Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate starts at 7:05 p.m. ET at DraftKings and FanDuel and has 12 games. The suggested pick ’em choices from Underdog are also from the 12-game slate.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Tarik Skubal (DET) vs. CHC
Tarik Skubal has a challenging matchup tonight. According to FanGraphs, the Cubs are fourth in wRC+ (118) with a 19.6 K% versus lefties and second in wRC+ (129) with a 20.2 K% on the road in 2025. It’s not an ideal matchup, but that doesn’t matter for the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.
Skubal is having a sensational follow-up campaign to his hardware-winning 2024, and he’s locked in. In his previous five starts spanning 35 innings, Skubal has had the following stats.
- 2.31 ERA
- 1.69 xFIP
- 1.49 SIERA
- 0.57 WHIP
- Two wins
- Three quality starts
- 1.6 BB%
- 40.8 K%
- 19.4 SwStr%
- 35.6 CSW%
- 119 stuff+
- 110 location+
- 126 pitching+
Skubal is pitching at an unreal level and can mow down anyone, awarding him the highest ceiling among tonight’s hurlers.
Seth Lugo (KC) at CWS
Seth Lugo is a road warrior. In 119 innings on the road since 2024, he’s had a 2.87 ERA, 3.67 xFIP, 1.04 WHIP, 5.7 BB% and 23.5 K%. The veteran righty should continue his road excellence tonight in a sweet matchup.
The White Sox are 29th in wRC+ (81) with a 22.6 K% versus righties and 25th in wRC+ (83) with a 22.6 K% at home this year. Chicago was also 27th in wRC+ (84) with a 22.3 K% in the previous 30 days. Thus, the Royals are -175, and the game’s total is 8.0 runs.
Hayden Birdsong (SF) vs. ATL
Hayden Birdsong started the year by pitching well in relief, and he’s excelled since moving to the rotation. In three starts spanning 14.2 innings this year, Birdsong has a 2.45 ERA, 2.90 xFIP, 3.11 SIERA, 1.16 WHIP, 3.3 BB% and 25.0 K%. Birdsong also had a 12.5 SwStr%, 28.9 CSW%, 103 stuff+, 97 location+ and 101 pitching+ in his starts.
The righty’s matchup isn’t too shabby, and the betting info is adequate. The Braves are tied for 17th in wRC+ (102) with a 21.7 K% versus righties and 18th in wRC+ (95) with a 21.9 K% on the road this season. Atlanta was also 24th in wRC+ (91) with a 23.0 K% in the previous 30 days, so they aren’t righting the ship. Finally, while the Giants are listed as slight underdogs (+114), the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Dean Kremer has a 4.70 ERA, 4.20 xERA, 4.31 xFIP, 4.32 SIERA and 1.39 WHIP in 12 starts this year. He’s an underwhelming starter and tasked with navigating Sutter Health Park tonight. According to Baseball Savant, the Athletics’ temporary home is tied for the highest park factor for runs (125) and has park factors of 111 for hits, 111 for OBP, 104 for singles, 135 for doubles, 134 for triples and 114 for homers.
The Diamondbacks get a massive park-factor upgrade playing at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park, sometimes affectionately known as Great American “Small Park.” GABP’s 1.384 park factor for homers is the highest in MLB, and the second-highest is only 1.211. Nick Lodolo has struggled to navigate his launching-pad home ballpark. The lefty has had a 6.11 ERA, 4.56 xFIP, 1.56 WHIP, 7.5 BB% and 19.4 K% in 81 innings at home since last year. Arizona can take advantage of the cushy hitting conditions and fantasy-friendly matchup against Lodolo.
Core Studs
- Juan Soto is exciting access to Coors Field and a matchup against Antonio Senzatela without fully stacking the Mets. Since 2023, Soto has had a .409 OBP, .269 ISO and 164 wRC+ against righties.
- Tyler Soderstrom has hit 14 homers with 34 runs, 42 RBIs, two stolen bases, a .333 OBP, .228 ISO and 131 wRC+ in 270 plate appearances this year.
Value Plays/Punts
- Lourdes Gurriel has mashed 14 taters with a .362 OBP, .172 ISO and 131 wRC+ in 401 plate appearances against southpaws since 2023.
- In 282 plate appearances against lefties since 2023, Gabriel Moreno has hit five homers with a .362 OBP, .148 ISO and 125 wRC+.
- Thairo Estrada has hit second or cleanup in Colorado’s last three games. His lineup spot and Coors Field are enough to justify using him at a punt salary on DraftKings.
- J.P. Crawford has five homers, 28 runs, 22 RBIs, two stolen bases, a .398 OBP, .112 ISO and 140 wRC+ in 246 plate appearances this season.
Friday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Ketel Marte: 8.5 Fantasy Points – Higher (Underdog)
In 465 plate appearances against lefties since 2023, Ketel Marte has hit 24 homers with a .387 OBP, .247 ISO and 155 wRC+. Marte also has hit 11 longballs with 30 runs, 19 RBIs, two stolen bases, a .422 OBP, .307 ISO, .437 wOBA, .454 expected wOBA (xwOBA) and 182 wRC+ in 154 plate appearances this season.
Brett Baty: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher (Underdog)(1.11x)
Brett Baty has raked since the Mets recalled him from Triple-A. In 83 plate appearances since May 5, Baty has recorded 13 singles, one double, one triple, five homers, a .260 batting average, .494 SLG and .234 ISO. Finally, Senzatela has allowed 63 hits, a .387 batting average and .558 SLG to 178 lefties since 2024.
Tyler Soderstrom: 6.5 Fantasy Points – Higher (Underdog)
Soderstrom is having an excellent season. However, he’s done his best work when playing first base. In 138 plate appearances at first base in 2025, Soderstrom has hit 13 homers with 23 runs, 32 RBIs, a .348 OBP, .369 ISO and 174 wRC+. Soderstrom’s slump after moving to the outfield might have been correlated since his bat took off again after returning to a more comfortable defensive position.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
