Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate starts at 7:05 p.m. ET at DraftKings and FanDuel and has only two games. The suggested pick ’em choices from Underdog are also from the night’s two contests.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
George Kirby is in superb form. According to FanGraphs, Kirby has tallied the following statistics in his previous five starts spanning 29.1 innings.
- 3.38 ERA
- 2.95 xFIP
- 3.12 SIERA
- 0.99 WHIP
- Four wins
- Three quality starts
- 5.9 BB%
- 27.1 K%
- 15.2 SwStr%
- 30.9 CSW%
- 95 stuff+
- 114 location+
- 109 pitching+
Kirby has the best matchup and betting info of the four starting pitchers tonight. The Rangers are 25th in wRC+ (95) with a 21.4 K% versus righties and tied for 19th in wRC+ (94) with a 22.0 K% on the road this season. Texas was also 27th in wRC+ (85) with a 22.9 K% in the previous 30 days. As a result, the Mariners are listed as -155, and the game’s total is a DFS-friendly 7.5 runs at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park.
The Reds are -160 favorites, and Andrew Abbott’s matchup against the Braves is favorable, namely with Ronald Acuna on the Injured List (IL). Atlanta is 17th in wRC+ (91) with a 23.6 K% versus lefties and tied for 14th in wRC+ (97) with a 22.0 K% on the road this year. Atlanta was also tied for 16th in wRC+ (102) with a 23.4 K% in the previous 30 days. Unfortunately, the game’s total is a concerning 9.5 runs.
Still, there are only two games, and Abbott is one of the favored pitchers. Moreover, the lefty has a 2.09 ERA, 3.21 xERA, 1.07 WHIP, eight wins, eight quality starts, a 6.7 BB% and 22.8 K%.
Thinking outside the box in GPPs on a two-game slate can lead to solo winning a tournament instead of a multi-way chop if everything breaks correctly. Suppose Kirby pitches well, and none of the other starting pitchers get the job done. Avoiding negative scores or tiny scores from the other three pitchers, and pivoting to lockdown closer Andres Munoz as the SP2 in GPPs at DraftKings can open up significant salary. Furthermore, if Munoz throws a clean inning with multiple strikeouts, he could be a meaningful asset if the non-Kirby starters are dreadful. In 42 plate appearances this year, Munoz has allowed zero earned runs 39 times and struck out multiple batters 16 times.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Carlos Carrasco has a 5.91 ERA, 4.95 xERA, 4.47 xFIP, 4.48 SIERA and 1.53 WHIP in eight appearances (six starts) this season. Carrasco has also coughed up 1.97 HR/9, a .318 wOBA to 88 left-handed batters and a .463 wOBA to 54 right-handed batters in 2025. He’s unlikely to navigate the launching-pad ballpark in Cincinnati tonight.
- Home (T-Mobile Park)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 7.5 Runs/SEA -155
Kumar Rocker has a 5.73 ERA and 5.53 xERA in 13 starts this season. It briefly appeared that his reset in the minors did the trick, but he’s had a 4.95 ERA, 4.56 xFIP and 4.74 SIERA in his past four starts, coughing up 1.80 HR/9. Rocker isn’t great against righties, allowing a .306 wOBA to 121 of them this season. However, Seattle’s lefties and switch-hitters are the more appealing stacking selections since the 144 left-handed batters who’ve faced Rocker this year have amassed a .381 wOBA.
Core Studs
- Elly De La Cruz has tallied a .358 OBP, .235 ISO, .370 wOBA and 133 wRC+ against right-handed pitching since 2023.
- Noelvi Marte has crushed seven homers with 19 runs, 28 RBIs, six stolen bases, a .327 OBP, .217 ISO, .352 wOBA and 122 wRC+ in 150 plate appearances in a breakout 2025 season.
- Josh Naylor has recorded a .349 OBP, .199 ISO, .351 wOBA and 128 wRC+ against righties since 2023.
Value Plays/Punts
- Gavin Lux has amassed a .348 OBP, .134 ISO, .332 wOBA and 112 wRC+ against righties since 2023.
- Jorge Polanco has been streaky this season, with sky-high highs and rock-bottom lows. He’s amid a hot streak, with six homers 14 runs, 12 RBIs, a .344 OBP, .288 ISO, .382 wOBA and 153 wRC+ in his previous 91 plate appearances.
- Dominic Canzone has hit six homers with 13 runs, 15 RBIs, two stolen bases, a .331 OBP, .197 ISO, .351 wOBA and 132 wRC+ in 136 plate appearances this season.
Thursday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Elly De La Cruz (SS – CIN): 9.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
De La Cruz has feasted with the platoon advantage at home. In 165 plate appearances against righties at home this season, De La Cruz has launched five long-balls with a .418 OBP, .220 ISO, .408 wOBA and 162 wRC+.
Noelvi Marte (3B – CIN): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher
Marte is dialed in. In his previous 17 games and 62 plate appearances, Marte has recorded 17 hits (10 singles, three doubles, zero triples and four homers), nine runs, 10 RBIs, a .293 batting average, .339 OBP, .552 SLG and .259 ISO. Marte has cleared 1.5 hits plus runs and RBIs in back-to-back games and five of his previous nine.
Josh Naylor (1B, DH – SEA): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher
In addition to Naylor’s track record of success against righties highlighted above, he’s having another strong campaign. Naylor has 75 singles, 19 doubles, one triple, 12 homers, 53 runs, 60 RBIs, a .288 batting average, .281 xBA, .356 OBP, .442 SLG, .439 xSLG and .154 ISO in 418 plate appearances this season.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
