Gerrit Cole looks to carry the load for FanDuel owners tonight as the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Chicago White Sox. The Pirates starter has been one of the top starters in the game this season posting a 1.71 earned run average over his first 13 starts with a 10-2 record and 93 strikeouts. Cole has allowed no more than three earned runs in any start this season something that has only happened twice. In his last seven starts, the Pirates starter has allowed just seven earned runs.

From a fantasy stand point, Cole has been brilliant for the most part all season as well over his last 10 outings. In that stretch the Pirates starter has failed to reach double figures in just one outing coming back on May 6^th. Since that point, Cole has averaged around 17 fantasy points a contest in the last seven games.

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While Cole is a great option a few other top options exist as well as Chris Archer takes the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays while Zach Greinke takes the hill for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Archer is coming off a single digit fantasy performance in his last outing after posting six straight double digit performances. As you look at his three game stretch from May 27^th to June 7^th, Archer might have been the best fantasy option. Archer posted three straight games with over 11 strikeouts helping him to at least 20 points in each outing.

Then you have Greinke who is coming off back to back 13 point outings to go with eight double digit performances over his last 10 outings. While Greinke might not give you the big 20 point outing we all would love he is very consistent with getting fantasy owners double digits. Before setting your rosters tonight make sure to check the updated MLB lineups as well as the weather for each game. Six of the 10 games have rain in the forecast outside of Toronto who have a retractable roof.

Here is our complete MLB FanDuel lineup for Thursday June 18^th.

P – Gerrit Cole ($11,200): We elected to go with the top gun on the mound tonight against a Chicago White Sox team that has struggled at times this season. We also tossed around the option to use Doug Fister against the Tampa Bay Rays for the Washington Nationals. If you go this route you could add some firepower to your lineup.

C – Martin Maldonado ($2,600): The option here is to use Maldonado against Jeremy Guthrie with the guess that the Milwaukee Brewers will give Jonathan Lucroy the day off. You could also flip over the Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez who also cost $2,600.

First Base – Adam Lind ($2,500): With the most expensive option on the mound we have to find a few bargains who could pay off for us. One of those guys could be Adam Lind who has some solid numbers against Jeremy Guthrie over his career. Lind is 17 for 47 with five extra base hits and two runs driven in.

Second Base – Addison Russell ($2,500): We might be a day late but the Chicago Cubs second baseman is still riding an eight game hitting streak. Yesterday’s two hit performance with a home run could spark his power potential going forward.

Third Base – Josh Donaldson ($4,600): The Toronto Blue Jays third baseman is in somewhat of a home run funk of late failing to hit one in his last six games. That being said we love to use Blue Jays when their at home at the Rogers Centre.

Short Stop – Francisco Lindor ($2,400): Lindor is another one of the top prospects to make his way to the Majors this season. While we have seen him in a limted role already he did display the ability to get on base as well as an opportunity to steal a base.

Outfielder – Carlos Beltran ($2,200): Beltran is one of those FanDuel Bargains tonight coming in at just $2,200. As we look at his career numbers off of Mat Latos, Beltran has seven hits in 21 at bats including three home runs. You could also look to use Ichiro Suzuki who has some good numbers against CC Sabathia in this matchup.

Outfielder – Nelson Cruz ($3,200): The Seattle Mariners outfielder has struggled of late as he enters tonight’s contest stuck at 18 home runs. In the end we love his fantasy potential for the right price of $3,200 allowing us to insert Joc Pederson in the third outfield spot.

Outfielder – Joc Pederson ($3,800): Pederson made a pinch hit appearance in the Dodgers game yesterday going hitless in just one at bat. Prior to that at bat, Pederson had picked up hits in four straight games including a two hit performance on Tuesday.