MLB Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for April 9, 2026
Last updated: Apr 8, 2026, 10:27PM | Published: Apr 8, 2026, 8:26AM
Draftstars Australia's MLB Thursday DFS contest starts at 8:40am AEST on April 9, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you build winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for MLB fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' MLB contests and enhance your season-long fantasy line-ups on Thursday and beyond.
Featured MLB Games
Draftstars' MLB Thursday slate includes the following games:
- New York Yankees vs Athletics
- Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs
- Minnesota Twins vs Detroit Tigers
- Miami Marlins vs Cincinnati Reds
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
With the latest MLB fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more MLB fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed every player from every team to help you make the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Framber Valdez (DET, P) | $18,840 | 17.3 | 0.9 |
| Value | Colin Rea (CHC, P) | $13,060 | 15.9 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Giancarlo Stanton (NYY, OF) | $10,030 | 4.4 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Noelvi Marte (CIN, OF) | $5,000 | 4.9 | 1 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer the most "bang for your buck," meaning they are expected to perform well relative to their salary.
Conversely, a "fade" is a player considered to offer lower value for money, based on their expected score relative to their salary. For those needing to stay under the salary cap, "cheapie" options refer to the best value players at lower price points not already mentioned.
In fantasy sports, understanding value—assessing a player's potential output against their salary—is crucial, as players scoring high relative to their cost are key in crafting the optimal line-up.
The "Pts/$1K" metric shows the predicted points for every $1,000 of a player's salary. A higher number indicates better value, making it easier to spot players who could outperform their cost.
Positional Breakdown
C (Catcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Shea Langeliers (ATH) | $9,980 | 6.8 | 0.7 |
| Value | Moisés Ballesteros (CHC) | $5,000 | 4.2 | 0.8 |
| Fade | Benjamin Rice (NYY) | $11,850 | 6.2 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Ryan Jeffers (MIN) | $7,170 | 5 | 0.7 |
SS (Shortstop)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Elly De La Cruz (CIN) | $10,760 | 9.2 | 0.9 |
| Value | Elly De La Cruz (CIN) | $10,760 | 9.2 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Kevin McGonigle (DET) | $9,290 | 5.2 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Jacob Wilson (ATH) | $7,450 | 5.8 | 0.8 |
OF (Outfielder)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Aaron Judge (NYY) | $13,480 | 10 | 0.7 |
| Value | Noelvi Marte (CIN) | $5,000 | 4.9 | 1 |
| Fade | Giancarlo Stanton (NYY) | $10,030 | 4.4 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Terry Friedl (CIN) | $7,710 | 6.2 | 0.8 |
3B (Third Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Junior Caminero (TB) | $9,420 | 8.2 | 0.9 |
| Value | Ke'Bryan Hayes (CIN) | $5,000 | 4.8 | 1 |
| Fade | Zachary McKinstry (DET) | $8,880 | 4.2 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Brooks Lee (MIN) | $5,310 | 5 | 0.9 |
2B (Second Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jasrado Chisholm (NYY) | $10,110 | 7.5 | 0.7 |
| Value | Gleyber Torres (DET) | $8,180 | 7.2 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Luke Keaschall (MIN) | $8,110 | 5.6 | 0.7 |
| Cheapie | Jeffrey McNeil (ATH) | $7,830 | 5.5 | 0.7 |
1B (First Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Yandy Díaz (TB) | $9,480 | 7.4 | 0.8 |
| Value | Joshua Bell (MIN) | $7,250 | 5.8 | 0.8 |
| Fade | Benjamin Rice (NYY) | $11,850 | 6.2 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Graham Pauley (MIA) | $6,490 | 3.6 | 0.6 |
P (Pitcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Framber Valdez (DET) | $18,840 | 17.3 | 0.9 |
| Value | Colin Rea (CHC) | $13,060 | 15.9 | 1.2 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your MLB Thursday teams, consider starting with a value player like Colin Rea. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Framber Valdez is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Noelvi Marte.
On the other hand, according to our model, Giancarlo Stanton is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' MLB Thursday slate closes at 8:40am AEST on Thursday. ENTER NOW!
As with all MLB DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven MLB fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the MLB Thursday contest. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your MLB DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised MLB Thursday line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
Please note that if you use our DFS tips for betting purposes, ensure you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
