Its Thursday, which means another abbreviated and ugly slate, right? Wrong. Thursdays slate is a breath of fresh air. While only nine games are on the schedule, those nine contests are ripe with options. In addition to three hurlers garnering elite status, there are plenty of big names - Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels and David Price, to name a few - and a number of others filling up the middle tier as well. Thursdays like this dont come along very often, so enjoy it while it lasts.PitchingEliteJose Fernandez comes in behind Jacob deGrom in terms of Game Score, but hes still the days top option in my book. The right-hander leads baseball with a 13.1 K/9, which includes seven double-digit K games, and hes allowed more than two runs just twice in his last 13 outings. He faces a stiff test with a home matchup against the Cardinals, who sport an NL-best 114 wRC+ versus right-handed pitching this season and have scored the third-most runs in baseball. Then again, no other hurler on the days slate can match Fernandezs floor and ceiling. Hes not a must-play given the other options available, but investing in Fernandez is always money well spent.In terms of matchup, deGrom finds himself in a more appealing spot with a home tilt against the Rockies. The Rox lineups is largely sapped of its powers away from Coors Field, as they sport a .294 road wOBA this season that ranks second-worst in baseball along with a 24 percent strikeout rate. While he doesnt have Fernandezs strikeout upside (who does?) and is whiffing less than a batter per inning, its worth noting that hes posted a 10.3 K/9 over his last 11 starts. Fading Fernandez is always tough, but deGrom carries plenty of cash-game appeal.Third in the elite-tier pecking order is Chris Sale, who returns to the mound after his five-game suspension for a clubhouse incident that involved cutting up some throwback uniforms. If theres a time to fade the White Sox lefty, this might be it. For one, the Cubs mash left-handed pitching, as they sport a 118 wRC+ versus southpaws that ranks second-best in baseball. Secondly, hes actually been a suspect cash option of late, having allowed five or more runs in three of his last seven starts. Finally, Sales ceiling isnt what it once was now that hes pitching more to contact. I like Sale as a potential contrarian play in tournaments, but Im looking elsewhere in cash.SolidJohnny Cueto is rock-solid when it comes to cash games. Hes been terrific both at home (2.43 ERA) and on the road (2.63 ERA), and hes held an ERA of 3.00 or lower in each month this season. The Nationals may be one of the best team in the National League, but theyve been below average versus righties (93 wRC+) and havent put up much offense in the second half (84 wRC+). The Giants right-hander is definitely in play on Thursday.If youre not paying up for one of the elite, investing in Julio Teheran makes a lot of sense. Since the beginning of May, Teheran holds a 2.15 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with an 8.1 K/9. Better yet, hes matching up against a Phillies offense that cant hit right-handed pitching (82 wRC+) and has been absolutely brutal since the All-Star break, sporting a 62 wRC+ and 25 percent whiff rate.Cole Hamels draws a home start against Kansas City. The Royals are tough to strike out and are tougher on left-handed pitching than righties. That said, Hamels is getting them at the right time, as theyve been striking out at a 22 percent clip in July with a 77 wRC+ that ranks worst in the American League. Outside of a pair of rough starts against the Twins in early July, the Texas lefty has allowed one or zero runs in his other six outings dating back to June 12.Once one of the most stable options in DFS, John Lackey has stumbled a bit of late. Over his last six outings, hes been battered for a 6.38 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. So he cant be recommended for cash right now. That said, Lackey has been much better at Wrigley Field this year (2.84 ERA) than hes been on the road (4.68 ERA), and the White Sox can be exploited by right-handed pitching (87 wRC+), giving him some GPP appeal.The Angels may sit dead-last in the AL West, but their offense has been stinging the ball lately. In addition to sporting a 121 wRC+ so far in July, the Angels have posted a 113 wRC+ versus lefty pitching this season. That puts David Price in a tough spot. The lefty hasnt proven to be a safe cash-game commodity this season, and the Angels dont strike out enough to make him a great GPP play despite his K/9 rate of 9.6.StreamersRobbie Ray certainly has his limitations, but he also brings nice upside when the matchup is right. Such is the case on Thursday, when Ray lines up against a Brewers team that whiffs at a 24 percent clip versus lefties. For his part, Ray is whiffing 10.9 batters per nine, which ranks top-five in baseball. The southpaw makes for a fine GPP option and has some streaming appeal if you need strikeouts. Hes available in 87 percent of ESPN.com leagues.Zach Davies has quietly put up some pretty good numbers. Since June 1, the right-hander has posted a 2.35 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 8.0 K/9. Against an Arizona team thats below average against righties (89 wRC+) and strikes out at a healthy 23 percent clip, theres definitely some streaming value here. His ESPN.com ownership sits at