Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate has eight games at FanDuel and DraftKings. However, FanDuel’s main slate starts at 6:40 p.m. ET, and the 7:45 p.m. ET game is the final one included on it. Meanwhile, the main slate at DraftKings starts at 7:05 p.m. ET. The suggested pick ’em choices from Sleeper and Underdog are from the night’s contests.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Cole Ragans (KC) vs. CWS
Cole Ragans has an unimpressive 4.40 ERA in six starts this year, totaling 30.2 innings. However, his underlying data is much better. According to FanGraphs, Ragans has a 2.45 ERA, 2.57 xFIP, 2.40 SIERA, 1.17 WHIP, 7.0 BB% and 35.9 K%. The lefty also has a 15.9 SwStr%, 32.3 CSW%, 109 stuff+, 101 location+ and 107 pitching+ this season.
Ragans has a cushy matchup and tasty betting info tonight. The White Sox are 25th in wRC+ (69) with a 22.0 K% versus lefties and tied for 20th in wRC+ (82) with a 23.9 K% on the road this season. Thus, the Royals are -250, and the game’s total is only 8.0 runs.
Ronel Blanco (HOU) at MIL
Ronel Blanco’s 5.08 ERA in six starts spanning 28.1 innings this year is ugly, but his 3.47 xERA is rock-solid. The righty’s 4.72 xFIP and 4.62 SIERA aren’t as flattering. Still, Blanco has an adequate 21.7 K%, and his 14.7 SwStr% and 30.0 CSW% indicate he has untapped strikeout potential.
Blanco has a golden opportunity for a DFS-friendly start in a favorable matchup. The Brewers are 21st in wRC+ (96) with a 20.0 K% versus righties and tied for 25th in wRC+ (81) with a 21.9 K% at home in 2025. The Astros are just -105, but the game’s total is an unimposing 8.0 runs.
Shane Smith (CWS) at KC
Shane Smith’s 2.23 ERA in six starts spanning 32.1 innings this year is outkicking his ERA estimators. Nevertheless, his 3.97 xERA is stellar, and his 4.30 SIERA isn’t atrocious for a pitcher at his salary.
Smith is primarily a matchup-driven suggestion tonight as an SP2 at DraftKings against Kansas City’s pitiful offense. The Royals are 29th in wRC+ (78) with an 18.8 K% versus righties and tied for 28th in wRC+ (77) with a 17.8 K% on the road this season. Finally, while the White Sox are +205, the game’s total of 8.0 runs isn’t terrifying.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
According to Statcast, Sutter Health Park has the second-highest park factor for runs (125) this year. It also has the fifth-highest park factor for homers (132). The Mariners will get a significant park-factor upgrade tonight. Seattle also has a decent matchup against an overachieving pitcher. This season, Luis Severino‘s 3.30 ERA is markedly better than his 4.22 xERA, 3.98 xFIP and 4.28 SIERA. Seattle’s most appealing stacking options are their lefties and switch-hitters. Since last season, Severino has coughed up a .334 wOBA to 475 left-handed batters.
- Home (Sutter Health Park)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 9.0 Runs/ATH -105
The Athletics can take advantage of the same hitter-friendly conditions as their visitors tonight. They can feast on a pitcher with mediocre or worse numbers on the road. In 156.1 innings on the road since 2023, Miller has had a 4.55 ERA, 4.44 xFIP and 1.19 WHIP.
Core Studs
- In 148 plate appearances this season, Cal Raleigh has 12 homers, a .358 OBP, .341 ISO and 172 wRC+.
- Jorge Polanco has nine homers, one stolen base, 14 runs, 26 RBIs, a .419 OBP, .405 ISO and 247 wRC+ in 87 plate appearances this season.
- In 207 plate appearances against lefties since 2023, Heliot Ramos has hit 12 homers with a .372 OBP, .296 ISO and 166 wRC+.
- Since 2023, Jose Ramirez has had a .344 OBP, .200 ISO and 125 wRC+ against righties. Meanwhile, Jake Irvin has yielded a .338 wOBA to 494 lefties since last year. While I didn’t highlight a stack for FanDuel’s main slate above, the Guardians are my favorite stack, and Ramirez is the crown jewel.
Value Plays/Punts
- In 128 plate appearances this year, J.P. Crawford has three homers, one stolen base, 17 runs, 17 RBIs, a .405 OBP, .114 ISO and 147 wRC+.
- Since 2023, Bryan Reynolds has had a .344 OBP, .196 ISO and 117 wRC+ against righties.
- Willson Contreras has had a .355 OBP, .185 ISO and 123 wRC+ against righties since 2023.
Monday’s Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Kyle Manzardo: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Sleeper) (1.70x)
Kyle Manzardo: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Underdog)
In 31 games and 126 plate appearances this season, Kyle Manzardo has 23 hits (11 singles, three doubles, one triple and eight homers), 14 runs, 20 RBIs, a .219 batting average, .325 OBP, .495 slugging and .276 ISO. The left-handed-hitting Manzardo has a cushy matchup tonight. Since last season, Irvin has ceded a .253 batting average, .313 OBP and .472 slugging to 494 left-handed batters. Thus, we project Manzardo to have 2.01 hits plus runs and RBIs tonight.
Oneil Cruz: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher (Sleeper) (1.80x)
Oneil Cruz: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher (Underdog)
In 32 games and 138 plate appearances this season, Oneil Cruz has 27 hits (14 singles, five doubles, zero triples and eight homers), a .243 batting average, .274 xBA, .505 slugging, .573 xSLG and .261 ISO. He’s excelled with the platoon advantage this year, tallying 22 hits (12 singles, three doubles, zero triples and seven homers), a .293 batting average, .613 slugging and .320 ISO in 94 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers this year. Finally, since last season, Miles Mikolas has coughed up a .283 batting average and .458 slugging to 409 left-handed batters.
Cal Raleigh: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Sleeper) (1.58x)
Cal Raleigh: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Underdog) (0.87x)
In 1,018 plate appearances against righties since 2023, Raleigh has had 210 hits, a .237 batting average, .332 OBP, .236 ISO and 130 wRC+. He’s piled up 31 hits, 21 runs and 23 RBIs in 33 games this year, surpassing 1.5 hits plus runs and RBIs 15 times this year, including three times in his previous four games.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
