Friday’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel starts at 7:05 p.m. ET, with both platforms featuring 12 games. The Underdog pick’em choices are also from those 12 games.
Friday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (6/5)
Parker Messick is validating last year’s stellar performance in seven starts for the Guardians in his first taste of the Majors. According to FanGraphs, the lefty has the following stats in 12 starts spanning 69.1 innings in 2026:
- 6 wins
- 4 quality starts
- 2.21 ERA
- 3.24 xERA
- 3.23 xFIP
- 3.39 SIERA
- 1.07 WHIP
- 11.9% SwStr%
- 26.5% CSW%
- 96 stuff+
- 105 location+
- 105 pitching+
Messick has a tasty two-piece combo of a favorable matchup and betting info. The Rangers are tied for 26th in wRC+ (83) with a 27.1% strikeout rate versus lefties and tied for 26th in wRC+ (87) with a 22% strikeout rate at home in 2026.
Texas is also 28th in wRC+ (79) with a 22% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. As a result, the Guardians are -140 favorites, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Trey Yesavage is an enticing pitching option on tonight’s slate, but he’s not a must-click SP2 in cash games at DraftKings. Instead, Yesavage is an appealing GPP pick at both DFS providers.
In seven starts, totaling 37 innings, the young righty has amassed the following numbers this season:
- 2 wins
- 2 quality starts
- 2.19 ERA
- 2.50 xERA
- 4.15 xFIP
- 4.05 SIERA
- 1.16 WHIP
- 11.4% walk rate
- 26.2% strikeout rate
- 13.8% SwStr%
- 26.8% CSW%
- 111 stuff+
- 87 location+
- 96 pitching+
Yesavage’s profile isn’t perfect, but it’s quite good. His matchup is mixed tonight, but his betting info is nifty. The Orioles are sixth in wRC+ (109) with a 23.2% strikeout rate versus righties this year.
However, they’re 23rd in wRC+ (91) with a 25.8% strikeout rate on the road. Baltimore is also 26th in wRC+ (85) with a 28.1% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. Thus, the Blue Jays are -155 favorites, and the game’s total is eight runs.
Has the light bulb come on for Roki Sasaki? Maybe. The once ballyhooed righty could be the latest example of development in the Majors not being linear, even for a prospect with the level of success Sasaki had in Japan.
Sasaki has been dialed in, with the following numbers in his last four starts, totaling 22.1 innings:
- 2 wins
- 1 quality start
- 2.82 ERA
- 3.14 xERA
- 2.90 xFIP
- 2.94 SIERA
- 0.94 WHIP
- 4.5% walk rate
- 27.3% strikeout rate
- 14.75 SwStr%
- 27.8% CSW%
- 107 stuff+
- 110 location+
- 117 pitching+
Sasaki has a legitimate case to rank as the top pitcher on tonight’s slate, especially when considering his bargain salary. He’s a no-brainer SP2 pick in cash games, and he’s an outstanding choice in GPPs at both DFS providers.
Sasaki’s matchup is OK, and so is his betting info. The Angels are tied for 18th in wRC+ (97) with a 25% strikeout rate versus righties and third in wRC+ (115) with a 24.2% strikeout rate on the road this season.
They were 29th in wRC+ (76) with a 31% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. Finally, the Dodgers are -190 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Braves will face a scuffling Mitch Keller tonight. Pittsburgh’s righty has been hammered for a 6.59 ERA, 5.30 xERA, 4.19 xFIP and 4.43 SIERA in his past five starts.
Atlanta’s left-handed batters and switch-hitters are the most appealing stacking options against him, as Keller has allowed a .339 wOBA to 547 left-handed batters since last season.
Kumar Rocker is overachieving this year, with a 3.54 ERA, 4.63 xERA, 4.48 xFIP and 4.58 SIERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) this season.
Moreover, Rocker has coughed up a .361 wOBA to 285 left-handed batters since last season. All nine hitters in Cleveland’s projected starting lineup are left-handed batters or switch-hitters.
Core Studs
- Matt Olson has hit 53 homers with a .360 on-base percentage (OBP), .224 ISO, .363 wOBA and 133 wRC+ in 1,161 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
- Michael Harris has swatted 13 homers with 29 runs, 37 RBI, three stolen bases, a .336 OBP, .218 ISO, .372 wOBA and 138 wRC+ in 229 plate appearances this year.
- Travis Bazzana has hit three homers with 13 runs, 15 RBI, eight stolen bases, a .360 OBP, .149 ISO, .346 wOBA and 121 wRC+ in 139 plate appearances this season.
Value Plays/Punts
- Mike Yastrzemski has hit 36 homers with a .333 OBP, .199 ISO, .337 wOBA and 117 wRC+ in 981 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
- Nolan Arenado is having a resurgent season at the plate, and his numbers will be featured with his Underdog pick ’em selection below.
- Jorge Mateo is a DraftKings-specific punt. Mateo has drilled four dingers with 22 runs, 11 RBI, seven stolen bases, a .341 OBP, .193 ISO, .365 wOBA and 134 wRC+ in 88 plate appearances in 2026.
- Kyle Manzardo recorded an out in a pinch-hitting appearance yesterday. Still, in 92 plate appearances from May 1st through June 3rd, he smashed six homers with 19 runs, 13 RBI, a .380 OBP, .296 ISO, .419 wOBA, .375 expected wOBA (xwOBA) and 170 wRC+.
Friday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Kumar Rocker has allowed 71 hits and a .289 batting average to 285 left-handed batters since last season. He’ll face only players batting left-handed against him tonight.
Nolan Arenado has tallied 50 hits, including eight homers, 29 runs, 30 RBI, a .263 batting average, .343 OBP, .189 ISO, .349 wOBA and 122 wRC+ in 216 plate appearances this season.
Trey Yesavage has cleared 5.5 strikeouts in five of his seven starts this year. The only start he failed to clear 5.5 strikeouts in three games at home was his season debut on April 28th.
Yesavage struck out only four batters when he faced the Orioles in his last start, but that was in Baltimore, where the O’s have played much better offensively.
Again, the Orioles have a 25.8% strikeout rate on the road this season. Moreover, the Orioles have struck out in 28.1% of their plate appearances in the previous 30 days.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
