Thursday's MLB slate is packed with 16 games, divided between day and night. FanDuel has opted for the night games as the main slate, which features key pitchers and hitters. Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies stands out with a solid 3.29 ERA and a remarkable 23+ FanDuel points in 13 of his 14 starts this season. He faces a struggling Miami lineup, enhancing his fantasy appeal.

Another pitcher to consider is Drew Rasmussen from Tampa Bay, boasting a 2.55 ERA. He’s consistently limited scoring opportunities and should perform well against the Baltimore Orioles. Among hitters, Jeremy Peña of the Houston Astros is a must-start with impressive stats against left-handed pitchers. Brent Rooker from Oakland and Jonathan Aranda of Tampa Bay also present great value picks. Lastly, stacking the Los Angeles Dodgers against a rookie pitcher could yield significant returns, especially with Shohei Ohtani leading the charge.

For today's MLB betting opportunities, focus on two key matchups featuring talented left-handed pitchers who have demonstrated strong performances against weaker opponents. The Philadelphia Phillies take on the Miami Marlins, where Ranger Suárez is expected to excel. With a stellar 2.32 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, Suárez has proven to be particularly formidable on the road and at Loan Depot Park, where Marlins batters struggle against lefties. Expect him to record over 18.5 outs.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers face the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates, with Tarik Skubal on the mound. Skubal boasts an impressive 1.99 ERA and has shown dominance at home, making him a prime candidate for an under on hits allowed. Given the Pirates' poor showing against lefties this season, expect a tough outing for them against Skubal.

The Tampa Bay Rays are surging, winning 18 out of their last 24 games, including a recent three-game sweep of the New York Mets. Manager Kevin Cash expressed his pleasure with the team's performance, emphasizing their solid offense, defense, and pitching. Shane Baz's impressive outing bolstered the bullpen during a dominant 9-0 victory over the Mets. The Rays took control early, establishing a six-run lead by the fifth inning, highlighted by key contributions from Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero, who hit a three-run homer on Father's Day. Despite their success, Cash acknowledges the Yankees remain a formidable opponent in the American League East, stressing a focus on taking it series by series.

In Monday's MLB slate, several key players emerge as must-haves for fantasy lineups. Clarke Schmidt of the New York Yankees stands out with a solid 2.78 ERA and a 9.5 K/9 rate over his last eight starts, making him a strong option against the struggling Los Angeles Angels. Ryan Pepiot from Tampa Bay is also a top choice, boasting a remarkable 1.78 ERA and a 9.2 K/9 rate in his recent outings, particularly against a weaker Baltimore lineup.

Hitting options include big names like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, both of whom come with hefty price tags. For budget-conscious players, Jasson Dominguez and Jake Meyers offer promising upside at more affordable values. Stacking the Yankees against Ohtani or pairing Astros with their matchup against the Athletics could yield high returns.

The New York Mets faced a disheartening 9-0 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rays, marking their most lopsided loss of the season and the first sweep at home this year. Mets starter Griffin Canning struggled, giving up six earned runs over 4.1 innings with a season-high five walks. The Rays capitalized on walks and errors, scoring early on a series of miscues from the Mets. Notably, a critical strikeout by Rays' Shane Baz against Pete Alonso ended a promising inning.

The Mets' offense faltered, finishing 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, stranding 12 baserunners throughout the game. Manager Carlos Mendoza emphasized the need for cleaner play, while outfielder Brandon Nimmo acknowledged that the Rays played exceptionally well. The Mets now head into a crucial road trip with their lead in the National League East shrinking to just 2.5 games, after the Philadelphia Phillies swept the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend.