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There are nine games set to take place Thursday, yet just four of those contests will be available on the FanDuel main slate. Of course, those games differ both in number and start time from what DraftKings will be offering, making this a unique four-game slate.
Much of the attention will be centered around Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers, who are overwhelming favorites against the D-backs, and rightfully so. Getting exposure to that contest -- and how much -- will likely determine how the top end of many GPP contests shakes out, in addition to the pieces that will make up the remainder of rosters.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 9/3/2020. Be sure also to check out all the MLB player news including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports too.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Mike Clevinger - SDP @ LAA ($9,400)
After a considerable lay-off, Clevinger proved that he was back as a top-tier arm during his final appearance with Cleveland last Wednesday. Now, he takes the mound for the Padres for the first time, and while he won’t have the benefit of pitching at Petco Park yet, he will face the team that drafted him in 2011, which has displayed an offense that has been largely middling outside of Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon so far this season. Clevinger has peeled off at least 34 FD points in three of his first four outings this year, also having the benefit of entering Thursday as a heavy favorite in the win column, which could push his points total skyward.
Dylan Cease - CWS @ KAN ($8,900)
An unintended consequence of the schedule for the 2020 season was that it would make pitchers and batters in the same division uniquely familiar with one another. Cease faced Kansas City for the second time in his most recent outing, walking six batters; but outside of that, Royals hitters did little actual damage. His American League-leading 18 walks are eye-popping, yet so is his average 97.6 MPH fastball, which ranks among the game’s elite. Kansas City has struggled mightily against righties this season, sitting as one of four clubs in the Majors with an on-base percentage (.299) below .300. A reasonably-priced pivot from the high end aces of the slate, Cease is the premier boom-or-bust pick on the mound Thursday.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Christian Walker, 1B - ARI @ LOS ($3,000)
In a slate as small as this one, any edge is an immense addition; in the case of Walker, despite his matchup against Kershaw, his head-to-head career numbers stand out. The two have faced off 11 times with five of those ending in hits for Walker, including four home runs. Walker’s bat has been heating up as of late, including having socked a home run Wednesday off Dodgers southpaw Caleb Ferguson.
Gavin Lux - 2B, LOS vs. ARI ($2,600)
The acclimation process to big league pitching has been difficult for Lux in 2020 after spending more than a month not at the Major League level despite entering the year as the prohibitive favorite to be named National League Rookie of the Year. Fortunately for his future outlook, he faces right-hander Luke Weaver on Thursday, who has yielded a .419 wOBA and 46.4% Hard Hit % over his first seven starts. In addition to having the upside of the Dodgers’ youngster, Lux's FD price tag allows for funds to be allocated elsewhere.
Edwin Rios, 3B - LOS vs. ARI ($2,200)
As Justin Turner (hamstring) sits, Rios has a path to consistent at-bats for the first time this season. Much like Lux, Rios benefits from facing Weaver, who has been clobbered to the tune of a .322/.403/.695 slash line when facing left-handed batters this year. Despite the sporadic nature of his playing time, Rios has still managed to produce a career .938 OPS, which should provide him with considerable GPP attention at his FD price tag.
Tim Anderson - SS, CWS @ KAN ($3,700)
Paying up at shortstop is nearly unavoidable Thursday, which means that picking from the top tier needs a specific niche. And rolling with Anderson against any southpaw, let alone one that he is batting .344 against in his career (11-for-32), makes him worth the consideration of rostering. His success against lefties this season has been prodigious, slugging 1.118 en route to a 1.631 OPS in 34 at-bats, which will likely garner him an elite level of attention no matter the format.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Teoscar Hernandez, OF - TOR @ BOS ($3,900)
In the mold of right-handed batters that clobber left-handed pitching, enter Hernandez. One of the league’s preeminent breakout sluggers has done significant damage against southpaws, posting a .757 SLG this year. Boston’s Martin Perez has been hit, and hit hard at Fenway Park this year, posting a 7.36 ERA in three starts, with nine of the 17 hits that he has allowed going for extra bases.
J.D. Martinez, OF - BOS vs. TOR ($3,300)
Taking Martinez’s season-long struggles into account Thursday won’t do fantasy managers much good. His production is bound to find its level eventually, but that isn’t a DFS concern; the fact that Martinez is batting .414 over his last seven games is much more of an appealing and relevant stat. With another multi-hit contest under his belt Wednesday, he now faces righty Taijuan Walker on Thursday, whom he has gone 4-for-8 with a double and home run against in his career. Fenway Park has continued it’s offensive revival in 2020, with Martinez in a prime spot to capitalize on the fact that his FD price tag has dipped as of late.
Alex Verdugo, OF - BOS vs. TOR ($2,900)
Having raised his batting average nearly 30 points over the past five games, Verdugo’s multi-hit abilities make him a consideration against Walker on Thursday. With a .329 average at Fenway Park this year, Verdugo’s move up the lineup card to the leadoff spot makes him both a stackable entity, in addition to a reasonably priced one-off.
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