The MLB DFS main slates differ at DraftKings and FanDuel on Opening Day. At DraftKings, there are nine games, starting at 4:05 p.m. ET. On FanDuel, there are 11 games beginning at 3:05 p.m. ET. The Underdog and Sleeper pick ’em selections are also from 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
Paul Skenes (PIT) at MIA
Paul Skenes had a breathtaking rookie campaign in 2024. According to FanGraphs, among pitchers with at least 130 innings last year, Skenes was first in ERA (1.96), first in xERA (2.53), second in xFIP (2.54), second in SIERA (2.71) and tied for third in WHIP (0.95).
The young righty also had a blistering 33.1 K%, validated by his 13.1 SwStr%, 29.4 CSW%, 110 stuff+, 110 location+ and 115 pitching+. Skenes showcased a bat-missing arsenal with sparkling pitch-modeling data.
Skenes should open his 2025 campaign on a high note. The Marlins have an unserious and unimposing lineup of youngsters. Five of their projected starters by Roster Resource have had a 60 wRC+ or lower against righties since 2023 or debuting in the Majors. Skenes should carve them up, and the betting info is tasty. The Pirates are -155, and the game’s total is just 7.0 runs.
Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) at CWS
Yusei Kikuchi is the ideal value SP2 at DraftKings and an enticing value option at FanDuel. The White Sox are a tire fire. Since 2023, Luis Robert (115 wRC+), Lenyn Sosa (108 wRC+) and Michael A. Taylor (107 wRC+) are Chicago’s only projected starters with above-average numbers against lefties, and they’re hardly a murderer’s row themselves. The White Sox have as many projected starters with a 44 wRC+ or lower against lefties since 2023 as above-average hitters. They’re a cupcake for Kikuchi to feast on.
The veteran lefty had a rock-solid 2024 season. In 32 starts spanning 175.2 innings, Kikuchi had the following stats.
- 4.05 ERA
- 3.70 xERA
- 3.20 xFIP
- 3.30 SIERA
- 1.20 WHIP
- 6.0 BB%
- 28.0 K%
- 12.8 SwStr%
- 29.7 CSW%
- 101 stuff+
- 109 location+
- 111 pitching+
Kikuchi was also a road warrior during the previous two seasons. In 160 innings on the road since 2023, Kikuchi has had a 3.99 ERA, 3.57 xFIP, 1.33 WHIP, 6.5 BB% and 25.7 K%. Unsurprisingly, the Angels are -154 favorites. The game’s total of 8.5 runs isn’t especially appealing, but it shouldn’t deter gamers from using the favored Kikuchi in DFS lineups on Opening Day.
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) vs. BOS
Nathan Eovaldi has the unenviable task of toeing the slab opposite Garrett Crochet. Yet, it’s nearly a pick ’em, with the Rangers -105. The game’s total is also a pitcher-friendly 7.0 runs, making it much easier to stomach the potential for Eovaldi to get a no-decision or be saddled with a loss.
The veteran righty’s salary is also inviting and doesn’t require him to earn the fantasy points for a win to provide gamers. Eovaldi had been a stalwart at home for the previous two years. In 160 innings at home since 2023, Eovaldi has had a 3.66 ERA, 3.56 xFIP, 1.03 WHIP, 6.2 BB% and 24.5 K%.
He doesn’t have a pristine matchup. Five of Boston’s hitters have had at least a 129 wRC+ against righties since 2023. However, Eovaldi is a GPP pick, and the Red Sox have a few strikeout-prone hitters. Five of their projected starters have had at least a 24.5 K% against righties since 2023, and Kristian Campbell is making his debut in the Majors this year after recording a 30.5 K% in spring training. As a result, Eovaldi is an appealing GPP pivot from Kikuchi at both DFS providers.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The bottom of the Angels’ lineup isn’t appealing to stack in DFS. However, the top five hitters are appealing to stack or mini-stack against Sean Burke and Chicago’s bullpen. The rookie righty’s 19 innings for the White Sox last year were an outlier in his professional career. According to Baseball Reference, in 27 starts totaling 108 innings in Triple-A, he had a 6.08 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Chicago’s bullpen shouldn’t strike fear into gamers who stack the top hitters for the Angels, either. They might be chalky because of the lack of appealing pitchers to stack against, but they’re good chalk.
