Jared Contestabile 
We have a pretty solid slate for a Thursday as we kick off summer! First game of the day is at 12:35 ET, and there are even five late games. I’m checking in with my favorite targets to get your summer started off in the green. Let’s roll.
MLB DFS Aces
Lucas Giolito vs Detroit Tigers
Giolito is one of a seemingly never-ending line of White Sox pitchers who are hard to trust. Well, he has earned back some of that trust on my end with solid work of late. He draws a great matchup against a Tigers team that continues to rank near the bottom in most offensive categories.
Lucas has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his last five outings, and I’m expecting more of the same. His control has been solid over that span as well, posting a 32/6 K BB over 38.2 IP. I’m ready to run him out on Thursday as a -140 road favorite against the lowly Tigers.
Logan Gilbert vs Oakland Athletics
Gilbert is the last pitcher on this slate I truly feel good about. He draws another solid matchup against an A’s lineup that is essentially a Quad-A squad. Not only that, but Gilbert has shown some massive upside of late. Over his last three starts (18.1 IP), he has a 23/3 K/BB. He has allowed seven earned runs over that same span, but this matchup pales in comparison to both Texas and Atlanta who he faced recently.
The Mariners are listed as enormous -240 favorites as of Thursday morning, and the A’s continue to be…the A’s. They rank 29th in runs scored, 28th in hits, 28th in AVG, 26th in OBP…you get the picture. I’m sure you knew we can pick on Oakland, but we can do it with some upside tonight with Gilbert.
Zach Eflin vs Toronto Blue Jays
Targeting the Blue Jays with any pitcher is never fun, but we don’t get any leverage from fun, do we? Eflin might be having the best season that nobody is talking about in 2023. Over 47 innings of work, he has a 52/5 K/BB, has allowed 8 HR, has a WHIP of 1.00, and has 8+ K in three of his last four workdays.
His issue (as it has always been) is HR and opposite-handed hitters. He was once the guy you went out of your way to force in any lefties against. The good news for him is that the Blue Jays’ best bats are righties. Bo Bichette, Vladdy, Springer, Chapman, Kirk, Jansen…this is a very righty-heavy lineup.
I don’t doubt one (or maybe two) of them will find the seats, but the chances are solid that there won’t be many ducks on the pond. Elfin has pounded the strike zone and refuses to beat himself with free passes. Sign me up!
MLB DFS Stacks
Colorado Rockies vs Braxton Garrett
It is fair to say that Garrett has shown his ability to be a pitcher at this level. That said, he has also shown a good bit of inconsistency at times. Aside from a game where he inexplicably gave up 11 ER to the Braves, he has been very good. That said, this is Coors Field and I’m ready to pounce.
This total isn’t set at 11.5 for fun because oddsmakers think Garrett will get it done. The Rockies got smacked last night, but I’m banking on a bounceback by this offense. Randall Grichuck, Brenton Doyle, Charlie Blackmon, Jurickson Profar, and Kris Bryant are the bats I’m after here first. Fireworks are incoming in Coors tonight.
Baltimore Orioles vs Clarke Schmidt
The Yankees can’t be too pleased with how Schmidt has pitched so far this season, and for good reason. Not only that, but he literally was CAUGHT with a substance on his hands, but was allowed to go wash it off. In turn, David Bell was ejected, not the 300th Yankee of all-time to try and gain an unfair advantage.
Enough about that. Regardless of the sticky stuff he probably got from Gerrit Cole, Schmidt has been…bad. He has only found success against the likes of Oakland, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. The Orioles are primed and ready to hang a big number on his total Thursday.
Give me Cedric Mullins, Ryan Mountcastle, Adley Rutschman, Anthony Santander, and Jorge Mateo here. This squad put up 9 last night against the Yankees, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that number again here.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Luke Weaver
Luke Weaver has no business being a regular starter on a major league roster. He owns a 6.54 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and has given up 9 HR in just 31.2 innings this season. Bad news for him is that the red-hot Cardinals are in town and they are ready to tee off.
Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Gorman, Nolan Arenado, and Lars Nootbaar are my favorites to start off the stack, but I’m ready to roll out any competent bat here. Start your day off fast with a nice Cardinals stack or some single-game action. Only thing that could slow it down is guys getting a rest after a late game last night. Check out those lineups!
MLB DFS Summary
Thursday looks like a fun one filled with offense! Let’s get that money.
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!
