Today’s MLB DFS main slates significantly differ between DraftKings and FanDuel. So, today’s MLB DFS piece will focus on DraftKings. The main slate starts at 1:10 p.m. ET at DraftKings and has six games. The suggested pick ’em choices from Underdog are also from the six-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
Dylan Cease’s full-season marks are underwhelming as part of an inconsistent 2025 campaign. Nevertheless, he’s a beast at home. According to FanGraphs, Cease has a 3.29 ERA, 3.27 xFIP, 1.11 WHIP, 8.3 BB% and 30.7 K% in 153.1 innings at home since last season. Cease’s matchup this afternoon is midpack, and his betting info is tasty.
The Giants are tied for 17th in wRC+ (101) with a 22.1 K% versus righties and 17th in wRC+ (96) with a 24.3 K% on the road in 2025. San Francisco was also tied for 16th in wRC+ (98) with a 23.3 K% on the road in the previous 30 days. So, the Padres are listed as -170 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.0 runs.
Sean Manaea has an ugly 5.47 ERA in his previous five starts spanning 24.2 innings. However, his underlying data is notably better, with the following stats in those turns.
- 4.11 xFIP
- 3.81 SIERA
- 1.18 WHIP
- One win
- Zero quality starts
- 4.7 BB%
- 22.6 K%
- 102 stuff+
- 99 location+
- 96 pitching+
Manaea has a get-right matchup, which could not only allow him to pitch closer to his ERA estimators but even exceed them today.
The Nationals are 21st in wRC+ (83) with a 24.0 K% versus lefties and tied for 24th in wRC+ (90) with a 20.7 K% at home this year. Washington was also 24th in wRC+ (91) with a 23.9 K% in the previous 30 days. Thus, the Mets are -140 favorites, and the game’s total is a non-threatening 8.0 runs.
Jack Perkins has made eight relief appearances and three starts for the Athletics this season after thoroughly conquering the minors. Perkins’ ugly 6.43 ERA in three starts spanning 14 innings isn’t ideal. Yet, the righty’s other numbers weren’t as ugly. Perkins has a 4.39 xFIP, 4.22 SIERA, 1.43 WHIP, two wins, one quality start, 11.3 BB% and 25.8 K% in his starts. Moreover, Perkins has a 15.3 SwStr%, 29.7 CSW%, 105 stuff+, 96 location+ and 102 pitching+ in his starts. As a result, I expect better days to be on the horizon, starting today in a favorable matchup.
The Twins are tied for 21st in wRC+ (98) with a 21.9 K% versus righties and tied for 17th in wRC+ (101) with a 21.2 K% at home this season. Minnesota was tied for 27th in wRC+ (86) with a 23.2 K% in the previous 30 days. Unfortunately, the A’s are slight underdogs (-105), and the game’s total is 9.5 runs. Nevertheless, Perkins has the potential to help DFS squads at his salary.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Dodgers have sandwiched two duds around an offensive outburst at Coors Field on Tuesday night. They’ve squandered two excellent matchups and the mouthwatering hitting conditions at Coors Field. Los Angeles was chalky all three nights, though. They’ll almost certainly be chalky again today against Chase Dollander. The 23-year-old righty has a 6.43 ERA, 5.34 xERA, 4.90 xFIP and 4.99 SIERA in 17 starts. Colorado’s bullpen is also dreadful, enhancing LA’s outlook today.
- Road (Wrigley Field)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 7.0 Runs/MIL +118
The betting info could throw people off the scent of stacking the Brewers. However, Milwaukee’s offense is on fire. Six of their projected starters have had at least a 147 wRC+ in the previous 30 days. In addition, per Baseball Savant, the hitters on Milwaukee’s active roster have tallied a .381 wOBA and .335 xwOBA in 55 career plate appearances against Shota Imanaga. Finally, Imanaga has been homer-prone lately, coughing up 2.25 HR/9 in his previous five starts, leading to the gap between his 4.82 ERA and 3.32 xFIP in that period.
Core Studs
- Shohei Ohtani has launched 44 long-balls with 120 runs, 83 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, a .393 OBP, .340 ISO, .420 wOBA and 174 wRC+ in 576 plate appearances this season.
- William Contreras is a GPP-leaning suggestion since punting at catcher in cash games opens up salary for more exposure to hitters from the Dodgers. Still, in 497 plate appearances against lefties since 2023, Contreras has hit 17 homers with a .403 OBP, .196 ISO, .387 wOBA and 149 wRC+ in 497 plate appearances against lefties since 2023.
- Teoscar Hernandez was one of LA’s lone bright spots last night, hitting his 21st dinger of the year and bringing his other marks to 50 runs, 76 RBIs, five stolen bases, a .285 OBP, .219 ISO, .322 wOBA and 106 wRC+ in 422 plate appearances.
Value Plays/Punts
- The Brewers unlocked Andrew Vaughn. In 142 plate appearances for Milwaukee, Vaughn has hit nine homers with 19 runs, 36 RBIs, a .390 OBP, .266 ISO, .414 wOBA and 171 wRC+.
- Caleb Durbin has hit three homers with a .360 OBP, .135 ISO, .344 wOBA and 123 wRC+ in 101 plate appearances against lefties in his rookie season.
- Joey Ortiz has hit eight bombs with a .322 OBP, .158 ISO, .320 wOBA and 105 wRC+ in 302 plate appearances against southpaws since 2023.
Thursday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
William Contreras (C, DH – MIL): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher
Beyond Contreras’s aforementioned excellence against lefties, he’s also in superb form. In his previous 124 plate appearances, Contreras has ripped off 22 singles, five doubles, seven homers, 21 runs and 22 RBIs with a .315 batting average, .395 OBP, .241 ISO, .407 wOBA and 165 wRC+. Finally, Contreras has hit one single and two homers with one walk, a .429 batting average, .542 expected batting average (xBA), 1.286 SLG and 1.080 xSLG in eight career plate appearances against Imanaga.
Andrew Vaughn (1B, DH – MIL): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs – Higher
Vaughn is on a heater. In his previous 112 plate appearances, Vaughn recorded 20 singles, four doubles, seven homers, 15 runs, 24 RBIs, a .307 batting average, .360 OBP, .248 ISO, .390 wOBA and 154 wRC+.
Freddie Freeman (1B – LAD): 10.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
Freddie Freeman has thrived with the platoon advantage. He’s tallied a .400 OBP, .206 ISO, .389 wOBA and 150 wRC+ against right-handed pitching since 2023.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
