MLB Thursday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for September 3, 2026
Last updated: Sep 2, 2026, 11:39PM | Published: Sep 2, 2026, 9:59AM
Draftstars Australia's MLB Thursday DFS contest starts at 9:40am AEST on September 3, 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 put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' MLB contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on September 3 and beyond.
Featured MLB Games
Draftstars' MLB Thursday slate features these match-ups:
- Kansas City Royals vs Miami Marlins
- Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers
- Houston Astros vs Chicago White Sox
- Minnesota Twins vs Detroit Tigers
- Los Angeles Dodgers vs St. Louis Cardinals
- Los Angeles Angels vs New York Yankees
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce 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 make the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Andrew Anderson (DET, P) | $15,360 | 21.4 | 1.4 |
| Value | Andrew Anderson (DET, P) | $15,360 | 21.4 | 1.4 |
| Fade | Walker Jenkins (MIN, OF) | $8,080 | 1.9 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Heliot Ramos (NYY, OF) | $5,000 | 6.8 | 1.4 |
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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "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 | William Contreras (MIL) | $10,250 | 7.5 | 0.7 |
| Value | Ivan Herrera (STL) | $6,900 | 5.9 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Ryan Jeffers (MIN) | $10,270 | 5 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Moisés Ballesteros (LAA) | $6,340 | 4.2 | 0.7 |
SS (Shortstop)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Robert Witt (KC) | $11,060 | 9.7 | 0.9 |
| Value | Zachary Neto (LAA) | $9,040 | 8.1 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Kaelen Culpepper (MIN) | $8,760 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Joseph Ortiz (MIL) | $7,390 | 5.5 | 0.7 |
OF (Outfielder)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Shohei Ohtani (LAD) | $11,820 | 11.2 | 0.9 |
| Value | Heliot Ramos (NYY) | $5,000 | 6.8 | 1.4 |
| Fade | Walker Jenkins (MIN) | $8,080 | 1.9 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Ian Happ (CHC) | $7,320 | 7.6 | 1 |
3B (Third Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Alexander Bregman (CHC) | $8,340 | 7.3 | 0.9 |
| Value | Nolan Gorman (STL) | $5,570 | 5.2 | 0.9 |
| Fade | Nicholas Loftin (KC) | $8,420 | 2.6 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Colten Keith (DET) | $6,960 | 5.9 | 0.8 |
2B (Second Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Brice Turang (MIL) | $9,440 | 7.6 | 0.8 |
| Value | Nicholas Hoerner (CHC) | $7,000 | 7.4 | 1.1 |
| Fade | Thomas Edman (LAD) | $9,740 | 4.1 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Chase Meidroth (CWS) | $6,980 | 5.6 | 0.8 |
1B (First Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Frederick Freeman (LAD) | $11,220 | 8.4 | 0.7 |
| Value | Paul Goldschmidt (NYY) | $5,000 | 4.8 | 1 |
| Fade | Kody Clemens (MIN) | $9,440 | 3.2 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Michael Busch (CHC) | $7,110 | 6.8 | 1 |
P (Pitcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Andrew Anderson (DET) | $15,360 | 21.4 | 1.4 |
| Value | Andrew Anderson (DET) | $15,360 | 21.4 | 1.4 |
Conclusion
When building your MLB Thursday teams, consider starting with a value player like Andrew Anderson. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Andrew Anderson 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 Heliot Ramos.
On the other hand, according to our model, Walker Jenkins 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 9:40am 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 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.
