Early main slates on Thursday with two different game splits on DraftKings (eight games) and FanDuel (five games). Keep this in mind when making your lineup builds and factor in the Nationals versus Mets game will be seven innings being part of a doubleheader. Our initial recommendations below will cover players available on both sites with a couple bonus options after for DraftKings only. Good luck!

Top Tier

Matt Olson, Oakland - 1B ($5,500 on DraftKings, $4,400 on FanDuel)

Do not complicate matters, he's hitting over .400 over the last seven days, tied for fifth in the majors in home runs (28) and walked more than he's struck out. Eli Morgan takes the mound this afternoon for Cleveland averaging two home runs per nine innings against left-handed hitters. Putting two and two together in this match-up for Oakland's surging slugger. 

Juan Soto, Washington - OF ($5,600 on DraftKings, $4,000 on FanDuel)

Despite the seven inning contest, this talented hitter crushes the ball at Citi Field. Entering today's games, he owns a .400/.478/.813 slash line over 92 plate appearances with nine home runs and 21 RBI in the Mets home park. If Stroman starts Game 1, Soto's recorded two hits in three at-bats facing him with a double and a home run fueling a .622 xBA and 1.543 xSLG. And if it's Trevor Williams, it's still a favorable match-up for Soto, unless they walk him three times. 

Mid Tier

Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers - 1B/OF ($4,400 on DraftKings, $3,200 on FanDuel)

After an abysmal first four months of the season, Bellinger's on a heater. He launched two home runs last night in Philadelphia and owns a .333 (10-for-30) average his last eight contests with a .375 OBP, .800 slugging and 1.175 OPS in them. With four home runs in his last four games, it's tough to fade him at his reduced price point in a ballpark made for his swing. 

Dylan Carlson, St. Louis - OF ($3,100 on DraftKings, $3,500 on FanDuel)

Armed with a much better price on DraftKings, Carlson faces J.T. Brubaker, who does pitch better at home but also averages two home runs per nine innings facing left-handed hitters this year. Enter our target who owns a .364/.444/.545 slash his last six games over 27 plate appearances with a home run along with past success versus Brubaker going 3-for-7 with a .294 xBA along with two walks. Betting on a bomb from him today in this match-up. 

Bargain Bats

Rodolfo Castro, Pittsburgh - 2B/3B ($2,700 on DraftKings), SS ($2,400 on FanDuel)

Note the very different positional eligibility on the two sites along with Castro's GPP potential in today's game. He's launched two home runs in 16 at-bats this year against left-handed pitching with a .375 isolated power, a 1.224 OPS and .375 average in them. Wade LeBlanc's a pitch to contact southpaw putting Castro into a prime spot if he runs into a fastball. 

Yadiel Hernandez, Washington - OF ($2,100 on DraftKings, $2,500 on FanDuel)

Batting fifth for the Nationals this afternoon, Hernandez quietly provides a solid floor for DFS based on his lineup spot at his price point. Over the last two weeks he's logged 47 plate appearances over 12 games with a .415/.489/.634 slash hitting two home runs with 15 runs plus RBI.

Seth Brown, Oakland - OF ($2,300 on DraftKings), 1B/OF ($2,100 on FanDuel)

Another pivot with power upside at near minimum pricing in a favorable match-up noted in Olson's line above. As for Brown, he's cracked two dingers his last 11 plate appearances with a robust .600 isolated power and 1.264 OPS in them along with a stolen base for good measure. Sneaky play today. 

DraftKings Only Bonus Plays

Anthony Santander - OF ($2,600)

Not sure how a player with three home runs his last two games hitting .469 (15-for-his-last-32) over his last eight games with seven extra-base hits and seven RBI gets overlooked by the algorithm, but not sure how one fades him in today's match-up against Matt Manning in Camden Yards. Target Santander in cash and tournament play. 

Brandon Lowe - 2B ($4,900)

There's one bit of Kryptonite for Tanner Houck, left-handed hitters. Lowe's launched three home runs in his last five games with a .364/.440/.804 slash in them, driving in nine runs and chipped in a stolen base. He makes for a nice pivot in the mid tier if people target Red Sox bats instead on this slate.