebound tonight. The Cardinals rank 22nd in wRC+ (88) against righties this year.
Top Lineup Stacks
The Astros are MLB's best offense against righties, ranking first with a 119 wRC+. They're a tough matchup for even the best pitchers in the game, and Griffin Jax is a rookie with a 6.41 ERA in 26.2 innings (three starts and four relief appearances). Best of luck, rook; you're gonna need it.
Ranking behind the Astros for second in wRC+ (114) against righties is Toronto's loaded offense. They ripped Cleveland for eight runs last night, and they have a massive implied total again tonight. Triston McKenzie has flashed. However, the bad has outweighed the good, as evidenced by his 611 ERA and 1.99 HR/9 innings. So, I expect tonight to be another rough turn for him.
- This year, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been otherworldly against righties, hammering them for a .419 OBP, .368 ISO, and 199 wRC+.
- Jax has been at his worst against righties, coughing up a .398 wOBA to them. Jose Altuve's more than capable of piling on those struggles from the leadoff spot.
- Yordan Alvarez rakes, recording a .272 ISO and 143 wRC+ with the platoon advantage this year.
- Another night, another case of FanDuel pricing Michael Brantley reasonably and DraftKings comically underpricing him. He has a .423 OBP and 171 wRC+ against righties this year.
- Andrew Vaughn's a tantalizing value option at both daily fantasy baseball providers. The rookie right-handed hitter has a .410 OBP, .322 ISO, and 187 wRC+ in 100 plate appearances against southpaws in his first big-league campaign.
- Edward Olivares has been up and down between Triple-A and the majors this year, biding his time most of the year in the minors, sporting power and speed. The right-handed-hitting outfielder has a gaudy 1.111 OPS in 69 plate appearances against lefties this year between the minors and majors, per Baseball-Reference.
Thursday's Hitter Strategy
I'm locking in Vladito, Altuve, Alvarez, Brantley, and Vaughn in all game types across both daily fantasy providers. Olivares is an ideal punt on FanDuel. Unfortunately, there's no room for him on my DraftKings team, with Alvarez, Brantley, and Vaughn occupying the three outfield spots. He's not listed in the tables above, but I love Carlos Correa tonight, too.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
