MLB Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for August 14, 2025
Last updated: Aug 13, 2025, 10:25PM | Published: Aug 13, 2025, 8:27AM
Draftstars Australia's MLB Thursday DFS contest kicks off at 9:05am AEST on August 14, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for MLB fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' MLB contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Thursday and beyond.
Featured MLB Games
Draftstars' MLB Thursday slate includes the following match-ups:
- Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox
- New York Mets vs Atlanta Braves
- Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays
- New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins
- Los Angeles Angels vs Los Angeles Dodgers
- Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the most reliable DFS projections available.
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 find the best choices on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Joseph Ryan (MIN, P) | $19,520 | 19.1 | 1 |
| Value | Andrés Giménez (TOR, 2B) | $5,000 | 6.1 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Bryce Teodosio (LAA, OF) | $8,420 | 1.9 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Brent Rooker (ATH, OF) | $7,450 | 7.9 | 1.1 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks provide 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 budget-conscious strategies, "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 | William Smith (LAD) | $8,130 | 5.9 | 0.7 |
| Value | Shea Langeliers (ATH) | $7,690 | 5.7 | 0.7 |
| Fade | Francisco Alvarez (NYM) | $9,290 | 3.7 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Alejandro Kirk (TOR) | $6,540 | 4.7 | 0.7 |
SS (Shortstop)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Zachary Neto (LAA) | $10,080 | 8.5 | 0.8 |
| Value | Nicholas Allen (ATL) | $5,000 | 4.8 | 1 |
| Fade | Jeremy Peña (HOU) | $9,810 | 7.6 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Anthony Volpe (NYY) | $7,570 | 6.8 | 0.9 |
OF (Outfielder)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kyle Tucker (CHC) | $10,420 | 8.9 | 0.9 |
| Value | Brent Rooker (ATH) | $7,450 | 7.9 | 1.1 |
| Fade | Bryce Teodosio (LAA) | $8,420 | 1.9 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Jordon Adell (LAA) | $7,420 | 7.2 | 1 |
3B (Third Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Junior Caminero (TB) | $9,750 | 8.2 | 0.8 |
| Value | Yandy Díaz (TB) | $8,280 | 7.4 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Ernie Clement (TOR) | $8,270 | 3 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Royce Lewis (MIN) | $7,280 | 6.4 | 0.9 |
2B (Second Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jose Altuve (HOU) | $10,470 | 7.8 | 0.7 |
| Value | Andrés Giménez (TOR) | $5,000 | 6.1 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Brandon Lowe (TB) | $9,730 | 5.9 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Nicholas Hoerner (CHC) | $7,040 | 6.9 | 1 |
1B (First Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Vladimir Guerrero (TOR) | $9,630 | 8.2 | 0.9 |
| Value | Yandy Díaz (TB) | $8,280 | 7.4 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Maxwell Muncy (LAD) | $9,300 | 5.3 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Nolan Schanuel (LAA) | $7,840 | 6.8 | 0.9 |
P (Pitcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Joseph Ryan (MIN) | $19,520 | 19.1 | 1 |
| Value | Carlos Carrasco (ATL) | $8,970 | 10.5 | 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 Andrés Giménez. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Joseph Ryan is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Brent Rooker.
On the other hand, according to our model, Bryce Teodosio is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together 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 help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap 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.
