MLB Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for August 13, 2026
Last updated: Aug 12, 2026, 10:56PM | Published: Aug 12, 2026, 9:05AM
Draftstars Australia's MLB Thursday DFS contest begins at 9:05am AEST on August 13, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate 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 August 13 and beyond.
Featured MLB Games
Draftstars' MLB Thursday slate includes the following match-ups:
- Chicago White Sox vs Cincinnati Reds
- Los Angeles Dodgers vs Kansas City Royals
- New York Yankees vs Seattle Mariners
- Atlanta Braves vs New York Mets
- Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox
- Los Angeles Angels vs Texas Rangers
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make some of the best DFS projections in the world.
With the best 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 find the best selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Eric Lauer (LAD, P) | $12,400 | 18.3 | 1.5 |
| Value | Eric Lauer (LAD, P) | $12,400 | 18.3 | 1.5 |
| Fade | Wade Meckler (LAA, OF) | $8,130 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Terry Friedl (CIN, OF) | $5,000 | 6.2 | 1.2 |
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're 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 budget-conscious strategies, "cheapie" options highlight 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 | Caleb Raleigh (SEA) | $8,410 | 8.3 | 1 |
| Value | Caleb Raleigh (SEA) | $8,410 | 8.3 | 1 |
| Fade | Benjamin Rice (NYY) | $10,000 | 6.2 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Adley Rutschman (BOS) | $7,650 | 6.3 | 0.8 |
SS (Shortstop)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Robert Witt (KC) | $11,230 | 9.7 | 0.9 |
| Value | Markus Betts (LAD) | $8,510 | 7.8 | 0.9 |
| Fade | George Lombard (NYY) | $8,560 | 2.4 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Andrés Giménez (TOR) | $7,060 | 6.1 | 0.9 |
OF (Outfielder)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Shohei Ohtani (LAD) | $12,830 | 11.2 | 0.9 |
| Value | Terry Friedl (CIN) | $5,000 | 6.2 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Wade Meckler (LAA) | $8,130 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Brenton Doyle (CWS) | $5,000 | 6 | 1.2 |
3B (Third Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Michael Riley (ATL) | $8,340 | 7.4 | 0.9 |
| Value | Kazuma Okamoto (TOR) | $6,390 | 6.1 | 1 |
| Fade | Bo Bichette (NYM) | $9,450 | 6.5 | 0.7 |
| Cheapie | Brett Baty (NYM) | $5,000 | 4.7 | 0.9 |
2B (Second Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jasrado Chisholm (NYY) | $9,020 | 7.5 | 0.8 |
| Value | Matthew McLain (CIN) | $6,930 | 6.3 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Ezequiel Duran (TEX) | $9,500 | 3.1 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Ernie Clement (TOR) | $6,900 | 5.3 | 0.8 |
1B (First Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Vladimir Guerrero (TOR) | $8,250 | 9 | 1.1 |
| Value | Vladimir Guerrero (TOR) | $8,250 | 9 | 1.1 |
| Fade | Jared Young (NYM) | $9,640 | 1.9 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Salvador Perez (KC) | $7,700 | 6.7 | 0.9 |
P (Pitcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Eric Lauer (LAD) | $12,400 | 18.3 | 1.5 |
| Value | Eric Lauer (LAD) | $12,400 | 18.3 | 1.5 |
Conclusion
When building your MLB Thursday teams, consider starting with a value player like Eric Lauer. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Eric Lauer is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Terry Friedl.
On the other hand, according to our model, Wade Meckler is one of the lowest 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 9:05am 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 slate. The unique insights here can give you an edge 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.
