MLB Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for July 23, 2026
Last updated: Jul 22, 2026, 10:26PM | Published: Jul 22, 2026, 8:37AM
Draftstars Australia's MLB Thursday DFS contest kicks off at 9:07am AEST on July 23, 2026, 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 essential for MLB fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' MLB contests and enhance your season-long fantasy line-ups on July 23 and beyond.
Featured MLB Games
Draftstars' MLB Thursday slate features the following match-ups:
- Chicago Cubs vs Detroit Tigers
- Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles
- Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays
- Texas Rangers vs Chicago White Sox
- Houston Astros vs Miami Marlins
- Atlanta Braves vs San Diego Padres
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 most accurate 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 selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tyler Alexander (TEX, P) | $5,000 | 19.3 | 3.9 |
| Value | Tyler Alexander (TEX, P) | $5,000 | 19.3 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Victor Mesa (TB, OF) | $9,820 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Jacob Cronenworth (SD, SS/2B) | $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 provide 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 | Yainer Diaz (HOU) | $6,880 | 6 | 0.9 |
| Value | Yainer Diaz (HOU) | $6,880 | 6 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Liam Hicks (MIA) | $9,280 | 3.2 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Alejandro Kirk (TOR) | $6,240 | 5.2 | 0.8 |
SS (Shortstop)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gunnar Henderson (BAL) | $8,360 | 9.3 | 1.1 |
| Value | Jacob Cronenworth (SD) | $5,000 | 6.2 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Cameron Cauley (TEX) | $8,640 | 2.3 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Andrés Giménez (TOR) | $6,150 | 6.1 | 1 |
OF (Outfielder)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Fernando Tatis (SD) | $12,330 | 9.1 | 0.7 |
| Value | George Springer (TOR) | $8,060 | 7.6 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Victor Mesa (TB) | $9,820 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Dylan Beavers (BAL) | $5,000 | 4.6 | 0.9 |
3B (Third Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Junior Caminero (TB) | $10,910 | 8.2 | 0.8 |
| Value | Michael Riley (ATL) | $8,140 | 7.4 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Miguel Vargas (CWS) | $10,310 | 5.9 | 0.6 |
| Cheapie | Colten Keith (DET) | $7,120 | 5.9 | 0.8 |
2B (Second Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicholas Hoerner (CHC) | $8,470 | 7.4 | 0.9 |
| Value | Jacob Cronenworth (SD) | $5,000 | 6.2 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Ezequiel Duran (TEX) | $9,370 | 3.1 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Jackson Holliday (BAL) | $5,000 | 6.1 | 1.2 |
1B (First Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Vladimir Guerrero (TOR) | $7,720 | 9 | 1.2 |
| Value | Vladimir Guerrero (TOR) | $7,720 | 9 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Tyler France (SD) | $9,590 | 2.9 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Spencer Torkelson (DET) | $7,100 | 7 | 1 |
P (Pitcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tyler Alexander (TEX) | $5,000 | 19.3 | 3.9 |
| Value | Tyler Alexander (TEX) | $5,000 | 19.3 | 3.9 |
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 Tyler Alexander. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Tyler Alexander 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 Jacob Cronenworth.
On the other hand, according to our model, Victor Mesa 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 9:07am 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 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.
