Jared Contestabile 
Thursday offers us a few aces at night, as well as a few arms we can pick on with our stacks. There are only 5 games (first one is at 6:40 ET) for the evening. Here’s who I’m targeting as my top options for tonight!
MLB DFS Aces
Shane McClanahan vs Chicago White Sox
For the second week in a row, we get McClanahan against the struggling White Sox. Last week he didn’t disappoint, going six strong innings while striking out 10. He did serve up homers to Eloy Jimenez and Yasmani Grandal, but both were solo shots.
I’m going back to the well here with McClanahan, as his only weakness thus far in 2023 has been walks. We all know the White Sox are as impatient as toddlers at the plate with just a 6.7% BB rate. Shane should cruise through this lineup once again on this short slate, and Vegas agrees. He is listed as a -155 favorite despite being on the road against Dylan Cease once again.
Tyler Mahle vs Royals
It has to be rough being Bobby Witt Jr. right now. Everyone wants to watch him play, but nobody wants to watch his team. The Royals have been nothing short of pathetic at the plate in 2023. They own a 6.2% BB rate, 24.9% K rate, a .124 ISO, and have outscored only the Marlins and Tigers.
Mahle is no slouch in his own right, and his only struggle this season has been the longball. Good news for him is that Kansas City has just 18 on the entire season. Mahle strikes out about a batter per inning, but that number should increase with ease tonight against a free-swinging Royals team. He has given up more than 2 ER in just one of his four starts this season. Vegas has him listed as a -200 favorite with a total of just 7.5. He seems like the biggest no-brainer of the slate to me.
Gerrit Cole vs Rangers
The Rangers are fresh off a sweep at the hands of the AAAA Cincinnati Reds, and now they return home to face Cole. As usual, Cole has been nothing short of dominant, having allowed just three ER across five starts this season.
The Rangers trail only the Rays in runs scored this season, so this is no easy task for Cole. That said, there isn’t a lineup on the planet that would lead me to a full Cole fade. He and the Bronk Bombers are -175 favorites in this one with a total of just 7.5 at Globe Life Field. Cole already has a complete game shutout on his resume this season. I don’t forsee that here with a fairly patient Rangers lineup, but his upside is still huge on a small slate. Sign me up.
MLB DFS Stacks
Minnesota Twins vs Zack Greinke
Zack Greinke has had a great career, no doubt. He can still eat up innings and get batters out. What he cannot do anymore is strike out batters or keep the ball in the park. He has just a 6.32 K/9 this season to go along with a 1.55 HR/9. That’s a bad combination against a Twins lineup with some big bats in it.
I’m all over Joey Gallo, Byron Buxton, and Trevor Larnach here. Carlos Correa and Max Kepler could have a case as well. The Twins have big upside here against a guy who has served up 5 HR in his last 16 innings or work.
New York Mets vs Trevor Williams
There is somehow a market for Trevor Williams believers, but I am not one of them. At absolute best, he is a back-end starter who can grab you the occasional quality start. He has just 13 strikeouts over 21.1 innings pitched this season, and the Mets are incredibly dangerous.
Williams has actually been very consistent thus far in 2023, allowing 3, 2, 1, and 2 earned runs. I’m betting on that number set to have a new member by the end of tonight. Pete Alonso is absolutely dominating the ball, and this is a lineup that has scored just ONE run in the first two games of this series. Pair Alonso with Brandon Nimmo, Fransisco Lindor, and Starling Marte at the top of the order. Mets are going to put up a big number tonight.
New York Yankees vs Andrew Heaney
A southpaw with career-long issues with home runs against the Yankees? Yes please.
The Bronx Bombers will make it easy on their ace tonight when they hang a big number on Mr. Heaney. He has putaway stuff, so don’t be surprised if he has a solid night in the strikeout department. What I forsee is some poor command (he has 9 walks in 18.2 IP this season), and a few longballs to put this one to rest early.
Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, DJ Lemahieu, Franchy Cordero (if he’s in lineup), you name it. I want big bats who can put one in the seats across my lineup tonight. Heaney has a career 1.61 HR/9. He will stay true to that tonight when the Yankees hand out a few souvenirs to the Rangers faithful.
MLB DFS Summary
We got a fun one on tap, I’ll be locking in top arms and getting power bats wherever I can!
Find the team in the Discord and let’s chat about some plays!
Good luck and hope to see you in the green.
Check me out on Twitter @BigItaly42 and let me know who you are playing tonight! Always around to talk some MLB!
