- If you're searching for that DFS anchor on Thursday's abbreviated slate, Logan Gilbert can certainly make a case that he's worth the investment. Not only has he delivered a 2.44 ERA with a strikeout per inning over 15 starts, but he's been incredibly consistent, holding opponents to three or fewer earned runs in all but one outing. Better yet, the 25-year-old draws one of the best matchups of the day, as he gets an Oakland Athleticsoffense that's been the worst in baseball in June with a 71 wRC+ and .260 wOBA.
- Despite being rostered in only 5% of ESPN leagues, JT Brubaker has been quietly putting together a solid season. While his 4.14 ERA over 15 starts isn't all that impressive, he has a 2.93 ERA over his last seven turns and has been consistently working deeper into games. Don't go chasing wins here, since Brubaker has managed just one victory for the season, but he has reeled off three quality starts in his last four tries. On Thursday, he matches up well with the Milwaukee Brewers, who have been middle-of-the-road offensively in June.
- It's often difficult to buy into a hurler like Graham Ashcraft (14% rostered in ESPN leagues), who barely misses any bats (5.9 K/9). The margin for error is so small, and things can unravel quickly. The 24-year-old right-hander does have some things going for him, though. Although he's not getting those strikeouts, Ashcraft is showing pinpoint control (1.5 BB/9), keeping the ball the ground (58% GB), and limiting both Barrels (4.4%) and hard contact (34.8%). That's led to a 3.27 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across seven starts. It's fair to still have some hesitancy here, but Thursday's matchup against the Chicago Cubs is a favorable spot for the right-hander, putting him in the streaming discussion.
- Squaring off against Ashcraft and the Cincinnati Reds is Kyle Hendricks (55%). While the veteran right-hander has only a 4.90 ERA on the season, he is coming off a dominant outing against the St. Louis Cardinals in which he fired 7 1/3 scoreless frames. That's certainly not enough to trust Hendricks going forward, but he at least makes for a passable streaming option against a Reds club that ranks bottom-five with an 87 wRC+ over the last two weeks. Reds batters will also have to deal with a significant ballpark downgrade, trading in Great American Ballpark for Wrigley Field.
- Catcher production is often a fleeting commodity in fantasy baseball, so it's important to pounce when a fantasy-relevant backstop emerges. Judging from his 9% roster percentage, Jorge Alfaro is still flying under the radar. Dating back to May 14, Alfaro is batting .310/.341/.540 with four homers and 17 RBI in 25 games. He's been a mainstay in the San Diego Padres lineup, splitting time between catcher and DH and frequently hitting third or fourth in the order. In fact, Alfaro has been the No. 6 catcher in fantasy over the last month, coming in right behind J.T. Realmutoand Will Smith. Scoop him up for Thursday's matchup against Mitch Whiteof the Dodgers and keep him around until he stops hitting.
What you need to know for Thursday's MLB Games
- Thread starter biggins
- Start date
