Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate starts at 6:35 and has five games at FanDuel. It begins at 7:40 p.m. ET at DraftKings and has four games. The suggested pick ’em choices from Underdog are also from the five-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
Tarik Skubal (DET) at BAL
Tarik Skubal is pitching better this year than during his American League Cy Young Award-winning campaign last season. According to FanGraphs, Skubal has had the following stats in 13 starts spanning 83.1 innings.
- 2.16 ERA
- 2.36 xERA
- 2.30 xFIP
- 2.21 SIERA
- 0.82 WHIP
- Six wins
- Eight quality starts
- 2.2 BB%
- 33.4 K%
- 17.6 SwStr%
- 33.3 CSW%
- 119 stuff+
- 109 location+
- 126 pitching+
Sadly, Skubal isn’t on the main slate at DraftKings. He’s a drool-inducing pick at FanDuel, though.
The Orioles are a pitiful 29th in wRC+ (62) with a 25.2 K% versus lefties this year. Unsurprisingly, the Tigers are -180, and the game’s total is 8.0 runs.
Framber Valdez (HOU) vs. CWS
Framber Valdez is on fire. Valdez has had the following stats in his previous five starts spanning 37 innings.
- 1.95 ERA
- 2.47 xFIP
- 2.56 SIERA
- 0.89 WHIP
- Four wins
- Five quality starts
- 7.2 BB%
- 28.8 K%
- 67.0 GB%
- 13.6 SwStr%
- 32.0 CSW%
- 108 stuff+
- 109 location+
- 119 pitching+
Valdez has a cushy matchup and tantalizing betting info tonight. The White Sox are 22nd in wRC+ (77) with a 24.4 K% versus lefties and 28th in wRC+ (78) with a 23.8 K% on the road in 2025. Chicago was also tied for 22nd in wRC+ (93) with a 21.9 K% in the previous 30 days. Thus, the Astros are -250, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Sonny Gray (STL) at MIL
Sonny Gray is in excellent form. In his previous five starts spanning 29 innings, he’s had a 3.10 ERA, 2.43 xFIP, 2.65 SIERA, 1.21 WHIP, three wins, four quality starts, a 2.5 BB% and 28.3 K%. Gray’s excellent numbers in those starts were supported by a 14.6 SwStr%, 30.6 CSW%, 97 stuff+, 115 location+ and 112 pitching+.
He can stay hot in a plus matchup with stellar betting info. The Brewers are 25th in wRC+ (93) with a 21.0 K% versus righties and 26th in wRC+ (79) with a 23.3 K% at home this year. Milwaukee was just 21st in wRC+ (95) with a 22.5 K% in the previous 30 days. So, the Cardinals are -130, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Jameson Taillon (CHC) vs. PIT
Jameson Taillon terrorizes visiting offenses at Wrigley Field. In 21 starts spanning 127.1 innings at home since last year, Taillon has had a 2.33 ERA, 3.85 xFIP, 0.97 WHIP, 4.8 BB% and 20.4 K%. The gap between his ERA and xFIP indicates he’s had good fortune. Still, Taillon hasn’t walked many batters, has struck out an acceptable number of batters and his 3.85 xFIP is rock-solid.
Taillon’s matchup and betting info are nifty. The Pirates are tied for 27th in wRC+ (87) with a 22.0 K% versus righties and 29th in wRC+ (75) with a 24.2 K% on the road this season. Pittsburgh was also 25th in wRC+ (89) with a 24.3 K% in the previous 30 days. Finally, the Cubs are -200, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Andrew Heaney has outperformed his ERA estimators. The veteran lefty’s 3.24 ERA in 13 starts in 2025 is markedly better than his 4.69 xERA, 4.27 xFIP, 4.51 SIERA and 1.15 WHIP. Heaney also dealt with calf cramping in his last start, and if his calf isn’t 100% tonight, he could be messier than usual. Pittsburgh’s bullpen is also slightly below average, increasing Chicago’s ceiling. Finally, eight of the projected starters for the Cubs have had at least a 105 wRC+ against lefties since 2023 or debuting in the Majors, and six have had at least a 120 wRC+.
- Road (American Family Field)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 7.5 Runs/STL -130
Jacob Misiorowski is making his debut in The Show tonight. He has a high-velocity heater and is a well-regarded prospect. Nevertheless, his control is below average. He has a 12.3 BB% in 13 appearances (12 starts) this year in Triple-A after a 14.4 BB% split between Double-A and Triple-A last season. As a result, he could get hammered by the Cardinals if his control isn’t sharp.
Core Studs
- Seiya Suzuki has hit 14 homers with a .389 OBP, .214 ISO and 148 wRC+ in 378 plate appearances against lefties since 2023.
- Ivan Herrera has mashed seven taters with 20 runs, 31 RBIs, one stolen base, a .393 OBP, .230 ISO and 164 wRC+ in 145 plate appearances this season.
- Willson Contreras has launched 33 longballs with a .354 OBP, .185 ISO and 124 wRC+ in 834 plate appearances against right-handed pitching since 2023.
Value Plays/Punts
- In Alec Burleson‘s last 122 plate appearances, he’s hit five homers with 14 runs, 14 RBIs, one stolen base, a .361 OBP, .175 ISO and 142 wRC+.
- Matt Shaw has one homer, a .364 OBP, .132 ISO and 121 wRC+ in 44 career plate appearances against southpaws.
- Jac Caglianone had 15 homers, a .389 OBP, .271 ISO and 159 wRC+ in the upper minors (175 plate appearances in Double-A and 54 in Triple-A) this season.
Thursday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Tarik Skubal: 7.5 Strikeouts – Higher
Skubal has cleared 7.5 strikeouts in eight of 13 starts this year, with an average of 8.1 and a median of eight. He’s also exceeded 7.5 strikeouts in four of six starts on the road and has a plus matchup tonight. The Orioles have a 25.1 K% versus lefties this season.
Seiya Suzuki: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher (0.92x)
Suzuki is having a career year at the plate. In 64 games and 286 plate appearances, he has 68 hits (32 singles, 18 doubles, two triples and 16 homers), 63 walks (8.7 BB%), 36 runs, 56 RBIs, a .266 batting average, .325 OBP, .273 ISO, .367 wOBA, .367 expected wOBA (xwOBA) and 139 wRC+. We project Suzuki to have 0.47 runs, 0.57 RBIs and 0.90 hits tonight, totaling 1.94 hits plus runs and RBIs.
Ivan Herrera: 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher
Herera is superb in same-handed matchups. In 306 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers since 2023, Herrera has tallied 62 singles, 18 doubles, one triple, six homers, 27 walks (8.8 BB%), a .320 batting average, .387 OBP, .140 ISO and 140 wRC+. He should rudely greet the debuting Misiorowski tonight.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
