Find our fantasy baseball shooters rankings, batting upgrades and score drops daily to help you make smart fantasy decisions about your baseball lineup and MLB betting tips. MLB game odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy tips are directed towards ESPN’s 10-team leagues with record scoring.
NB: This file has been updated with overnight viewing changes and weather-related game delays, along with the addition of the latest MLB game odds as of the specified publication time.
What you need to know for Thursday MLB games
by Mike Sheets
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Having roughed up in his first major league appearance, Matthew Liberator (7% listed on ESPN rosters) looked better in his second round, rotating five closing frames with six strokes against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 22-year-old still has some kinks in the business as he needs to show improved leadership and gain some consistency with his secondary performances, but the pieces are there for him to be a relevant starter to the imagination. The former first-round pick found itself in a favorable position Thursday, facing the Chicago Cubs who posted the second-highest strike rate (25.6%) in May.
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Eric Karabell explains why Matthew Liberator is an intriguing choice in the strike action and block run at Wrigley Field on Thursday.
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Cory Klopper (33%) has struggled with inconsistency this season, but when he’s been good, he has been truly Good, score a game score of 70 or higher in three starts. For comparison, Gerrit Cole has only two starts this season that are clocked at 70 or higher. Plus, if you remove his explosive propensity against the Los Angeles Angels in early May (8 ER in 3 IP), Kluber exercises a 2.59 ERA in his other eight starting with a strike move nearly every half. On Thursday’s shortlist, the veteran right-hander makes a solid broadcast option against the Texas Rangers, who are ranked fifth for the .288 wOBA right-hander.
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Tyrone Taylor (6%) finally gets the daily bat at Milwaukee Brewers Stadium, and he’s making the most of it. Over his last 13 games, he’s hit .341 with five home runs, 18 RBI, and nine runs while entering the heart of the batting standings. If Taylor keeps hitting that way, he’ll stay in the lineup – even when Hunter Renfroe returns from IL. On Thursday, he earned a platoon advantage against Shaun Manea, who has been more vulnerable to right-handed hitters this season. Get Taylor in this match and get rid of his current hot streak.
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Alex Faedo of the Detroit Tigers has a 3.00 ERA over five big starts in the league, but the key numbers suggest some regression is coming. That downhill could start well on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins who rolled out 123 wRC+ last month. Fortunately, the Twins variety is relatively easy to spot, with Gary Sanchez (44%), Gio Urshela (21%), Trevor Larnach (3%) and Jose Miranda (1%) widely available. The four hitters have done damage to the board over the past two weeks—notably Urshela (.390/.458/.585) and Miranda (.348/.375/.609).
The bowler classification begins on Thursday
Top hitters sub-listed by 50% for Thursday
The best and worst hitters of the day are created by THE BAT X, a display system created by Derek Carty using advanced methods such as those used at the MLB front desks, accounting for a variety of factors including player talent, ballparks, bullpens, and weather, referees, defense, pitch framing, and much more.
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Miguel Andugar (New York, LF – 1%) vs. Shohei Ohtani and Red Deuters
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Luis Renjivo (LAA, SS – 0%) at Jameson Taeyeon and Nestor Cortes
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Tommy Pham (CIN, LF – 37%) vs. Joan Adon
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Adam Duvall (ATL, RF – 25%) at Austin Jumper
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Mike Mstkas (CIN, 3B – 10%) vs. Adon
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Nick Senzel (CIN, CF – 1%) vs. Adon
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Isiah Kiner-Falefa (NYY, SS – 13%) vs. Ohtani and Detmers
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William Contreras (ATL, C – 24%) in Jumper
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Yandy Diaz (TB, 1B – 31%) in Taylor Hearn
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Cesar Hernandez (WSH, 2B – 14%) at Graham Ashcraft
Listed worst hitters over 50% for Thursday
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Ian Happe (CHC, LF – 79%) vs. Matthew Liberator
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Eduardo Escobar (NYM, 2B – 62%) at Tony Gonsolin
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Yuan Moncada (CHW, 3B – 59%) at Alek Manoah
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Brandon Crawford (SF, SS – 54%) at Sandy Alcantara
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Rudy Telles (MIL, 1B – 66%) vs. Shaun Manea
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Gavin Lux (LAD, SS – 52%) vs Taiguan Walker
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Jock Pederson (SF, CF – 71%) in Alcantara
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Jose Abreu (CHW, 1B – 97%) in Manoa
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Lewis Robert (CHW, CF – 98%) in Manoa
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Christian Welich (MIL, LF – 98%) against immunoglobulins
Today’s BAT X collections
Today’s pillar
Ty France rounds on the ground: more / less than 0.5 (+950 / -3500)
prediction
THE BAT sees France playing 0.15 home runs for this match on average, while expecting him to have his player’s total support over 14.1% of the time. BAT believes that there is a positive value on During An expected value of $47.81.
NB: Expected value is a measure of how good the bet is, considering the probability of winning versus the odds offered by the book. If you bet $1.00 100 times a bet with an expected value of $25, you will win some and lose some, but in the end you expect to win $25 on your $100 investment.
Factors that support this
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THE BAT puts Jordan Lyles in the 15th percentile when it comes to his level of overall merchandising talent.
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Ty France is expected to take second place in the lineup in this game.
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Weather World calls for the best weather out of all the games on today’s list.
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France hits a lot of their volleys to midfield (38.8%, 86th percentile) and are fortunate to face the fourth weakest fence in midfield today.
Factors you prefer under