Welcome to the Throwback Thursday edition of my daily fantasy baseball advice column. The theme will be focusing on players you should target to throw back in your lineup and some you should throw back onto the DraftKings salary sheet.
Yes, we'll be keying in on the daily fantasy studs and duds. With 11 matchups and myriad players to choose from, some of these players are established stars, while others are coming into their own. Ahead of the first pitch being thrown, here's a look at players to keep and cut from your DraftKings lineups.
Studs
SP Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays ($12,400)
If there is one pitcher who's worth the high price on Thursday, it's Chris Archer. The former Rookie of the Year runner-up has come into his own this season and shouldn't be judged by one poor recent start.
As a rule of thumb, any high-strikeout pitcher should be started against the Houston Astros. Why? Well, because even though Houston is 11 games above .500, it ranks second in MLB in strikeouts. Currently sitting at third in MLB in strikeouts (194), Archer should have a huge fantasy outing.
1B Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants ($4,400)
Brandon Belt's bat has quieted down a little recently, but he's still one of the hottest-hitting first basemen in August. His double-digit fantasy points average over the last 10 games proves that. And at over $1,000 less than the top two options, Belt is a great value.
Going up against Charlie Morton isn't a great matchup, but he doesn't exactly strike fear into batters with a 4.36 ERA. Batting .288/.359/.507 with 13 of his 17 homers coming against righties, look for Belt to shine for owners on Thursday.
OF David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks ($3,800)
In order to afford a pitcher like Archer, owners will need to target low-priced players elsewhere. David Peralta is a perfect candidate for a low-end No. 2 outfielder. And at $3,800, he's an affordable option for any lineup.
Over his last 10 games, Peralta has averaged more than seven fantasy points. Oh, and he'll bring his .384/.426/.636 average up against rookie John Lamb on Thursday. After getting a day off, expect the fresh Peralta to continue his surge against Lamb.
Duds
SP Jake Peavy, San Francisco Giants ($6,700)
Even at a low salary, Jake Peavy simply isn't worth the risk. The 34-year-old starter was shelled in his last outing, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and three walks against the Washington Nationals. Now he faces another strong offensive team in the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Scoring over six runs on average over their last six games coming into Thursday's matchup, Pittsburgh is rolling. The Pirates match up well against Peavy as well with left-handed batters in Gregory Polanco and Pedro Alvarez. Oh, and Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte also have a little pop in their bats.
Suffice to say, Pittsburgh will feast on Peavy. Don't target him for any lineup.
OF Cameron Maybin, Atlanta Braves ($4,200)
In the midst of a strong season for the Atlanta Braves, Cameron Maybin is on one of his hottest stretches. However, he runs up against one of the best starters in the majors on Thursday: Jake Arrieta.
The Chicago Cubs hurler has been phenomenal recently, allowing just two earned runs over his last three starts—total. Maybin's likelihood of putting any runs or RBI together is slim, and his OBP and slugging percentage take a dip against right-handed pitchers. Don't take a chance on Maybin at this price.
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