Monday’s holiday MLB DFS main slate starts at 1:35 p.m. ET on DraftKings, and it features six games. FanDuel breaks down the slate differently, so their salaries below are from FanDuel’s all-day slate. The Underdog pick’em picks are from the afternoon’s six games.
Monday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (5/25)
Jacob Misiorowski is authoring a fabulous sophomore campaign. According to FanGraphs, among 71 qualified pitchers this year, Misiorowski has recorded the following stats:
- 1.89 ERA (tied-fifth)
- 2.30 xERA (first)
- f2.22 xFIP (first)
- 2.21 SIERA (first)
- 0.88 WHIP (fourth)
- 39.3% strikeout rate (first)
- 17.3% swinging-strike rate (first)
- 35.1% called-plus-swinging strike rate (first)
- 125 stuff+ (first)
- 122 pitching+ (tied-first)
The flame-throwing righty also has four wins and five quality starts in 10 starts spanning 57 innings this season.
The Cardinals are a top-10 offense in wRC+ against righties (106) and on the road (106). However, St. Louis is tied for 22nd in wRC+ (87) in the previous 30 days, with a 25.9% strikeout rate.
The Brewers are sizable -210 favorites, and the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs. Misiorowski is the top pitching selection in all game types.
Nolan McLean is another sensational sophomore on today’s slate. The 24-year-old righty has the following numbers in 10 starts spanning 58 innings this year:
- 2 wins
- 5 quality starts
- 3.57 ERA
- 2.92 xERA
- 2.98 xFIP
- 3.01 SIERA
- 1.03 WHIP
- 7.3% walk rate
- 29.5% strikeout rate
- 9.3% SwStr%
- 29.5% CSW%
- 107 stuff+
- 102 location+
- 113 pitching+
McLean has a tasty matchup today. The Reds are tied for 26th in wRC+ (91) with a 23.6% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for 21st in wRC+ (90) with a 23.5% strikeout rate on the road this year.
Cincinnati is also 20th in wRC+ (91) with a 23.8% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. The Mets are -160 favorites, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Kyle Bradish is having a ho-hum season. However, he’s been in pristine form lately. In Bradish’s last three starts, totaling 18.1 innings, he’s logged the following numbers:
- 1 win
- 2 quality starts
- 2.45 ERA
- 2.41 xERA
- 2.95 xFIP
- 2.97 SIERA
- 0.93 WHIP
- 9.7% walk rate
- 31.9% strikeout rate
- 11.7% SwStr%
- 29.5% CSW%
- 101 stuff+
- 113 location+
- 114 pitching+
While Bradish has rounded into good form lately, the Rays haven’t been as sharp recently. Tampa Bay is seventh in wRC+ (108) with a 19.2% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for 12th in wRC+ (98) with a 19.9% strikeout rate on the road this season.
However, they are 16th in wRC+ (97) and have a 24% strikeout rate over the previous 30 days. The Orioles are slight underdogs (+110), but the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Matthew Liberatore has been tagged for a 4.70 ERA, 5.64 xERA, 4.26 xFIP, 4.44 SIERA, 1.55 WHIP and 1.57 HR/9 in 10 starts this season.
The lefty has also yielded a .376 wOBA to lefties and a .317 wOBA to righties since last season. The Brewers also have a desirable matchup against St. Louis’s bullpen, which has the ninth-highest ERA (4.39) in 2026.
The Twins don’t stand out as a no-brainer offense to stack. Still, Anthony Kay has a 4.27 ERA in 10 appearances (eight starts), outkicking his 5.91 xERA, 5.19 xFIP and 4.91 SIERA.
Minnesota’s right-handed batters and switch-hitters are the most appealing stacking options from the Twins since Kay has allowed a .403 wOBA to 163 righties this season.
Chicago’s bullpen is also a plus-matchup for the Twins, as it has the fourth-highest ERA (4.82) this season.
Core Studs
- Byron Buxton has swatted 14 homers with a .353 on-base percentage (OBP), .248 ISO, .376 wOBA and 144 wRC+ in 286 plate appearances against southpaws since 2024.
- William Contreras has hit eight homers with a .373 OBP, .134 ISO, .339 wOBA and 118 wRC+ in 408 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
- Austin Martin has hit two homers with a .405 OBP, .119 ISO, .369 wOBA and 138 wRC+ in 211 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
Value Plays/Punts
- Andrew Vaughn has hit eight dingers with a .377 OBP, .163 ISO, .369 wOBA and 141 wRC+ in 309 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
- Ian Happ has rattled off 10 homers, 35 runs, 20 RBI, two stolen bases, a .350 OBP, .214 ISO, .346 wOBA, .342 expected wOBA (xwOBA) and 123 wRC+ in 220 plate appearances this season.
- Joey Ortiz has mashed eight taters with a .325 OBP, .150 ISO, .318 wOBA and 104 wRC+ in 344 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
Monday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Nick Lodolo has struggled this year, amassing a ghastly 7.20 ERA, 7.42 xERA, 5.70 xFIP, 5.42 SIERA, 13.4% walk rate and 16.4% strikeout rate in three starts, lasting only 15 innings. The lefty hasn’t cleared 17.5 outs in any of his three turns in 2026.
Carmen Mlodzinski is pitching at an adequate level, with a 3.96 ERA, 4.65 xERA, 3.86 xFIP, 3.97 SIERA, 1.40 WHIP, 7.9% walk rate and 20.4% strikeout rate.
However, Mlodzinski is not piling up innings. He has tallied 50 innings in 10 appearances (eight starts), and has failed to exceed 16.5 outs in seven of his 10 appearances this season.
Byron Buxton (OF – MIN): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs — Higher (0.81x Payout)
Byron Buxton is raking in 2026. In 44 games and 204 plate appearances, Buxton has recorded 49 hits, including 16 homers, with 36 runs, 26 RBI, a .262 batting average, .233 expected batting average (xBA), .319 OBP, .316 ISO and 145 wRC+.
Conversely, Kay has permitted 42 hits, a .313 batting average, .407 OBP and .515 slugging to 163 right-handed batters this season.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
