MLB Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for June 18, 2026
Last updated: Jun 17, 2026, 10:35PM | Published: Jun 17, 2026, 4:01PM
Draftstars Australia's MLB Thursday DFS contest commences at 9:05am AEST on June 18, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data 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 put together 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 features these match-ups:
- Chicago Cubs vs Colorado Rockies
- New York Yankees vs Chicago White Sox
- Atlanta Braves vs San Francisco Giants
- Athletics vs Pittsburgh Pirates
- Milwaukee Brewers vs Cleveland Guardians
- Seattle Mariners vs Baltimore Orioles
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with 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 | George Kirby (SEA, P) | $17,390 | 16.9 | 1 |
| Value | Carson Whisenhunt (SF, P) | $8,100 | 11.9 | 1.5 |
| Fade | Tyler Callihan (PIT, OF) | $9,150 | 1.7 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Marcell Ozuna (PIT, 1B) | $5,000 | 5.8 | 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 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 | Caleb Raleigh (SEA) | $8,760 | 8.3 | 1 |
| Value | Caleb Raleigh (SEA) | $8,760 | 8.3 | 1 |
| Fade | Endy Rodríguez (PIT) | $9,340 | 2.3 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Adley Rutschman (BAL) | $7,140 | 6.3 | 0.9 |
SS (Shortstop)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gunnar Henderson (BAL) | $8,610 | 9.3 | 1.1 |
| Value | Ezequiel Tovar (COL) | $6,470 | 7 | 1.1 |
| Fade | Casey Schmitt (SF) | $8,490 | 3.2 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Willy Adames (SF) | $7,910 | 7.3 | 0.9 |
OF (Outfielder)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Julio Rodríguez (SEA) | $8,610 | 9 | 1 |
| Value | Julio Rodríguez (SEA) | $8,610 | 9 | 1 |
| Fade | Tyler Callihan (PIT) | $9,150 | 1.7 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Michael Yastrzemski (ATL) | $5,000 | 4.8 | 1 |
3B (Third Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Michael Riley (ATL) | $7,390 | 7.4 | 1 |
| Value | Michael Riley (ATL) | $7,390 | 7.4 | 1 |
| Fade | Daniel Schneemann (CLE) | $8,380 | 2.8 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Jared Triolo (PIT) | $6,300 | 4.7 | 0.7 |
2B (Second Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brice Turang (MIL) | $10,300 | 7.6 | 0.7 |
| Value | Jackson Holliday (BAL) | $6,350 | 6.1 | 1 |
| Fade | Travis Bazzana (CLE) | $9,350 | 2.9 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Edouard Julien (COL) | $5,000 | 4.1 | 0.8 |
1B (First Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Peter Alonso (BAL) | $9,210 | 8.6 | 0.9 |
| Value | Marcell Ozuna (PIT) | $5,000 | 5.8 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Jakob Bauers (MIL) | $8,180 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Kyle Manzardo (CLE) | $7,710 | 5.4 | 0.7 |
P (Pitcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | George Kirby (SEA) | $17,390 | 16.9 | 1 |
| Value | Carson Whisenhunt (SF) | $8,100 | 11.9 | 1.5 |
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 Carson Whisenhunt. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, George Kirby is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Marcell Ozuna.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tyler Callihan is one of the lowest 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.
