Today’s MLB DFS main slate has seven games starting at 12:35 p.m. ET at DraftKings and FanDuel. Today’s pick ’em suggestions at Sleeper and Underdog are also from the seven-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
Paul Skenes (PIT) vs. CHC
According to FanGraphs, among this afternoon’s probable starters, Paul Skenes has the best xERA (1.94), xFIP (2.46), SIERA (2.56) and WHIP (0.80). Additionally, he has the fourth-lowest ERA (2.39) and the third-highest strikeout rate (27.5 K%) among today’s probable starters.
Admittedly, Skenes has a challenging matchup. The Cubs are seventh in wRC+ (116) with a 21.4 K% versus righties and first in wRC+ (135) with a 19.2 K% on the road in 2025. Nevertheless, Skenes is the most talented pitcher on the slate and capable of taming Chicago’s potent lineup, as evidenced by the Pirates serving as -160 favorites and the pitcher-friendly total of 7.5 runs.
Shane Baz (TB) vs. KC
The suggested best stacks are affordable, and there are tantalizing punts, too. As a result, I’m not dipping below Skenes and Shane Baz on today’s slate. Instead, I’m mixing and matching the following two stacks in various combinations around the top two hurlers.
Baz is rolling this year. In five starts spanning 29.1 innings this season, Baz has the following stats.
- 2.45 ERA
- 2.44 xERA
- 3.25 xFIP
- 2.90 SIERA
- 0.99 WHIP
- Three wins
- Four quality starts
- 7.9 BB%
- 31.6 K%
- 47.8 GB%
- 11.3 SwStr%
- 29.8 CSW%
- 108 stuff+
- 101 location+
- 110 pitching+
Baz has dazzling surface stats and the elite underlying data to support them. The young righty has a mouthwatering matchup and favorable betting info today. The Royals are 29th in wRC+ (73) with a 19.7 K% versus righties and 29th in wRC+ (64) with a 22.8 K% on the road this year. Thus, the Rays are -145, and the game’s total is 8.0 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Jeffrey Springs is struggling mightily this year. In six starts this season, the veteran lefty has a 6.04 ERA, 4.31 xERA, 4.97 xFIP, 4.82 SIERA and 1.62 WHIP. Springs has also coughed up 1.59 HR/9 in 2025. Springs is tough on lefties, but no contest for righties. The 228 righties who’ve faced Springs since last season have had a .354 wOBA against him. The projected lineup for the Rangers has eight right-handed or switch-hitting batters. They should feast at home today.
- Home (Citi Field)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 8.0 Runs/NYM -155
Zac Gallen hasn’t resembled himself this year. In six starts this season, the veteran righty has a 5.57 ERA, 4.03 xERA, 4.37 xFIP, 4.12 SIERA and 1.39 WHIP. Gallen also has an unimpressive track record on the road. In 185.2 innings on the road since 2023, Gallen has had a 4.27 ERA and 4.07 xFIP. The Mets have the firepower to further Gallen’s 2025 and road woes today.
Core Studs
- In 142 career plate appearances against lefties, Wyatt Langford has nine homers, a .366 OBP, .297 ISO and 153 wRC+.
- Juan Soto has had a .413 OBP, .268 ISO and 166 wRC+ against righties since 2023.
- In 30 games and 137 plate appearances this season, Francisco Lindor has six homers, two stolen bases, 22 runs, 16 RBIs, a .372 OBP, .192 ISO and 144 wRC+.
Value Plays/Punts
- Marcus Semien has had a .353 OBP, .147 ISO and 118 wRC+ against lefties since 2023.
- In 179 plate appearances against lefties since 2023, Josh Jung has had 10 homers, a .352 OBP, .234 ISO and 146 wRC+.
- In 347 plate appearances against lefties since 2023, Jake Burger has had 21 homers, a .288 OBP, .246 ISO and 105 wRC+.
Thursday’s Top 3 Sleeper and Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Oneil Cruz: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher (Sleeper) (1.84x)
Oneil Cruz: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher (Underdog)
In 559 plate appearances against righties since 2023, Oneil Cruz has had 133 hits (79 singles, 29 doubles, two triples and 23 homers), a .271 batting average, .479 slugging and .208 ISO. He’s exceeded 1.5 total bases in 13 of 28 games this season, but has a plus matchup today. Colin Rea has coughed up a .258 batting average and .452 slugging to 391 lefties since last year. As a result, we project Cruz to have 2.0 total bases today.
Juan Soto: 0.5 Runs – Higher (Sleeper) (1.67x)
Juan Soto: 0.5 Runs – Higher (Underdog)
Soto has an outstanding .368 OBP this year and 21 runs in 31 games. He’s scored at least one run in 16 games and faces a struggling pitcher today. Again, Gallen has a 5.57 ERA, 4.03 xERA, 4.37 xFIP and 4.12 SIERA in six starts this season. Moreover, he’s yielded a .303 batting average, .395 OBP, .545 slugging and .409 wOBA to 76 left-handed batters this season.
Mark Vientos: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Sleeper) (1.79x)
Mark Vientos: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (Underdog)
Mark Vientos is rolling. In his previous 15 games, Vientos has had 17 hits (nine singles, three doubles, one triple and four homers), a .293 batting average, .344 OBP, 12 runs and 14 RBIs. He’s exceeded 1.5 hits plus runs and RBIs in 11 of his previous 15 games, including six of his past eight.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
