The MLB DFS main slates are different at FanDuel and DraftKings. The main slate at the former has seven games starting at 6:50 p.m. ET, and the latter’s is a six-game main slate beginning at 7:10 p.m. ET. The suggested selections for PrizePicks and Underdog focus on tonight’s games, excluding the afternoon contests.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Garrett Crochet (CWS) at SEA
According to FanGraphs, Garrett Crochet's 2.30 xERA this season is the lowest among tonight's probable pitchers. The lefty is also in a groove, pitching at an elite level. In Crochet's previous five starts spanning 29.0 innings, he's had a 1.24 ERA, 2.40 xFIP, 2.57 SIERA, 0.83 WHIP, 7.1 BB%, 34.5 K%, 29.6 CSW%, 99 Stuff+, 103 Location+ and 101 Pitching+.
Crochet has a favorable matchup despite the Mariners hovering around the middle of the pack in wRC+ against lefties (96 wRC+) and at home (99 wRC+) this season. However, Seattle has had a 26.1 K% versus lefties and a 27.8 K% at home. Crochet has the goods to pile up strikeouts. The White Sox are slight underdogs (+150), but the game's total is 6.5 runs. So, Crochet can provide DFS value through strikeouts and a gem, even if he doesn't earn a win.
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs. OAK
Joe Ryan has pitched well lately. In his past five starts totaling 31.1 innings, he's had a 3.45 ERA, 3.56 xFIP, 3.44 SIERA, 0.96 WHIP, 5.8 BB%, 26.4 K%, 27.4 CSW%, 105 Stuff+, 103 Location+ and 102 Pitching+.
Ryan has a mouthwatering matchup and dreamy betting info. This season, the Athletics are 21st in wRC+ (95) with a 26.7 K% versus righties and tied for 26th in wRC+ (85) with a 28.3 K% on the road. In the previous 14 days, Oakland was 25th in wRC+ (74) with a 27.1 K%. Finally, the Twins are -240, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.
Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) vs. LAA
Brandon Pfaadt has had a sizable gap between his ERA and ERA estimators this season and lately. In his last five starts spanning 31.1 innings, Pfaadt has had a 4.60 ERA, 3.52 xFIP, 3.34 SIERA, 1.05 WHIP, 5.6 BB%, 27.0 K%, 29.8 CSW%, 108 Stuff+, 104 Location+ and 105 Pitching+. Coincidentally, Pfaadt is on the same slate as Crochet because it wasn't long ago Crochet's ERA estimators were drastically better than his ERA, and the underlying data won out.
Pfaadt can smash tonight. Sure, the Angels erupted last night. Still, they're 25th in wRC+ (89) with a 23.5 K% versus righties and tied for 18th in wRC+ (94) with a 21.9 K% on the road this year. As a result, the Diamondbacks are -180, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Luis Medina has a 5.23 ERA, 4.70 xERA and 6.80 SIERA in two starts this year. He's struggled in the majors to this point in his young career, and the Twins are an average or better offense. They're tied for 10th in wRC+ (101) versus righties and 15th in wRC+ (101) at home. Moreover, eight of their projected starters have had at least a 102 wRC+ against righties since 2022.
Core Studs
- Since 2022, Mookie Betts has had a .376 OBP, .238 ISO and 151 wRC+ against righties.
- Royce Lewis is unstoppable. In 33 plate appearances this year, he's launched five homers with a .394 OBP, .567 ISO and 262 wRC+.
- Trevor Larnach has had a 109 wRC+ against righties since 2022 and will have a favorable lineup slot tonight.
Value Plays/Punts
- Andy Pages has been slightly below average (94 wRC+) against righties in his rookie campaign. However, Michael Lorenzen has coughed up a .420 wOBA to 125 righties this year.
- In 182 plate appearances this year, Jose Miranda has hit six homers with a .308 OBP, .186 ISO and 118 wRC+.
- Masataka Yoshida has a challenging matchup against Aaron Nola tonight. Nevertheless, he's underpriced relative to his talent. Since joining MLB last year, Yoshida has had a .340 OBP, .156 ISO and 112 wRC+ against righties.
Thursday's Top 3 Underdog and PrizePicks Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Mookie Betts: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Scorcher 1.1x) (Underdog)
Mookie Betts: 8.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
In addition to Betts's sparkling numbers against righties, he's posting excellent stats this year. In 315 plate appearances this year, Betts has hit 16 doubles, three triples, 10 homers and stolen nine bases with a .309 batting average, .298 xBA, .502 slugging, .474 xSLG, .410 OBP and 164 wRC+. The matchup is also drool-inducing. Again, Lorenzen has ceded a .420 wOBA to right-handed batters this season.
Carlos Correa: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs - Higher (Underdog)
Carlos Correa: 7.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
Carlos Correa is bouncing back from a down year. In 208 plate appearances this year, Correa has had a .290 batting average, .292 xBA, .356 OBP, .169 ISO and 131 wRC+. He also has a track record of succeeding against righties. Since 2022, Correa has had a .263 batting average, .334 OBP, .161 ISO and 115 wRC+ against righties. Correa is also in a groove, exceeding 1.5 hits plus runs and RBI in five of his previous seven games.
Brandon Pfaadt: 5.5 Strikeouts - Higher (Scorcher 1.1x)
Brandon Pfaadt: 5.0 Strikeouts - More
Pfaadt is a holdover from the DFS section. In addition to LA's lousy numbers against righties and on the road, they're in a funk despite last night's offensive outburst. In the previous 14 days, the Angels were tied for 21st in wRC+ (82) with a 20.6 K%.
Pfaadt has exceeded 5.5 strikeouts three times in his last five starts. Moreover, he's cleared 5.5 strikeouts in three of five starts at home. In his five home starts, Pfaadt has averaged 5.8 strikeouts per game with a median of
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
