Baseball is back! Check back here throughout the day for updated blurbs as teams confirm their lineup. We’ll keep you updated on some of the day’s highest-impact trends by utilizing our Models and Vegas dashboard. Projected and confirmed lineups for every game can be found on our MLB Daily Lineups page.
Nationals (+111) at Cardinals (-120) — 7:15 PM EST
Cardinals in: Matt Carpenter (right hand)
Matt Carpenter is dealing with a right hand injury, but he’ll lead off for a Cardinals lineup presently implied to score a respectable 4.5 runs. They boast upside throughout the order, as each of Carpenter, Yadier Molina, Tyler O’Neill, Paul DeJong, and Kolten Wong have posted positive wOBA and ISO splits vs. right-handed pitchers over the past 12 months. Carpenter in particular has really hit the ball well recently, ranking among the top-four first basemen in Thursday’s main slate in average batted ball distance and exit velocity over the past 15 days. Carpenter is particularly in play on FanDuel, where his $4,400 price tag comes with an 86 percent Bargain Rating and five Pro Trends. Righty Tanner Roark has allowed two or fewer runs while pitching at least seven innings in four consecutive starts, but he’ll have his hands full with a Cardinals lineup that has combined to post a solid .317 wOBA vs. right-handed pitchers over the past 12 months.
Rockies (-101) at Braves (-107) — 7:35 PM EST
Braves in: Ronald Acuna (left elbow)
Ronald Acuna was considered day-to-day with a left elbow injury, but he’ll play through the pain and suit up Thursday against the Rockies. The Braves will roll with Acuna, Ozzie Albies, and Freddie Freeman at the top of the order and are presently implied to score 4.3 runs. Overall, their combined .328 wOBA vs. right-handed pitchers is tied for the third-highest mark in Thursday’s main slate. Still, only Acuna and Ender Inciarte have posted positive wOBA and ISO splits vs. right-handed pitchers over the past calendar year. Exposure to both should be focused on FanDuel, where Acuna and Inciarte boast respective Bargain Ratings of 82 and 95 percent. The Braves do have a tough matchup against righty Jon Gray, who has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his last nine starts. Gray ranks among the top-four pitchers in Thursday’s main slate in average batted ball distance, exit velocity, and fly-ball rate allowed over the past 15 days.
