Monday’s MLB DFS main slate features nine games starting at 7:05 p.m. ET on DraftKings and FanDuel. The Underdog pick’em choices are also from those nine games.
Monday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (5/18)
According to FanGraphs, among Monday’s probable starting pitchers, Shota Imanaga is first in ERA (2.32), first in xERA (2.90), second in xFIP (3.24), second in SIERA (3.16), second in WHIP (0.90) and second in strikeout rate (28%) this season.
Imanaga also has four wins, six quality starts, a 15.5% SwStr%, 28.7% CSW%, 95 stuff+, 106 location+ and 102 pitching+ in nine starts spanning 54.1 innings this season.
Imanaga has a plus matchup and mixed betting info. The Brewers are 27th in wRC+ (74) with a 21.6% strikeout rate versus lefties and tied for 17th in wRC+ (91) with a 20.6% strikeout rate on the road in 2026. The Cubs are -165 favorites, but the game’s total is 10.5 runs. Despite the high game total, Imanaga is the top pitcher in all game types tonight.
Ryan Weathers is thriving this season. He has the lowest xFIP (2.84), the lowest SIERA (2.99) and the highest strikeout rate (29.8%) in 2026 among tonight’s probable starters. He has also logged the following numbers this year:
- 2 wins
- 3 quality starts
- 3.00 ERA
- 4.21 xERA
- 1.11 WHIP
- 12% SwStr%
- 32.8% CSW%
- 99 stuff+
- 114 location+
- 111 pitching+
Weathers has a desirable matchup and favorable betting info tonight. The Blue Jays are 18th in wRC+ (89) with an 18.1% strikeout rate versus lefties and 27th in wRC+ (82) with a 17.4% strikeout rate on the road this year. The Yankees are -200 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
J.T. Ginn has cooked with gas on the road. In 67.1 innings on the road since last season, he’s twirled a 2.54 ERA, 2.89 xFIP, 0.98 WHIP, 5% walk rate and 25.7% strikeout rate.
Ginn has also held 276 right-handed batters to a .254 wOBA since last season, and the Angels project to have only three left-handed batters or switch-hitters in their lineup, with Adam Frazier the only lefty or switch-hitter on their bench who could make a spot start.
The Angels are a DFS-friendly matchup for Ginn, and the betting info is OK. The Angels are 24th in wRC+ (93) with a 26.3% strikeout rate versus righties and 30th in wRC+ (70) with a 27.5% strikeout rate at home this season, and the Athletics are -130 favorites, albeit with a game total of nine runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Walbert Urena‘s 3.29 ERA through seven appearances (five starts) doesn’t stand out as a number to stack against, and his 2.96 xERA is even more impressive.
Yet, the rookie righty has a 4.50 xFIP, 4.73 SIERA, 1.43 WHIP and 14.3% walk rate. The Angels also have a dreadful bullpen, ranking 29th in ERA (5.47) in 2026.
Brandon Sproat is responsible for a 5.75 ERA, 4.81 xERA, 4.45 xFIP, 4.41 SIERA and 1.53 WHIP in eight appearances (six starts) this year.
The righty has also surrendered a .384 wOBA to lefties and a .318 wOBA to righties since last season. The wind is projected to blow out at Wrigley Field today, and Chicago’s offense can take advantage of the conditions to light up the scoreboard tonight.
Core Studs
- Aaron Judge has smashed 37 homers with a .496 on-base percentage (OBP), .425 ISO, .493 wOBA and 227 wRC+ in 407 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
- Nick Kurtz has belted 34 bombs with a .441 OBP, .350 ISO, .465 wOBA and 201 wRC+ in 470 plate appearances against righties since reaching the Majors last season.
- Alex Bregman sits in the heart of Chicago’s lineup, and he’s in stellar form. The veteran third baseman has recorded multiple hits in three straight games and four of his last five. He’s also on an eight-game hitting streak and reached base in 13 straight contests.
Value Plays/Punts
- Michael Conforto‘s bat has forced itself into the lineup. In 68 plate appearances this season, the veteran outfielder has tallied three homers, 11 runs, 11 RBI, a .456 OBP, .309 ISO, .473 wOBA and 208 wRC+.
- According to Baseball Savant, Henry Bolte has swatted nine homers with a .341 batting average, .430 OBP, .573 slugging rate, .232 ISO and .435 wOBA in 244 plate appearances against righties in Triple-A since last season. He also stole 30 bases in 71 games in Triple-A.
- Anthony Volpe has a .563 OBP, .444 wOBA and 187 wRC+ in 16 plate appearances this year. He also has a .319 OBP, .158 ISO, .316 wOBA and 104 wRC+ in 501 career plate appearances against southpaws.
Monday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Walbert Urena has recorded fewer than 15.5 outs in three of his five starts, including both of his road tilts.
Ian Happ (OF – CHC): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs — Higher (0.87x Payout)
Ian Happ has amassed 38 hits, 35 runs, 20 RBI, a .228 batting average, .368 OBP, .228 ISO, .364 wOBA and 134 wRC+ in 45 games and 204 plate appearances this season.
The switch-hitting outfielder has eclipsed 1.5 combined hits + runs + RBIs in 23 contests this year.
J.T. Ginn has exceeded 5.5 strikeouts in two of his last three starts on the road. Additionally, the last four right-handed true starters (i.e., excluding openers as part of a bullpen game or before a bulk-reliever) who’ve faced the Angels have cleared 5.5 strikeouts.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
