Fantasy Baseball

Although a good problem to have, daily fantasy baseball gamers must choose from a crowded field of aces taking the mound on Sunday.

Thursday was International Left-Handers Day, but from the looks of the starting pitchers scheduled to take the mound on Friday, the holiday should have been celebrated a day later.

It's (almost) the freakin' weekend, baby, I'm about to have me some fun. Yeah, I just quoted R. Kelly. And I will not apologize because DraftKings daily fantasy has me feeling some kind of way before the weekend even starts.

This late in the MLB season, setting daily fantasy baseball lineups has become ingrained into players' routines. Gamers have hit the daily grind for over four months, and plenty of days remain to boost that bankroll.

Well accustomed to the procedure, readers don't need a lengthy introduction this late in the year. Let's jump right into Friday night's top DraftKings picks, beginning with a top-tier ace and ending with a bargain-bin outfielder, as usual. 

The clock is ticking to orchestrate a last-minute fantasy baseball trade.

If the trade deadline hasn't already passed, many leagues will close their trade window soon. Monday marks the end date for several make-believe general managers. There go your weekend plans.

The 2015 MLB season continues to roll along with less than two months before October. Most daily fantasy owners have likely gotten into a groove at this point, but the names at the top of lists are constantly changing.

Some players have risen to the task in August, while others have fallen off under the pressure of a playoff push. Ahead of Thursday's slate of games, here's a look at some studs and duds for August 13.

Thursday's MLB schedule consists of only nine games, four during the day and five at night.  Whether DraftKings daily fantasy players choose to enter contests in the afternoon, evening or both, options are limited.  Scoring points from unexpected sources is what will separate the winners from the losers.

There are only four Major League Baseball games on Thursday's afternoon schedule. Short schedules are ideal for stacking your DraftKings lineup with position players from one team.

This time around, the Chicago Cubs are the team to lean on—hard.

Bleed Cubbie Blue—At Least for Day

If nine games doesn't limit Thursday's daily fantasy baseball choices enough, the action disperses into separate slates throughout the day.

With start times stretching from 12:10 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. ET, DraftKings gamers will tackle their DFS lineups through afternoon and/or evening contests. Only so many roster combinations exist with four early and five evening bouts, limiting the margin of error for all participants.

Wednesday is getaway day for a number of MLB teams, which means most daily fantasy baseball contests are divided into day and night games. On the plus side, there are a number of quality options regardless of when you sign up.

Here is a breakdown of the best overall picks in each set of games.

Afternoon Contests

Chris Heston, SP, San Francisco Giants ($9,000)