Filling in Your Thursday MLB Lineups
Here are theScore's sample lineups for Thursday's eight-game slate:
Cash Game With One Pitcher
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| P | Jimmy Nelson (MIL) | vs. SD |
| C | Yadier Molina (STL) | at LAA |
| 1B | Chris Davis (BAL) | vs. DET |
| 2B | Ian Kinsler (DET) | at BAL |
| 3B | Jake Lamb (ARI) | vs. SF |
| SS | Jonathan Villar (MIL) | vs. SD |
| OF | Joey Rickard (BAL) | vs. DET |
| OF | Brett Gardner (NYY) | vs. KAN |
| OF | George Springer (HOU) | at BOS |
The Padres have the MLB's third-highest strikeout rate, providing a boost to Nelson's modest 7.48 K/9 rate. Davis should be a fixture in all lineups, with his current hot streak and an ideal matchup against Tigers RHP Mike Pelfrey. Lamb will draw into the lineup against Giants RHP Johnny Cueto, and his platoon status keeps his salary extremely low.
GPP With One Pitcher
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| P | David Price (BOS) | vs. HOU |
| C | Matt Wieters (BAL) | vs. DET |
| 1B | Chris Davis (BAL) | vs. DET |
| 2B | Jonathan Schoop (BAL) | vs. DET |
| 3B | Manny Machado (BAL) | vs. DET |
| SS | Aledmys Diaz (STL) | at LAA |
| OF | Joey Rickard (BAL) | vs. DET |
| OF | David Peralta (ARI) | vs. SF |
| OF | J.D. Martinez (DET) | at BAL |
Load up on as many Orioles as possible in tournament play. Price has gotten off to a horrible start, but he should start to see a correction, and his strikeout potential is high against the free-swinging Astros. The left-handed Peralta is an excellent target in Arizona's offense, as long as he rejoins the lineup after Thursday's off day.
Cash Game With Two Pitchers
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| P | Jimmy Nelson (MIL) | vs. SD |
| P | Clayton Kershaw (LAD) | vs. NYM |
| C | Kevin Plawecki (NYM) | at LAD |
| 1B | Marwin Gonzalez (HOU) | at BOS |
| 2B | Ian Kinsler (DET) | at BAL |
| 3B | Jake Lamb (ARI) | vs. SF |
| SS | Corey Seager (LAD) | vs. NYM |
| OF | Chris Young (BOS) | vs. HOU |
| OF | Joey Rickard (BAL) | vs. DET |
| OF | Brett Gardner (NYY) | vs. KC |
Use the salary relief offered by Nelson to incorporate the night's most expensive player into two-pitcher lineups. Plawecki is merely a punt play, as he opposes Kershaw, but he has had success against lefties. Gonzalez also fares extremely well against LHPs, and he'll face the struggling David Price. Lamb, Seager, and Young all have excellent split matchups.
GPP With Two Pitchers
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| P | Dallas Keuchel (HOU) | at BOS |
| P | Zack Greinke (ARI) | vs. SF |
| C | Matt Wieters (BAL) | vs. DET |
| 1B | Chris Davis (BAL) | vs. DET |
| 2B | Ian Kinsler (DET) | at BAL |
| 3B | Manny Machado (BAL) | vs. DET |
| SS | Carlos Correa (HOU) | at BOS |
| OF | George Springer (HOU) | at BOS |
| OF | Alex Gordon (KC) | at NYY |
| OF | Brett Gardner (NYY) | vs. KC |
Here's a different look at the Orioles stack, but with the consistent staple of Davis, who has the highest upside of the night. Correa and Springer will have lower ownership than 2B Jose Altuve, but have similar upsides. Keuchel is the biggest risk of the night against a Red Sox team dominating lefties, but he will return to form eventually.