This afternoon’s MLB DFS main slate has five games starting at 1:10 p.m. ET at DraftKings and FanDuel. Today’s pick ’em suggestions at Sleeper and Underdog 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
Jose Soriano (LAA) at TB
The pitching pickings are slim this afternoon, as evidenced by Jose Soriano’s ranking as the top hurler on the five-game slate. Zack Littell and the Rays are -135 favorites. So, perhaps Littell will be the chalkiest hurler on the slate.
I’m backing Soriano, though. According to FanGraphs, in two starts spanning 12.1 innings this season, Soriano has the following stats.
- 3.65 ERA
- 2.77 xERA
- 2.72 xFIP
- 3.08 SIERA
- 0.97 WHIP
- One win
- Two quality starts
- 10.9 BB%
- 30.4 K%
- 61.5 GB%
- 12.9 SwStr%
- 30.7 CSW%
- 98 stuff+
- 148 location+
- 150 pitching+
Soriano has also pitched well on the road. Since 2023, he’s had a 3.15 ERA, 3.75 xFIP, 1.11 WHIP, 9.8 BB%, 23.2 K% and 58.8 GB% in 97 innings on the road. Tampa Bay’s projected lineup isn’t an easy assignment for a righty, but they provide Soriano with a high strikeout ceiling.
Michael Wacha (KC) vs. MIN
Gamers must hold their nose when picking a second pitcher at DraftKings today. To call the group flawed would be an understatement. Nevertheless, there are a few angles for backing Michael Wacha.
First, the Royals are -120 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs. The total is tied for the second-lowest on the slate, and Wacha is favored. Second, Wacha has a track record of succeeding against Minnesota’s active roster. Per Baseball Savant, Minnesota’s active hitters have had a .320 wOBA and .272 xwOBA against Wacha in 95 plate appearances. Third, Wacha is the fourth-cheapest starting pitcher at DraftKings. Since you must stomach a lousy SP2, you might as well save salary on them.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Red Sox have a potent lineup against righties. Among their projected starters, seven have had at least a 118 wRC+ versus righties since 2023 or debuting, and six have had at least a 133 wRC+. Chris Bassitt has pitched well through two starts this year. Still, since 2023, Bassitt has had a 3.93 ERA and 4.27 xFIP in 167 innings on the road. Moreover, Boston’s hitters have clobbered him.
Core Studs
- Since 2023, Rafael Devers has had a .370 OBP, .265 ISO and 142 wRC+ against righties.
- Wilyer Abreu is ripping the cover off the ball this year. In 46 plate appearances in 2025, Abreu has three homers, 10 runs, 12 RBIs, one stolen base, a .500 OBP, .324 ISO and 230 wRC+.
- Since 2023, Mike Trout has had a .357 OBP, .293 ISO and 144 wRC+ against right-handed pitching.
- Alex Bregman is endearing himself well to fans of the Red Sox in his first year in the organization. In 59 plate appearances this year, he has two homers, seven runs, 11 RBIs, one stolen base, a .322 OBP, .200 ISO and 124 wRC+.
Value Plays/Punts
- In 298 plate appearances against righties at home since 2023, Triston Casas has had 14 homers, a .379 OBP, .227 ISO and 129 wRC+.
- Since 2023, Mickey Moniak has had a .291 OBP, .205 ISO and 104 wRC+ against righties. Even an average hitter is appealing at a punt salary at Coors Field.
Thursday’s Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Mike Trout: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher (Underdog) (1.11x)
Trout has his old-man strength in his years north of 30. In 533 plate appearances against righties since 2023, Trout has had 61 singles, 16 doubles, three triples, 31 homers, a .246 batting average, .500 slugging and .254 ISO. This season, he has three singles, one double and three homers in 50 plate appearances, with a .436 slugging and .256 ISO. We project Trout to have 0.54 singles, 0.10 doubles, 0.02 triples and 0.34 homers today, totaling 2.16 total bases.
Rafael Devers: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Sleeper) (1.75x)
Rafael Devers: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Underdog)
Devers has destroyed Bassitt in their respective careers. Per Baseball Savant, in 14 career plate appearances against Bassitt, Devers has had a .500 batting average, .430 xBA, 1.286 slugging and 1.119 xSLG, with two singles, two doubles and three homers. Finally, after a cold start, Devers has surpassed 1.5 hits plus runs and RBIs in six of his previous eight games.
Jose Soriano: 5.5 Hits Allowed – Lower (Sleeper) (1.57x)
Jose Soriano: 5.5 Hits Allowed – Lower (Underdog) (0.89x)
Soriano’s under for 5.5 hits allowed is chalky, but it’s not nearly chalky enough to dissuade me from touting it. Soriano has allowed fewer than 5.5 hits in both starts this season, eight straight starts and 17 of 22 starts since last year.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