- Road (Great American Ball Park)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 7.5 Runs/SF -110
The Giants are a contrarian, ballpark-driven GPP stack. Hunter Greene isn’t an easy assignment for San Francisco’s lineup. In 26 starts totaling 150.1 innings last year, Greene had a 2.75 ERA and 3.03 xERA. However, he also had 4.19 xFIP and 3.81 SIERA. There aren’t many easy assignments for offenses on Opening Day, either.
The Giants should get an offensive bump from playing at Great American Ball Park (GABP). Cincinnati’s hitter-friendly home park is tied for the fourth-highest park factor for runs (1.093) and has the highest park factor for homers (1.384). Gamers must keep an eye on the weather forecast, but as long as showers aren’t projected to wipe the game off the slate, the Giants are a viable GPP stack.
Core Studs
- Mike Trout, despite battling injuries in recent years, is still a terror for right-handed pitchers. In 375 plate appearances against righties since 2023, Trout has had a .360 OBP, .292 ISO and 147 wRC+.
- In 346 plate appearances against lefties since 2023, Alec Bohm has hit 18 homers with a .335 OBP, .236 ISO and 132 wRC+. Conversely, MacKenzie Gore allowed a .311 wOBA to 546 righties last year.
- Bobby Witt exploded last year, swatting 32 homers and stealing 31 bases with a .389 OBP, .256 ISO and 168 wRC+ in 709 plate appearances. He was also dialed in during spring training, smashing four homers and stealing a base with a .415 OBP, .333 ISO and 183 wRC+ in 53 plate appearances.
Value Plays/Punts
- Michael Massey isn’t an exceptional hitter. Nevertheless, he had a 102 wRC+ in 356 plate appearances last year, and second base is an ideal spot to save salary on Thursday’s DFS slate.
- Nolan Schanuel finished last year on a high note. In 241 plate appearances in the second half of 2024, Schanuel had a .373 OBP, .113 ISO and 120 wRC+.
- Jung Hoo Lee raked in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) but had only an 83 wRC+ in 158 plate appearances in an injury-abbreviated MLB debut last year. Still, Hoo Lee had excellent bat-to-ball skills, with only an 8.2 K% for the Giants in 2024. Furthermore, in 39 plate appearances in spring training, he had two homers, a 12.8 BB%, 17.9 K%, .385 OBP, .242 ISO and 135 wRC+.
Thursday’s Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Carlos Rodon: 1.5 Earned Runs – More (Sleeper) (1.75x)
Carlos Rodon: 1.5 Earned Runs – Higher (Underdog)
In three spring training starts totaling 10 innings, Carlos Rodon had a 5.40 ERA, 5.15 xFIP, 1.80 WHIP, 13.0 BB%, 21.7 K% and allowed six earned runs. The lefty was solid but unspectacular last year, amassing a 3.96 ERA, 4.14 xERA, 4.09 xFIP and 3.78 SIERA in 175 innings.
However, Rodon’s numbers at home have left much to be desired. In 21 starts spanning 114.2 innings at home for the Yankees since 2023, Rodon has had a 4.00 ERA, 4.42 xFIP and allowed over 1.5 earned runs 15 times. Thus, his over for 1.5 earned runs has a five-star rating on our Underdog pick ’em tool at Betting Pros.
Hunter Greene: 1.5 Earned Runs – More (Sleeper) (1.74x)
Hunter Greene: 1.5 Earned Runs – Higher (Underdog)
I suggested stacking the Giants in GPPs. While that was a GPP suggestion, hanging more than 1.5 earned runs on Greene is a low bar to clear. In six spring training starts lasting 21 innings this year, Greene had a 5.57 ERA, 3.82 xFIP, 1.38 WHIP and allowed 13 earned runs. Our daily projections peg Greene for 2.65 earned runs on Opening Day, comfortably above his line of 1.5.
Bobby Witt: 8.5 Fantasy Points – Higher (Underdog)
I previously highlighted Witt’s eye-catching numbers in a breakout 2024 season. Additionally, in 1,113 plate appearances against righties since 2023, he’s had 305 hits, a .303 batting average, .358 OBP, .549 slugging, .246 ISO and 144 wRC+. Witt is also a run-production machine, scoring 125 runs and producing 109 RBIs in 161 games and 709 plate appearances last season. We project him to have 0.60 runs, 0.54 RBI and 1.17 hits in his season opener.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
