MLB Daily Fantasy Dose: Diamondbacks Sluggers to Strike on Tired Giants Bullpen

Here's a look at the MLB daily fantasy picture ahead of Thursday's eight-game slate:

Stacks of the Day

• Arizona Diamondbacks (vs. San Francisco Giants): The Giants used seven relievers in Wednesday's 13-inning victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Five relievers topped 15 pitches. Starting pitcher Johnny Cueto has struggled against left-handed hitters this season, allowing opponents to hit .276 with a .429 SLG%. The Chase Field setting seals this selection.

• Baltimore Orioles (vs. Detroit Tigers): Tigers RHP Mike Pelfrey has identical walk and strikeout rates (4.45 hitters per nine innings). He's also being taken deep on 20 percent of all fly balls he surrenders. His 5.12 xFIP is marginally better than his current 6.23 ERA, but opposing lefties are averaging .403 against him. Lock in Orioles 1B Chris Davis.

• St. Louis Cardinals (at Los Angeles Angels): Jared Weaver is coming off his best start of the year against the Tampa Bay Rays, but he allowed a total of 11 earned runs in his previous two starts. He'll take on a much better offense this time around and the Cardinals will have the rare use of an extra hitter in their lineup, as well.

Bargain Plays

• C Kevin Plawecki, Mets (at Dodgers): Plawecki has the most unappealing pitcher matchup in baseball, with LHP Clayton Kershaw starting for the Dodgers. Plawecki has five hits - including a home run - and a walk in 14 plate appearances against lefties this season. He won't hit high in the lineup but a base hit and a run or RBI will return value.

• 1B/3B Marwin Gonzalez, Astros (at Red Sox): The right-handed hitting Gonzalez will draw into the lineup against Red Sox LHP David Price. Price's strikeout rate is up this year, but he's stranding far fewer runners and allowing more home runs. Gonzalez has a homer, four doubles and three walks in 30 PAs against lefties, while striking out just four times.

• OF Jon Jay, Padres (at Brewers): Jay has reverse splits favoring left-handed pitching in 2016, but he's a career .288 hitter with 27 home runs against righties. He has 11 extra-base hits - including a home run off a righty - this year, and he'll likely return to the top a Padres lineup coming off a doubleheader sweep of the Chicago Cubs.

Contrarian Options

• SP Bartolo Colon, Mets (at Dodgers): Opposing Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw leads the MLB in strikeout to walk ratio, but Colon ranks second in the category. He lacks the strikeout upside of his opponent, but he doesn't walk anyone, and comes at a significantly lower salary. If the Mets can pick up the win, he'll return value at low ownership.

• 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks (vs. Giants): Goldschmidt has a tough matchup against Cueto, but 11 of his 13 extra-base hits have come against righties this season. He's hitting .259 at home and has hit five of his seven home runs at Chase Field. He has two multi-hit games in his past three outings and should continue the course correction.

• 2B Jonathan Schoop, Orioles (vs. Tigers): It's all about the matchup for Schoop, as a date with Pelfrey offers immense potential. Pelfrey's struggles are mentioned above, and Schoop has nine of his 11 extra-base hits off righties this year. He hits for a lower average than he does against lefties, but DFS owners just need to hope for a long ball.