Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate starts at 7:05 p.m. ET at DraftKings and FanDuel and has 12 games at the former and 11 at the latter. The suggested pick ’em choices from Sleeper and Underdog are from the night’s slate.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Chris Sale (ATL) vs. SD
Chris Sale is my top starting pitcher at DraftKings and my second-favorite one at FanDuel. He’s been a force at home since joining the Braves last year. According to FanGraphs, in 102.2 innings at home since 2024, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner has had a 2.54 ERA, 2.73 xFIP, 1.08 WHIP, 4.5 BB% and 30.1 K%.
Sale’s matchup tonight isn’t too imposing. The Padres are 12th in wRC+ (96) with a 19.2 K% versus lefties and 14th in wRC+ (95) with a 19.5 K% on the road in 2025. San Diego’s ranks against lefties and on the road are above average, but their wRC+ under each condition is non-threatening. Thus, the Braves are -142, and the game’s total is 8.0 runs.
Pablo Lopez (MIN) vs. KC
Pablo Lopez is my favorite starting pitcher on FanDuel, edging out Sale because of the salary discount and softer matchup. He’s the second-best pitching option at DraftKings. The 29-year-old righty is having a fantastic season on the bump, tallying the following numbers in eight starts spanning 45 innings.
- 2.40 ERA
- 2.81 xERA
- 3.09 xFIP
- 3.05 SIERA
- 0.93 WHIP
- Four wins
- Three quality starts
- 5.1 BB%
- 27.7 K%
- 12.2 SwStr%
- 28.3 CSW%
- 95 stuff+
- 117 location+
- 112 pitching+
Lopez has a Charmin-soft matchup tonight. The Royals are 27th in wRC+ (87) with a 17.9 K% versus righties and tied for 20th in wRC+ (90) with a 20.2 K% on the road this year. As a result, the Twins are -160, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) vs. MIA
Yusei Kikuchi is the most palatable SP2 with a modest salary at DraftKings tonight. Kikuchi’s marks in his first year with the Angels haven’t been terribly impressive. Yet, he’s thrived at home. In three starts spanning 16.1 innings at home, Kikuchi has a 1.65 ERA, 3.97 xFIP, 1.29 WHIP, 8.6 BB% and 24.3 K%.
Kikuchi can stay hot at home tonight in a plus matchup against the Marlins. Miami is 19th in wRC+ (82) with a 21.4 K% versus lefties and 22nd in wRC+ (88) with a 23.2 K% on the road this season. Finally, the Angels are -148, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Clayton Kershaw had a 4.50 ERA, 4.59 xERA, 4.33 xFIP, 4.51 SIERA and 1.50 WHIP last season in seven starts, appearing to succumb to Father Time. In his only start for the Dodgers this season, he allowed five runs on five hits (one homer) and three walks with only two strikeouts in four innings. The veteran lefty might be toast, and he’s struggled mightily against righties, coughing up a .364 wOBA to 116 of them since last season. The Mets can rough him up, and their switch-hitters and righties are the most appealing stacking options. Still, gamers shouldn’t write off Juan Soto or Brandon Nimmo as unusable in stacks.
- Road (Fenway Park)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/BAL +105
The Orioles have a doubleheader against the Red Sox today, and this is the second game of it. It’s not included on FanDuel’s main slate. Fortunately, it’s much easier to stack the Yankees at FanDuel than at DraftKings, so gamers should invest in the Bronx Bombers at that provider. The Orioles have a salary-friendly stack around my preferred pitchers at DraftKings, though. Moreover, they have a massive ceiling in a hitter-friendly park against Lucas Giolito. The veteran righty has a putrid 7.08 ERA, 5.31 xERA, 4.22 xFIP, 4.22 SIERA and 1.52 WHIP in four starts this year. He’s also been homer-prone, coughing up 2.21 HR/9. The home run issue isn’t a recent development for Giolito, either. Instead, he yielded 2.00 HR/9 in 33 starts in his last healthy season in 2023. Therefore, the Orioles have a sky-high ceiling tonight.
Core Studs
- Jasson Dominguez has 11 homers, a .373 OBP, .261 ISO and 157 wRC+ in 177 career plate appearances against righties.
- Pete Alonso has hit 24 dongs with a .341 OBP, .261 ISO and 131 wRC+ in 416 plate appearances against southpaws since 2023.
- Ryan O’Hearn has had a .343 OBP, .183 ISO and 129 wRC+ against right-handed pitching since 2023.
Value Plays/Punts
- Mark Vientos has smashed five taters with 19 runs, 17 RBIs, a .326 OBP, .186 ISO and 121 wRC+ in 129 plate appearances since April 13.
- Starling Marte has had a .351 OBP, .115 ISO and 112 wRC+ against lefties since 2023. He is also low-salaried exposure to Kershaw and projected to hit second tonight after slotting there the last time the Mets faced a southpaw.
- Chase Meidroth has a 122 wRC+ in 105 plate appearances this year and sits atop Chicago’s lineup. Moreover, he’s on a nine-game hit streak, amassing a .462 OBP, .167 ISO and 201 wRC+ during that stretch.
Friday’s Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Pete Alonso: 6.5 Fantasy Points – Higher (Sleeper) (1.84x)
Pete Alonso: 7.5 Fantasy Points – Higher (Underdog)
Alonso is having a huge year at the dish. In 220 plate appearances this year, he has hit nine homers with 28 runs, 37 RBIs, a .395 OBP, .243 ISO, .401 wOBA, .426 xwOBA and 161 wRC+. The right-handed slugger should have his way with Kershaw tonight.
Mark Vientos: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Sleeper) (1.68x)
Mark Vientos: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Underdog)
Vientos has surpassed 1.5 hits plus runs and RBIs in 17 of his previous 31 starts. He’s also a slightly above-average hitter against lefties. In 267 plate appearances against southpaws since 2023, Vientos has had 64 hits, a .254 batting average, .285 OBP, .444 SLG, .190 ISO, .311 wOBA and 101 wRC+. Finally, since last year, Kershaw has coughed up 32 hits, a .317 batting average, .379 OBP, .475 SLG and .364 wOBA to 116 right-handed batters.
Aaron Judge: 3.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Sleeper) (1.89x)
Aaron Judge: 3.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Underdog)
Aaron Judge is an elite DFS pick wherever his salary can fit in. He should feast tonight. Since 2023, Judge has had a .315 batting average, .435 OBP, .655 SLG, .340 ISO, .452 wOBA and 199 wRC+ against righties. In 49 games and 222 plate appearances this year, Judge has 74 hits (43 singles, 13 doubles, two triples and 16 homers), 45 runs, 44 RBIs, a .396 batting average, .344 expected batting average (xBA), .486 OBP, .743 SLG, .748 expected slugging (xSLG), .348 ISO and 240 wRC+. He’ll get a lift from the hitting conditions at Coors Field and facing Bradley Blalock. The 94 right-handed batters who’ve faced Blalock since last year have had 23 hits, a .284 batting average, .383 OBP, .457 SLG and .370 wOBA.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