just 33 percent.AvoidAaron Nola has hit a rough patch. Dating back to his June 11 start against Washington, the righty is 0-7 with a 10.61 ERA and 2.04 WHIP in seven starts. In those seven starts, he allowed five or more runs five times. A matchup against the Braves, which own the worst offense in baseball against right-handed pitching (75 wRC+), creates a glimmer of hope for DFS players. Even so, the cake matchup isnt enough for me to trust the Phillies right-hander on Thursday.HittingIts been a rough season for Jered Weaver, who owns a 5.32 ERA and has been hit hard by both right- (.375 wOBA) and left-handed hitters (.350 wOBA). It just so happens that the Red Sox, the best offense in baseball against right-handed pitching, are coming to town. Theyll be pricey, but this is a great stacking opportunity.Left-handed Baltimore bats should be on the radar against Kyle Gibson, one of the weakest pitchers on the slate. Chris Davis is the obvious play here, though Pedro Alvarez, switch-hitter Matt Wieters and Hyun Soo Kim, whos batting .355 versus right-handed pitching, are in the mix as well.With Ubaldo Jimenez taking the mound for the Orioles on Thursday, its a good time to load on Twins bats. Jimenez has been abysmal this season, posting 7.38 ERA in 18 games and 5.5 BB/9. Left-handed bats in particular have tattooed him for a .425 wOBA.We already highlighted Robbie Ray as a high-upside streaming option, but the fact remains that right-handed hitters have hit him pretty well in his career and Miller Park inflates power for right-handers. Jonathan Villar, Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Chris Carter are all in play here.Most likely to go yard: David OrtizLets go with Ortiz, who has hit 21 of his 24 homers this season off righties and is facing a pitcher (Weaver) who has had homer issues.Most likely to swipe a bag: Mookie BettsWell double-up on Boston hitters, who draw a perfect 10 steals rating against Weaver. Betts it he most likely wreak havoc on the basepaths in this one. Satchel Paige Jersey . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Matt Belisle Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.indiansteamproshop.com/Indians-Michael-Brantley-Kids-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Francisco Lindor Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Kenny Lofton Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Luke Pomersbach was called up to Australias Twenty20 side against New Zealand at Perth from the car park after Brad Hodge hurt his back before the match. He was rushed into the final XI and hit 15 in Australias victory. Here Cricinfo looks back on eleven other eventful debuts. Can you think of any others? Send them to feedback. Mike Whitney England v Australia 1981 Mike Whitney was just 22 years old and the veteran of a solitary season with New South Wales, when he signed, for ￡65 per week, to play club cricket for the fishing village of Fleetwood in the Northern Lancashire League. After two months of struggling with the cold of an English early season, he was called down for a trial with Gloucestershire, who were looking for a replacement for their legendary allrounder, Mike Procter. He impressed immediately, with five wickets against the touring Sri Lankans, and he had played just one championship match against Worcestershire, when the phone rang again. This time it was the Australian tour manager, Fred Bennett. Australia had injury problems, he had form, and within 24 hours, Whitney was playing in the fifth Test at Old Trafford, where he capped a whirlwind summer with the maiden wicket of David Gower. His first spell in Test cricket lasted one ball - then the rain came. Justin Ontong South Africa v Australia 2001-02 For all the rights and wrongs of South Africas controversial quota system, there are occasions when politicians should resist the temptation to meddle in team selection, and the middle of a tough overseas series against one of the best Australian sides of all time would probably be one of those. South Africa were already 2-0 down and seeking a face-saving win, when it was announced that Jacques Rudolph would be making his Test debut in the third Test at Sydney. Percy Sonn, South Africas board president, however, had other ideas, and at the 11th hour, Rudolphs selection was over-ruled in favour of the Cape Coloured batsman - and Rudolphs room-mate - Justin Ontong. It was a thankless task, to face a formidable opposition under such unsettling circumstances, but Ontong acquitted himself well enough, scoring 9 and 32 in a ten-wicket defeat. Andy Lloyd England v West Indies 1984 Lloyd made his debut after doing well in the ODI series that preceded the Tests. Half-an-hour into his first innings, he ducked into a bouncer from Malcolm Marshall and was led off and taken to hospital, suffering from double vision. He remained there for the rest of the match, and did not play again that season. He was never quite the same again, although he carried on until 1992. He has the distinction of being the only player to open in a Test and never be out. Jacques Rudolph South Africa v India 2001-02 For Rudolph, the Ontong affair was just another hiccup in his long-drawn-out initiation to international cricket, because his debut should, in fact, have come four Tests earlier, against India at Centurion. That match, however, was stripped of its ICC status when the Indians