Josh Shepardson | Mon, Jun 1st 2026, 5:10am EDT

MLB DFS Picks & Underdog Player Props: Monday (6/1)

Monday’s MLB DFS main slates on DraftKings and FanDuel feature seven games, starting at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Underdog pick’em selections are also from those seven games.

Monday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props

Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (6/1)

Joe Ryan (SP – MIN) vs. Chicago White Sox

Joe Ryan is cooking with gas this season. According to FanGraphs, in 12 starts spanning 64.1 innings, Ryan has logged the following stats:

3 wins
7 quality starts
2.94 ERA
2.82 xERA
3.45 xFIP
3.14 SIERA
0.93 WHIP
5.5% walk rate
27.5% strikeout rate
11.9% SwStr%
29.2% CSW%
108 stuff+
106 location+
110 pitching+

Ryan’s matchup is better than it appears, and his betting info is favorable. The White Sox are 15th in wRC+ (101) with a 24.1% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for 10th in wRC+ (98) with a 26.3% strikeout rate on the road in 2026.

However, Chicago is tied for 22nd in wRC+ (87) with a 25.2% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days, and Munetaka Murakami is on the injured list (IL). The Twins are -165 favorites, and the game’s total is eight runs.

Chase Burns (SP – CIN) vs. Kansas City Royals

Chase Burns hasn’t been overwhelmed by his hitter-friendly ballpark. Instead, in 55.1 innings at home since last season, he has a 2.77 ERA, 3.31 xFIP, 1.08 WHIP, 8% walk rate and 29% strikeout rate.

The righty is also in exceptional form, with the following stats in his previous five starts, totaling 30.1 innings:

4 wins
4 quality starts
1.19 ERA
2.38 xERA
3.08 xFIP
3.08 SIERA
0.79 WHIP
7.1% walk rate
29.5% strikeout rate
14.8% SwStr%
28.1% CSW%
111 stuff+
101 location+
116 pitching+

Burns has a tantalizing matchup and DFS-friendly betting info tonight. The Royals are tied for 24th in wRC+ (91) with a 21.7% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for 28th in wRC+ (77) with a 22% strikeout rate on the road this year. The Reds are -180 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.

Emerson Hancock (SP – SEA) vs. New York Mets

Emerson Hancock is putting together a breakout age-27 campaign. In 11 starts spanning 64.2 innings this season, Hancock has spun the following numbers:

4 wins
7 quality starts
2.78 ERA
4.06 xERA
3.40 xFIP
3.37 SIERA
1.01 WHIP
6% walk rate
25.1% strikeout rate
10.9% SwStr%
23% CSW%
101 stuff+
106 location+
102 pitching+

Hancock’s xERA and his plate discipline numbers leave something to be desired.

Still, Hancock has a good matchup and favorable betting info. The Mets are 29th in wRC+ (87) with a 21.1% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for 28th in wRC+ (77) with a 21.5% strikeout rate on the road this season. The Mariners are -135 favorites, and the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly seven runs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

Home (Angel Stadium)
Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/LAA -200

Among tonight’s probable starters/bulk relievers, Kyle Freeland has the highest ERA (8.08), the highest xERA (6.67), the second-highest xFIP (4.41), the second-highest WHIP (1.75) and is tied for the fourth-highest SIERA (4.19).

Freeland has coughed up a .370 wOBA to 722 right-handed batters since last season, and all nine projected starters for the Angels are right-handed batters.

Home (Great American Ball Park)
Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/CIN -180

Unfortunately, Elly De La Cruz left yesterday’s game early with hamstring tightness. Thus, I’m not projecting him in Cincinnati’s starting lineup tonight. Nevertheless, the Reds have a desirable matchup.

Luinder Avila has a 5.06 ERA, 4.74 xERA, 4.40 xFIP, 4.31 SIERA and 1.83 WHIP in 21.1 innings this year. His numbers are even worse when adding the context of him starting only one of his 10 appearances.

Since last season, Avila has allowed a .334 wOBA to lefties and a .319 wOBA to righties. Finally, Kansas City’s bullpen’s 5.14 ERA this season is the second-highest in the league.

Core Studs

JJ Bleday has hit 32 homers with a .323 on-base percentage (OBP), .206 ISO, .330 wOBA and 115 wRC+ in 878 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
Zach Neto has launched 14 long-balls with a .368 OBP, .232 ISO, .378 wOBA and 145 wRC+ in 296 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
Mike Trout is having a vintage campaign, with 14 homers, 45 runs, 31 RBI, five stolen bases, a .410 OBP, .251 ISO, .394 wOBA and 151 wRC+ in 266 plate appearances this year.

Value Plays/Punts

Nathaniel Lowe has hit 38 dingers with a .347 OBP, .183 ISO, .345 wOBA and 123 wRC+ in 979 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers since 2024.
Jo Adell has crushed 21 homers with a .319 OBP, .322 ISO, .379 wOBA and 146 wRC+ in 279 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
Vaughn Grissom isn’t a must-use punt option, but his lineup versatility and projected spot in the order make him an enticing right-handed option versus Freeland.

Monday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Jacob deGrom (SP – TEX): 6.5 Strikeouts — Lower (0.88x Payout)

Jacob deGrom‘s matchup isn’t a pushover tonight. The Cardinals are 14th in wRC+ (102) with a 22.6% strikeout rate versus righties, and they’re tied for 12th in wRC+ (103) with an even lower strikeout rate (20.7 K%) at home in 2026.

The veteran righty has failed to clear 6.5 strikeouts in three straight starts, back-to-back road tilts and three of his last four road starts.

Joe Ryan (SP – MIN): 5.5 Strikeouts — Higher (0.83x Payout)

Joe Ryan has cleared 5.5 strikeouts in three straight starts. Moreover, he’s surpassed 5.5 strikeouts in five of his six starts at home this season.

JJ Bleday (OF – CIN): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs — Higher (0.85x Payout)

JJ Bleday has recorded 33 hits, including nine homers, with 18 runs, 26 RBI, a .303 batting average, .398 OBP, .339 ISO, .441 wOBA and 181 wRC+ in 128 plate appearances this season.

Bleday has surpassed 1.5 combined hits + runs + RBIs in three straight games and five of his last six.

Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.

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