MLB Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for August 15, 2024
Last updated: Aug 14, 2024, 9:25PM | Published: Aug 14, 2024, 8:25AM
Draftstars Australia's MLB Thursday DFS contest begins at 8:35am AEST on August 15, 2024, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for MLB fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' MLB contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on August 15 and beyond.
Featured MLB Games
Draftstars' MLB Thursday slate features these match-ups:
- Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Nationals
- New York Mets vs Oakland Athletics
- San Francisco Giants vs Atlanta Braves
- Cincinnati Reds vs St. Louis Cardinals
- Milwaukee Brewers vs Los Angeles Dodgers
- Chicago White Sox vs New York Yankees
- Philadelphia Phillies vs Miami Marlins
- Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros
- Detroit Tigers vs Seattle Mariners
- Los Angeles Angels vs Toronto Blue Jays
- Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago Cubs
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the best DFS projections in the world.
With the latest MLB fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more MLB fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed every player from every team to help you make the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Robert Ray (SF, P) | $18,360 | 17.5 | 1 |
| Value | William Warren (NYY, P) | $9,180 | 14.1 | 1.5 |
| Fade | Luis Matos (SF, OF) | $8,280 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Cheapie | Lawrence Butler (OAK, OF) | $5,000 | 6.2 | 1.2 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer the most "bang for your buck," meaning they are expected to perform well relative to their salary.
Conversely, a "fade" is a player considered to offer lower value for money, based on their expected score relative to their salary. For budget-conscious strategies, "cheapie" options highlight the best value players at lower price points not already mentioned.
In fantasy sports, understanding value—assessing a player's potential output against their salary—is crucial, as players scoring high relative to their cost are key in crafting the optimal line-up.
The "Pts/$1K" metric shows the predicted points for every $1,000 of a player's salary. A higher number indicates better value, making it easier to spot players who could outperform their cost.
Positional Breakdown
C (Catcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | William Contreras (MIL) | $9,800 | 7 | 0.7 |
| Value | Willson Contreras (STL) | $7,800 | 6.6 | 0.8 |
| Fade | Austin Wells (NYY) | $8,080 | 3.8 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Logan O'Hoppe (LAA) | $7,240 | 6 | 0.8 |
SS (Shortstop)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Elly De La Cruz (CIN) | $11,460 | 9 | 0.8 |
| Value | Masyn Winn (STL) | $7,010 | 6.5 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Nicholas Lopez (CWS) | $8,110 | 2.8 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Orlando Arcia (ATL) | $6,340 | 5.8 | 0.9 |
OF (Outfielder)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Shohei Ohtani (LAD) | $14,040 | 10 | 0.7 |
| Value | Lawrence Butler (OAK) | $5,000 | 6.2 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Luis Matos (SF) | $8,280 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Cheapie | Jarred Kelenic (ATL) | $5,000 | 5 | 1 |
3B (Third Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | José Ramírez (CLE) | $11,300 | 8.9 | 0.8 |
| Value | Christopher Morel (TB) | $6,850 | 6.6 | 1 |
| Fade | Jacob Burger (MIA) | $10,300 | 7 | 0.7 |
| Cheapie | Joseph Ward (LAA) | $7,460 | 6.8 | 0.9 |
2B (Second Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Markus Betts (LAD) | $11,840 | 8.3 | 0.7 |
| Value | Jose Altuve (HOU) | $8,800 | 8.2 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Nicholas Lopez (CWS) | $8,110 | 2.8 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Jonathan India (CIN) | $7,510 | 6.8 | 0.9 |
1B (First Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Vladimir Guerrero (TOR) | $9,490 | 8.4 | 0.9 |
| Value | Yandy Díaz (TB) | $6,610 | 7.2 | 1.1 |
| Fade | Andrew Vaughn (CWS) | $10,140 | 6.3 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Mark Canha (SF) | $5,000 | 4.7 | 0.9 |
P (Pitcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Robert Ray (SF) | $18,360 | 17.5 | 1 |
| Value | William Warren (NYY) | $9,180 | 14.1 | 1.5 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your MLB Thursday teams, consider starting with a value player like William Warren. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Robert Ray is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Lawrence Butler.
On the other hand, according to our model, Luis Matos is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' MLB Thursday slate closes at 8:35am AEST on Thursday. ENTER NOW!
As with all MLB DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven MLB fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the MLB Thursday contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your MLB DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised MLB Thursday line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
Please note that if you use our DFS tips for betting purposes, ensure you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
