Josh Shepardson | Fri, Aug 8th 2025, 12:24pm EDT

MLB DFS Picks & Underdog Player Props: Friday (8/8)

Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate starts at 7:05 p.m. ET at DraftKings and FanDuel and has 14 games. The suggested pick ’em choices from Underdog are also from the 14-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

Joe Ryan (SP – MIN) vs. KC

Joe Ryan is the top pitcher on tonight’s pitcher-rich DFS slate. He has a ceiling that rivals anyone’s on the slate, but he also offers a meaningful salary discount compared to some other options. Ryan is a whiz at home. According to FanGraphs, he has a 3.54 ERA, 3.39 xFIP, 0.97 WHIP, 5.0 BB% and 29.3 K% in 127 innings at home since last year.

Ryan has a favorable matchup and decent betting info tonight. The Royals are 27th in wRC+ (89) with a 17.6 K% versus righties and tied for 18th in wRC+ (95) with a 19.0 K% on the road in 2025. Finally, the Twins are listed as -135 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.0 runs.

Luis Castillo (SP – SEA) vs. TB

Luis Castillo is mispriced at DraftKings and FanDuel. He’s a steal at both DFS outlets. Like Ryan, Castillo is superb at home. In 172 innings at home since last season, Castillo has a 2.83 ERA, 3.51 xFIP, 1.06 WHIP, 5.8 BB% and 25.8 K%.

The veteran righty’s matchup looks good, and his betting info is nifty as well. While the Rays are tied for ninth in wRC+ (106) with a 22.0 K% versus righties this year, they’re also 25th in wRC+ (89) with a 23.3 K% on the road. Moreover, Tampa Bay is dead last in wRC+ (82) with a 24.9 K% in the previous 30 days. Thus, the Mariners are -135 favorites, and the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs.

Edward Cabrera (SP – MIA) at ATL

Edward Cabrera is only an option on FanDuel for gamers entering many GPPs. However, he’s an exciting choice on the two-pitcher platform at DraftKings. In Cabrera’s previous four starts spanning 21.2 innings, he’s had the following stats.

2.91 ERA
3.07 xFIP
3.15 SIERA
1.06 WHIP
Two wins
Two quality starts
15.7 SwStr%
32.2 CSW%
105 stuff+
104 location+
109 pitching+

Cabrera’s matchup and betting info tonight are rock-solid. The Braves are tied for 20th in wRC+ (100) with a 22.7 K% versus righties and 18th in wRC+ (101) with a 23.5 K% at home this season. Additionally, the Marlins are -115 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.0 runs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

Road (Oriole Park at Camden Yards)
Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/ATH EVEN

Oriole Park at Camden Yards is one of the road venues the Athletics can play in that can match their home ballpark’s hitter-friendly conditions. According to Baseball Savant’s park factors, renovated Oriole Park at Camden Yards is tied for the second-highest park factor for runs (117) and second for homers (142) in 2025.

The matchup is also dreamy for the A’s. Tomoyuki Sugano has a 4.42 ERA, 5.85 xERA, 4.64 xFIP and 4.69 SIERA in 21 starts this season. The pitch-to-contact righty has surrendered a .323 wOBA to 230 right-handed batters and a .341 wOBA to 260 left-handed batters this year.

Home (PETCO Park)
Game Total/Moneyline: 8.0 Runs/SD -178

A change of scenery hasn’t helped Walker Buehler return to his early-career form. Instead, Buehler has a 5.74 ERA, 5.56 xERA, 4.85 xFIP, 4.98 SIERA and 1.60 WHIP in 19 starts for the Red Sox this year. Furthermore, Buehler has coughed up a .349 wOBA to 184 righties and a .386 wOBA to 243 lefties. San Diego’s deep lineup is stackable from top to bottom.

Core Studs

Nick Kurtz has launched 23 long-balls with 53 runs, 62 RBIs, two stolen bases, a .387 OBP, .337 ISO, .429 wOBA and 177 wRC+ in 316 plate appearances in his rookie season.
Gunnar Henderson has feasted with the platoon advantage at home, amassing seven homers, a .410 OBP, .291 ISO, .443 wOBA and 189 wRC+ in 139 plate appearances against righties at home in 2025.
In 497 plate appearances this year, Fernando Tatis has slugged 17 homers with 79 runs, 45 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .364 OBP, .174 ISO, .347 wOBA, .387 xwOBA and 128 wRC+.

Value Plays/Punts

JJ Bleday has tallied a .326 OBP, .183 ISO, .322 wOBA and 110 wRC+ against righties since 2023.
In Cole Young‘s previous 72 plate appearances, he’s amassed three homers, nine runs, nine RBIs, one stolen base, a .408 OBP, .203 ISO, .393 wOBA and 160 wRC+.
Liam Hicks is a DraftKings-specific punt since they require starting a catcher. Still, Hicks is an enticing salary-saving option, with four homers, 22 runs, 34 RBIs, a .353 OBP, .107 ISO, .321 wOBA and 104 wRC+ in 255 plate appearances this season.

Friday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Nick Kurtz (1B, DH – ATH): 9.5 Fantasy Points – Higher

Kurtz has done his best work as a rookie with the platoon advantage. In 227 plate appearances against righties this season, Kurtz has slugged 19 homers with a .438 OBP, .392 ISO, .488 wOBA and 217 wRC+. As a left-handed batter, he’ll hit with park factors of 102 for singles, 114 for doubles, 139 for triples and 154 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards tonight.

Gunnar Henderson (SS – BAL): 7.5 Fantasy Points – Higher

Henderson will enjoy the same eye-popping park factors for lefties noted in Kurtz’s write-up. Henderson also has a track record of hammering righties, with a .359 OBP, .256 ISO, .383 wOBA and 150 wRC+ against them since 2023. Conversely, J.T. Ginn has surrendered an absurd .432 wOBA to 89 left-handed batters this season.

Fernando Tatis (OF – SD): 9.5 Fantasy Points – Higher

Tatis has excelled in same-handed matchups. Since 2023, he’s rattled off a .332 OBP, .208 ISO, .348 wOBA and 125 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. Finally, per Baseball Savant, Tatis has tallied five singles, five homers, a .313 batting average, .294 xBA, .781 SLG, .717 xSLG, .453 wOBA and .419 xwOBA in 32 career plate appearances against Buehler.

Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.

NFL

MLB

NBA

NHL