Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate has four games starting at 6:45 p.m. ET on FanDuel and three games starting at 9:29 p.m. ET at DraftKings. Today’s pick ’em suggestions at Sleeper and Underdog are also from the night’s contests.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
MacKenzie Gore (WAS) vs. BAL
Sadly, MacKenzie Gore isn’t an option on the night slate at DraftKings. The young lefty is the best pitching option at FanDuel, though. According to FanGraphs, Gore has the following stats in five starts spanning 29 innings this year.
- 3.41 ERA
- 3.05 xERA
- 2.30 xFIP
- 2.20 SIERA
- 1.21 WHIP
- Two wins
- Three quality starts
- 6.7 BB%
- 37.8 K%
- 15.7 SwStr%
- 31.6 CSW%
- 101 stuff+
- 107 location+
- 108 pitching+
Gore is pitching at an ace level this year.
The lefty’s matchup tonight is tantalizing. The Orioles are 29th in wRC+ (43) with a 25.6 K% versus southpaws this year. Baltimore is also 16th in wRC+ (87) with a 20.7 K% on the road this season. Finally, the betting info is decent. The Nationals are -115, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
Drew Rasmussen (TB) at ARI
Drew Rasmussen has a challenging matchup tonight. The Diamondbacks are third in wRC+ (126) with a 21.3 K% versus righties and tied for sixth in wRC+ (126) with a 14.9 K% at home this year. However, the betting info isn’t terrifying. The Rays are +110, but the game’s total is only 8.0 runs.
So, I’m willing to bet on Rasmussen’s talent. In four starts spanning 20.2 innings this year, Rasmussen has had the following stats.
- 0.87 ERA
- 2.47 xERA
- 2.81 xFIP
- 2.94 SIERA
- 0.82 WHIP
- 6.6 BB%
- 28.9 K%
- 45.8 GB%
- 11.5 SwStr%
- 28.4 CSW%
- 113 stuff+
- 104 location+
- 111 pitching+
All of the pitchers on tonight’s tiny slate have blemishes. Rasmussen’s is his matchup. Still, I’d rather lean into his talent than rank a lesser pitcher with a better matchup but less talent above him.
Tyler Anderson (LAA) vs. PIT
Tyler Anderson’s 2.08 ERA in four starts totaling 21.2 innings this year is a fluke, as evidenced by his 5.09 xFIP and 4.81 SIERA. However, Anderson’s 3.28 xERA is considerably more palatable than his other ERA estimators. The veteran lefty also has a rock-solid 23.9 K% in 2024.
Anderson wouldn’t be a suggestion on most slates, but this one is tiny, and the southpaw has a cupcake to feast on. The Pirates are 26th in wRC+ (62) with a 27.7 K% versus lefties and tied for 26th in wRC+ (68) with a 23.7 K% on the road this season. Thus, the Angels are -152, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Jacob deGrom isn’t the same otherworldly hurler he once was. Instead, he’s merely a very good hurler. In four starts this year, deGrom has a 3.32 ERA, 3.31 xERA, 4.36 xFIP and 3.95 SIERA. He’s no longer a pitcher to fade at all costs, especially at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. The left-handed Athletics are the most intriguing stacking options since deGrom has coughed up a .375 wOBA to 68 left-handed batters since last season.
Core Studs
- In 103 plate appearances this year, Tyler Soderstrom has nine homers, a .350 OBP, .326 ISO and 179 wRC+.
- Lawrence Butler is left-handed exposure to deGrom from the leadoff spot. In 104 plate appearances this season, Butler has four homers and five stolen bases with a .365 OBP, .187 ISO and 148 wRC+.
- Since 2023, Brent Rooker has had a .344 OBP, .257 ISO and 145 wRC+ against righties.
Value Plays/Punts
- Josh Smith has two homers, three stolen bases, a .448 OBP, .200 ISO and 194 wRC+ in 58 plate appearances this year.
- Second base has an unexciting pool of options, making it an ideal spot to punt. Marcus Semien has recorded at least a hit, walk, run or RBI in 10 of his previous 12 games. Getting any points at Semien’s punt salary at the keystone would suffice tonight.
- In 57 plate appearances this year, Jonah Heim has three homers, a .298 OBP, .208 ISO and 117 wRC+.
Thursday’s Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Jonathan Aranda: 0.5 Total Bases – Higher (Underdog) (0.74x)
In 79 plate appearances this season, Jonathan Aranda has 22 hits, a .338 batting average and .332 xBA. He’s even more fearsome against righties, recording 21 hits and a .382 batting average in 64 plate appearances against righties this year. Aranda has a hit in 13 of 19 games this year.
Lawrence Butler: 7.5 Fantasy Points – Higher (Sleeper) (1.83x)
Lawrence Butler: 7.5 Fantasy Points – Higher (Underdog)
In 684 plate appearances against righties since 2023, Butler has had 30 homers, a .310 OBP, .203 ISO and 119 wRC+. Additionally, he has a high probability of stealing a base if he reaches base. In four starts this year, deGrom has allowed five stolen bases. He also allowed three stolen bases in three starts last year and five in six in 2023.
Josh Smith: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher (Sleeper) (2.09x)
Josh Smith: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher (Underdog) (1.16x)
In 45 plate appearances against righties this season, Smith has 17 hits (11 singles, four doubles, zero triples and two homers) with a .436 batting average, .692 slugging and .256 ISO. Conversely, J.T. Ginn has yielded 27 hits (19 singles, four doubles, zero triples and four homers), a .307 batting average and .489 slugging to 97 lefties since reaching the Majors last season.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