refused to recognise the authority of the match referee, Mike Denness, who had sanctioned six of their players, including Sachin Tendulkar for ball-tampering and Virender Sehwag for excessive appealing, during the previous match at Port Elizabeth. For the record, Rudolph made 21 and South Africa won a lacklustre affair by an innings and 73 runs. Its little wonder that, when he did finally get his chance, against Bangladesh at Chittagong in April 2003, Rudolph was determined to make the most of the moment, and cracked the hapless Banglas for 222 from 383 balls.South African team v West Indies 1991-92 An historic moment, as South Africa ended 21 years of banishment from Test cricket with a team comprising 10 full debutants plus Kepler Wessels, who had never played for the country of his birth, but had represented Australia in 24 Tests in the mid-1980s. But for the provincially-minded Bajans who stayed away from the match in droves, the most important debutant was the one who did not play. It had been widely hoped that the young allrounder, Anderson Cummins, would be given a first cap on his home turf, but the West Indian selectors opted instead for Kenny Benjamin, to provoke uproar on the island. No Cummins, no goings, was how one banner memorablyy summed up the situation.dddddddddddd The match itself turned out to be a classic, with Ambrose and Walsh ripping victory from South Africas grasp on the final morning of the match.Sachin Tendulkar India v Pakistan 1989-90 The Pakistani pace attack at the turn of the 1990s was one of the most formidable of all time. It comprised the established pairing of Imran Khan and Wasim Akram and, when India arrived for their tour of the country in November 1989, Waqar Younis was straining at the leash to get stuck in as well. Indias response was unconventional, to say the least. Into the fray they threw a baby-faced 16-year-old with one season of first-class cricket to his name, and hoped for the best. Sachin Tendulkars debut produced just 15 runs but bucketfuls of bravery as he stayed in line and copped his blows, as mothers the length and breadth of the subcontinent winced at each delivery and prayed for an end to this cruelty. Douglas Carr England v Australia 1909 One of crickets most remarkable stories. Carr made no impression on the game, meandering through club cricket for years until in 1908 when, at the age of 37, he unleashed his googly which he had been honing for four years. He enjoyed such success that in May he was offered a trial with Kent, and by August he was in the England side playing Australia at The Oval. He took 7 for 282 and was named one of Wisdens Cricketers of the Year in 1910. He was aware of his limitations. I am quite certain of one thing, and that is that in a very short time everybody will be quite able to distinguish between the two breaks. Although he never played for England again, he enjoyed success with Kent until the Great War. Jack MacBryan England v South Africa 1924 MacBryan holds a unique place in Test cricket in that he did nothing on his debut, which turned out to be his only appearance for England. Playing in a rain-affected match at Old Trafford, he did not bowl or take a catch in South Africas damp first innings and England never had a chance to bat as the Manchester weather took hold. He was dropped for the next Test when the injured JW Hearne returned and never got another chance, slowly drifting out of the game from 1926. That he played at all was surprising as he had suffered a serious wound to his right arm in the Great War which meant he was unable to throw any distance.Charles Marriott England v West Indies 1933 Father Marriott was a renowned googly bowler who, because of teaching duties at Dulwich College, only played for Kent in the summer holidays. He was almost 38 when picked to make his only Test appearance at the end of the 1933 season, and showed his class by taking 11 for 96 to bowl West Indies to an innings defeat. He was a poor fielder, and a genuine rabbit - his career-best score was 21 and he averaged 4.40, taking more first-class wickets (711) than he scored runs (574). He took time off to tour India with Douglas Jardines side that winter, but did not play in any of the Tests, and carried on his duel duties for several more years.Tony Pigott England v New Zealand 1983-84 A classic case of being in the right place at the right time. A right-arm fast-medium bowler from Sussex, Pigott, who was never close to national honours, was in New Zealand playing club cricket when England were struck down by an injury crisis, and he responded to an SOS. The situation was further complicated as Pigott was due to be married on the Monday of the Test, and he had to postpone the ceremony to play. He need not have bothered. The match was a disaster for England who were bowled out for 82 and 93, losing in under 12 hours - Pigott took 2 for 75.Roy Park Australia v England 1920-21 Dr Roy Parks place in cricket history was secured by the legend of how his wife bent down to pick up her knitting and missed her husbands entire Test career - he was bowled first ball in his only innings. Only years later did he admit he hadnt been to bed the night before as he had had to supervise a difficult birth. He would have played more were it not for alienating the authorities with his staunch support of Warwick Armstrong and the demands of his medical career. ' ' '