Thursday’s MLB DFS main slates are a matinee affair, starting at 12:15 p.m. ET at DraftKings and FanDuel. There are seven games on the former’s main slate and eight on the latter’s main slate. The Underdog pick’em selections are also from the afternoon’s contests. Let’s get to today’s MLB DFS picks.
Thursday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (4/29)
The Phillies and Giants game was washed out yesterday, and they’ll play a doubleheader today. Cristopher Sanchez will start in the first game of the doubleheader, and he’s a monster at home. According to FanGraphs, Sanchez has ripped off a 1.79 ERA, 2.39 xFIP, 0.97 WHIP, 5.3% walk rate, 31.1% strikeout rate and 59.3% groundball rate in 121 innings at home since last season.
The lefty has a decent matchup and favorable betting info this afternoon. The Giants are tied for 16th in wRC+ (93) with a 22.4% strikeout rate versus lefties and 17th in wRC+ (88) with a 21.6% strikeout rate on the road in 2026. The Phillies are -134 favorites, and the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 6.5 runs.
Paul Skenes had a nightmarish first start this season, but he’s been outstanding since. In five subsequent starts spanning 28.1 innings, Skenes has produced the following numbers:
- 4 wins
- 3 quality starts
- 0.95 ERA
- 1.71 xERA
- 3.03 xFIP
- 2.90 SIERA
- 0.53 WHIP
- 5% walk rate
- 28.7% strikeout rate
- 50.8% groundball rate
- 11% SwStr%
- 26.4% CSW%
- 100 stuff+
- 115 location+
- 114 pitching+
Skenes’ matchup isn’t especially exciting, but his betting info is tantalizing. The Cardinals are tied for 14th in wRC+ (102) with a 22.4% strikeout rate versus righties and rank seventh in wRC+ (104) with a 24.1% strikeout rate on the road this year. The Pirates are -220 favorites, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Brandon Woodruff has the most DFS-friendly matchup of the highlighted hurlers. The Diamondbacks are tied for 25th in wRC+ (89) with a 22.5% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for 22nd in wRC+ (87) with a 25.9% strikeout rate on the road this season. The veteran righty’s betting info is rock-solid, too. The Brewers are -125 favorites, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Of course, Woodruff has pitched well this season, and he’s a horse for the course at home. In 48 innings at home since last year, Woodruff has spun a 3.38 ERA, 3.29 xFIP, 0.96 WHIP, 5.8% walk rate and 31.4% strikeout rate.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Miles Mikolas is an unserious starting pitching option, and the Mets will benefit from the Nationals trotting him out to the bump today. Mikolas has an 8.49 ERA, 5.45 xERA, 5.01 xFIP, 4.87 SIERA and 1.84 WHIP in six appearances (three starts) this season.
Mikolas has also coughed up a 2.70 HR/9 mark, and Washington’s bullpen is dreadful, posting the seventh-highest ERA (5.00) this season. Even New York’s unimposing lineup should feast in such a tasty matchup.
Philadelphia’s hitters were tasked with an easier assignment of facing Adrian Houser when DraftKings released their salaries for this slate, but the Phillies are still an intriguing stack against Logan Webb, as evidenced by my suggesting to stack them on Wednesday night.
Webb has surrendered a .339 wOBA to 525 left-handed batters since last year, making Philadelphia’s left-handed hitters the most enticing stacking options. However, Webb has generally struggled this year, with a 4.86 ERA and 4.43 xERA in six starts.
Core Studs
- Bryce Harper has hit 25 homers with a .406 on-base percentage (OBP), .295 ISO, .423 wOBA and 171 wRC+ in 404 plate appearances against righties at home since 2024.
- Juan Soto has hit 61 homers with a .426 OBP, .285 ISO, .423 wOBA and 180 wRC+ in 992 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
- Kyle Schwarber has launched 66 long-balls with a .354 OBP, .295 ISO, .370 wOBA and 137 wRC+ in 963 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
Value Plays/Punts
- Brandon Marsh has ripped 28 round-trippers with a .348 OBP, .189 ISO, .354 wOBA and 126 wRC+ in 801 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
- Ronny Mauricio has hit six homers with a .329 OBP, .160 ISO, .329 wOBA and 114 wRC+ in 164 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
- Matt McLain‘s 86 wRC+ in 130 plate appearances this season isn’t exciting, but he’s recorded 13 runs, two homers, nine RBI and five stolen bases. Cincinnati’s starting second baseman also has a DFS-friendly lineup spot, batting second.
Thursday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Juan Soto (OF – NYM): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs — Higher (0.83x)
Juan Soto has tallied 18 hits, five runs, eight RBI, a .327 batting average, .422 OBP, .218 ISO, .421 wOBA and 173 wRC+ in 15 games and 64 plate appearances this season.
Bryce Harper (1B – PHI): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs — Higher (0.86x Payout)
*Note: This is for Game 1 of today’s doubleheader.
Bryce Harper has amassed 29 hits, 16 runs, 19 RBI, a .269 batting average, .350 OBP, .241 ISO, .375 wOBA and 136 wRC+ in 29 games and 123 plate appearances this season. He’s surpassed a combined 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs in four of his last five games.
Yordan Alvarez is crushing the ball. In 30 games and 134 plate appearances this season, Alvarez has recorded 19 singles, nine doubles, 11 homers, a .355 batting average, .378 expected batting average, .736 slugging rate, .823 expected slugging rate and .382 ISO.
The left-handed slugger has surpassed 1.5 total bases in seven of his last 10 games.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
