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.
Marlins (+167) at Nationals (-182) — 7:05 PM EST
Marlins in: Martin Prado (strained left hamstring), Yadiel Rivera
Marlins out: J.T. Riddle (tight left hip)
Martin Prado has been activated from the disabled list and will bat fifth for a Marlins lineup presently implied to score just 3.8 runs. J.T. Riddle was scratched due to tightness in his left hip, so Yadiel Rivera will now start at shortstop and bat eighth. While each of the Marlins’ top-six batters have posted positive wOBA splits vs. right-handed pitchers over the past 12 months, the lineup as a whole has still combined for a slate-worst .265 wOBA vs. righties. This is great news for Jeremy Hellickson, who has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his 10 starts this season. Still, Hellickson has continued to struggle to limit big hits this season, and he ranks among the main slate’s bottom-five pitchers in both average batted ball distance allowed over the past 15 days and home runs allowed per nine innings over the past calendar year. Additionally, Hellickson is questionable to start due to an illness, although he’s still expected to try to pitch. Both pitchers will have to deal with estimated wind gusts of seven miles per hour blowing out to left field.
Nationals in: Matt Adams (fractured left index finger)
Nationals out: Adam Eaton
Adam Eaton will receive a routine day off, so the Nationals will roll with Trea Turner, Juan Soto, and Anthony Rendon at the top of their order. Matt Adams will return to the lineup and bat fifth after missing time due to a fractured left index finger. The Nationals carry a top-five Team Value Rating on both DraftKings and FanDuel, although each of the Nationals starters carry a superior Bargain Rating on FanDuel. Bryce Harper and Adams in particular are set up well, as each has posted positive wOBA and ISO splits vs. right-handed pitchers over the past 12 months. They’ll face off against Pablo Lopez, who allowed two runs while racking up five strikeouts in six innings during his lone start of the season. Lopez will look to continue to do a good job forcing batters to keep the ball on the ground, as he ranks among the main slate’s top-four pitchers in both average batted ball distance and fly-ball rate allowed over the past 15 days. Both pitchers will have to deal with estimated wind gusts of seven miles per hour blowing out to left field.
Rangers (+102) at Tigers (-110) — 7:10 PM EST
Rangers in: Adrian Beltre (infected tooth)
Rangers out: Shin-Soo Choo, Robinson Chirinos
Adrian Beltre was scratched Wednesday due to an infected tooth, but he’s back in the lineup and will bat cleanup against the Tigers. Shin-Soo Choo and Robinson Chirinos will each get a day off. Be sure to monitor the weather, as current forecasts indicate there’s a 39 percent chance of precipitation. The Rangers are presently implied to score a respectable 4.5 runs, and each of Delino DeShields, Beltre and Jurickson Profar have posted positive wOBA and ISO splits vs. southpaws over the past 12 months among the Rangers’ top-seven batters. DeShields in particular is set up well on FanDuel, where his $2,900 price tag comes with an 82 percent Bargain Rating and a +0.5 Projected Plus/Minus. The Rangers will face off against lefty Matt Boyd, who has failed to make it past the fifth inning in three of his last five starts. Boyd is one of just two pitchers in Thursday’s main slate that has allowed a fly-ball rate of at least 50 percent over the past 15 days. He’ll have his hands full with a Rangers lineup that has combined to post a .324 wOBA over the past calendar year – the fourth-highest mark in Thursday’s main slate. The Tigers-Rangers’ matchup presently has the main slate’s most hitter-friendly Weather Rating.
