Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate starts at 7:07 p.m. ET at DraftKings and FanDuel and has 11 games. The suggested pick ’em choices from Underdog are also from the 11-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
Logan Gilbert is a monster at home. According to FanGraphs, Gilbert has had a 2.33 ERA, 2.54 xFIP, 0.78 WHIP, 4.3 BB% and 32.8 K% in 143 innings at home since last season.
Gilbert’s matchup and betting info are favorable tonight. The Rangers are 25th in wRC+ (94) with a 21.4 K% versus righties and tied for 19th in wRC+ (95) with a 22.0 K% on the road in 2025. So, the Mariners are listed as -170 favorites, and the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs.
Joe Ryan (SP – MIN) at CLE
The Twins didn’t trade Joe Ryan, and he’ll get the ball for them in a plus matchup tonight. The Guardians are 26th in wRC+ (93) with a 21.5 K% versus righties and 23rd in wRC+ (93) with a 23.0 K% at home this season. Cleveland was also 18th in wRC+ (98) with a 20.6 K% in the previous 30 days, making them a nifty matchup for Ryan by any applicable spit.
Ryan is in excellent form entering tonight, with the following stats in his previous five starts spanning 30 innings.
- 2.70 ERA
- 3.23 xFIP
- 3.08 SIERA
- 1.03 WHIP
- Two wins
- Three quality starts
- 3.4 BB%
- 28.2 K%
- 13.4 SwStr%
- 29.3 CSW%
- 101 stuff+
- 112 location+
- 108 pitching+
The Twins are slight underdogs (-105), but the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs.
David Peterson has thrived at home. In 109.2 innings at home since last year, the lefty has had a 2.54 ERA, 3.49 xFIP, 1.26 WHIP, 7.8 BB% and 21.6 K%. Peterson’s also spun a blistering, albeit lucky, 1.05 ERA in his previous four starts spanning 25.2 innings. Still, the lefty’s 3.61 xFIP, 3.96 SIERA and 1.13 WHIP in those turns were solid.
Peterson’s matchup against the Giants is DFS-friendly, with them ranking 25th in wRC+ (78) with a 25.6 K% versus lefties and tied for 19th in wRC+ (95) with a 24.6 K% on the road this year. San Francisco was also just tied for 19th in wRC+ (95) with a 22.9 K% in the previous 30 days. Thus, the Mets are -120 favorites, and the game’s total is 7.0 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Pittsburgh’s hitters’ salaries are criminally low on FanDuel. Yet, they’re also an appealing group to stack at palatable salaries on DraftKings in a mouthwatering matchup at MLB’s hitting paradise tonight. Antonio Senzatela has the highest ERA (6.68), the highest xERA (6.80), the fifth-highest xFIP (5.03), the third-highest SIERA (5.13), the highest WHIP (1.84) and the lowest strikeout rate (11.3 K%) among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched in 2025.
Roster Resource projects Anthony DeSclafani to fill Merrill Kelly‘s roster vacancy after Kelly was traded before the trade deadline. The 35-year-old righty has pitched well in seven relief appearances and one start for the Diamondbacks, but his 3.86 ERA, 3.49 xERA, 3.79 xFIP and 3.18 SIERA are less impressive when factoring in that most of his work was in the bullpen. Moreover, DeSclafani had a 4.50 ERA and 4.39 xFIP in five starts in Triple-A this season. He’s not the caliber of pitcher who should dissuade gamers from stacking the Athletics in their launching-pad temporary home ballpark.
Core Studs
- Nick Kurtz has launched 19 long-balls with a .427 OBP, .411 ISO, .489 wOBA and 217 wRC+ in 214 plate appearances against righties in his rookie campaign.
- Oneil Cruz has mashed 32 taters with a .342 OBP, .206 ISO, .345 wOBA and 120 wRC+ in 783 plate appearances against righties since 2023.
- Brent Rooker has recorded a .340 OBP, .242 ISO, .363 wOBA and 137 wRC+ against righties since 2023.
Value Plays/Punts
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa is punt-priced exposure to Coors Field and Senzatela at a position I’m not concerned about the opportunity cost for punting. Kiner-Falefa is less appealing at FanDuel since he’d account for 25% of the Pirates you can use in a lineup. Thus, he’s a DraftKings-only punt suggestion.
- Matt Wallner has crushed 34 dingers with a .371 OBP, .272 ISO, .386 wOBA and 151 wRC+ in 622 plate appearances against righties since 2023.
- Mark Vientos is on a nine-game hitting streak, with one homer, a .364 OBP, .156 ISO, .374 wOBA and 147 wRC+ in 33 plate appearances. Again, the Pirates reduce the need to use punts from other teams on FanDuel, but Vientos is an appealing punt at the hot corner on DraftKings.
Friday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Oneil Cruz (SS, OF – PIT): 8.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
Cruz’s 101 wRC+ and .317 wOBA in 410 plate appearances this year are disappointing. However, his .349 xwOBA is much more impressive, and Cruz’s fantasy scoring is also boosted by his elite wheels, resulting in 34 stolen bases. Cruz’s elite power is a matchup nightmare for Senzatela’s pitch-to-contact approach, and the toolsy Cruz can also swipe a bag if he gets on base.
Spencer Horwitz (1B, 2B – PIT): 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher
Spencer Horwitz has swatted 16 homers with a .362 OBP, .165 ISO, .350 wOBA and 128 wRC+ in 536 career plate appearances against righties since debuting in the Majors in 2023. Conversely, Senzatela has coughed up a .408 wOBA to 269 left-handed batters this season.
Nick Kurtz (1B – ATH): 8.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
Kurtz has done most of his damage against righties. Still, his full-season marks are jaw-dropping. Kurtz has hit 23 homers with 47 runs, 59 RBIs, two stolen bases, a .376 OBP, .361 ISO, .432 wOBA, .396 xwOBA and 178 wRC+ in 288 plate appearances this season.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | SoundCloud | TuneIn
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
