Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has five games starting at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Sleeper and Underdog suggestions are also from the five-game slate.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Reynaldo Lopez (ATL) vs. COL
Reynaldo Lopez has dominated at home in his first season with the Braves. According to FanGraphs, in 12 starts spanning 68.0 innings at home this year, Lopez has had a 1.72 ERA, 3.61 xFIP, 1.16 WHIP, 10.2 BB%, 26.5 K% and six quality starts. He should stay hot at home in a cushy matchup.
The Rockies are 28th in wRC+ (85) with a 25.9 K% versus righties and 29th in wRC+ (77) with a 28.0 K% on the road this season. Colorado was also 26th in wRC+ (83) with a 27.0 K% in the previous 14 days. Thus, the Braves are -290, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.
Cody Bradford (TEX) vs. LAA
Cody Bradford is in a groove. In his previous five starts totaling 31.0 innings, he's had a 2.61 ERA, 3.82 xFIP, 3.78 SIERA, 0.87 WHIP, 3.3 BB%, 23.3 K%, 29.5 CSW%, 91 Stuff+, 108 Location+, 103 Pitching+ and four quality starts. The lefty has a tasty matchup tonight.
The Angels are tied for 16th in wRC+ (98) with a 21.3 K% versus lefties and 26th in wRC+ (87) with a 22.2 K% on the road this year. They were worse lately, ranking 29th in wRC+ (59) with a 26.4 K% in the previous 14 days. Finally, the Rangers are -148, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Braves have a tantalizing matchup tonight by any measure. In Austin Gomber's last five starts, he's had a 4.82 ERA, 5.19 xFIP, 5.21 SIERA, 1.32 WHIP and allowed 1.61 HR/9. The lefty has also struggled on the road. In 27 starts on the road since last year, Gomber has had a 4.35 ERA, 4.76 xFIP, 1.34 WHIP and allowed 1.49 HR/9. The lefty has also yielded a .306 wOBA to lefties and a .348 wOBA to righties this year. Finally, Colorado's relievers have had the highest ERA (5.52) this year.
Core Studs
- Marcell Ozuna is having a wildly successful season at the plate. In 592 plate appearances, he's hit 37 homers with 86 runs, 98 RBIs, a .378 OBP, .265 ISO and 159 wRC+.
- In 341 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Jorge Soler has hit 25 homers with a .365 OBP, .316 ISO and 150 wRC+.
- In 342 career plate appearances against righties at home since debuting in 2021, Oneil Cruz has hit 14 homers with a .377 OBP, .213 ISO and 159 wRC+. He's also on a stolen base heater, swiping x in his last x games.
Value Plays/Punts
- In 320 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Ramon Laureano has hit 10 homers with a .338 OBP, .195 ISO and 125 wRC+.
- Sean Murphy has hit 14 homers with a .356 OBP, .221 ISO and 130 wRC+ in 323 plate appearances against southpaws since 2022.
- In 280 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Andy Ibanez has hit 10 homers with a .325 OBP, .198 ISO and 122 wRC+.
Thursday's Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Jorge Soler: 7.5 Fantasy Points - More (Sleeper) (1.80x)
Jorge Soler: 8.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)
In addition to Soler's track record of success against lefties, he's on a roll. In his previous 80 plate appearances, he's hit five homers with 10 runs, 12 RBIs, a .338 OBP, .258 ISO and 121 wRC+.
Marcell Ozuna: 7.5 Fantasy Points - More (Sleeper) (1.76x)
Marcell Ozuna: 8.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)
Ozuna isn't slowing down in an excellent season at the plate. In his last 123 plate appearances, he's hit five homers with 17 runs, 12 RBIs, a .398 OBP, .209 ISO and 157 wRC+. The slugger has also smashed lefties. In 429 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Ozuna has hit 18 homers with a .338 OBP, .192 ISO and 117 wRC+. Finally, again, Gomber has coughed up a .348 wOBA to righties this year.
Josh Jung: 1.5 Total Bases - More (Sleeper) (1.99x)
Josh Jung: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher (Underdog) (Scorcher 1.12x)
Jack Kochanowicz has proven to be unready for the bigs. In six starts spanning 32.2 innings, he's had a 4.96 ERA, 5.54 xERA, 4.73 SIERA, 1.41 WHIP, 5.1 BB% and 8.8 K%. The righty has allowed two doubles, three homers, a .275 batting average and a .490 slugging to 58 righties. Meanwhile, Josh Jung caught fire in late August. In his last six games and 26 plate appearances, Jung has hit two homers with a .375 batting average, .625 slugging and .250 ISO, exceeding 1.5 total bases in four of those contests.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
