Wednesday’s MLB DFS main slate starts at 6:45 p.m. ET on DraftKings and FanDuel. The DraftKings main slate features seven games, while FanDuel excludes the Giants-Braves. The Underdog pick’em picks are also from the night’s games.
Wednesday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Wednesday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (6/17)
Carlos Rodon‘s season got off to a late start after beginning the year on the injured list (IL). Fortunately for him and the Yankees, he’s rounded into decent form. According to FanGraphs, Rodon has tallied the following stats in his previous four starts spanning 23 innings:
- 2 wins
- 3 quality starts
- 2.35 ERA
- 2.95 xERA
- 4.12 xFIP
- 4.17 SIERA
- 1.04 WHIP
- 12.1% walk rate
- 26.4% strikeout rate
- 11.3% SwStr%
- 25.5% CSW%
- 105 stuff+
- 91 location+
- 94 pitching+
Rodon’s control can undermine any of his starts. Nevertheless, he’s an intriguing selection on a pitching-poor DFS slate.
The veteran lefty’s matchup isn’t easy. The White Sox are third in wRC+ (114) with a 23.5% strikeout rate versus lefties and tied for ninth in wRC+ (103) with a 26% 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. As a result, Rodon’s betting info is rock-solid, with the Yankees serving as -172 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
George Kirby is pitching adequately this year, but his numbers at home are the primary reason he’s featured in this piece. In 114 innings at home since last year, Kirby has a 3.87 ERA, 3.38 xFIP, 1.18 WHIP, 6.4% walk rate and 24.8% strikeout rate.
The righty’s matchup is decent, and his betting info is favorable, too. The Orioles are tied for fourth in wRC+ (111) with a 22.9% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for 19th in wRC+ (93) with a 25.6% strikeout rate on the road this year.
Baltimore is also 26th in wRC+ (85) with a 28.1% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. Additionally, the Mariners are -132 favorites, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Javier Assad isn’t an exciting pitching selection. In 10 appearances (four starts) spanning 38.1 innings this year, Assad has amassed the following stats:
- 4 wins
- 1 quality start
- 3.99 ERA
- 3.89 xERA
- 4.25 xFIP
- 4.32 SIERA
- 1.02 WHIP
- 6% walk rate
- 16% strikeout rate
- 47.4% groundball rate
- 5.6% SwStr%
- 23.3% CSW%
- 97 stuff+
- 104 location+
- 104 pitching+
Assad’s strikeout rate leaves a ton to be desired. Still, he has a more palatable 19.8% strikeout rate in 31.1 innings pitched at home since last year.
Assad is largely a matchup- and salary-driven SP2 suggestion in GPPs on DraftKings. The Rockies are tied for 20th in wRC+ (96) with a 22.5% strikeout rate versus righties and 13th in wRC+ (98) with a 24.8% strikeout rate on the road this season.
Moreover, they’re 30th in wRC+ (61) and have a 28.2% strikeout rate over the previous 30 days. The Cubs are -180 favorites, but the game’s total is a slightly alarming 10 runs. Assad could throw a dud, but even an OK start would get the job done by freeing up salary to jam in more high-salaried batters.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Sean Sullivan will make his second career start for the Rockies after allowing zero runs to the Athletics on two hits, zero walks and two strikeouts in three innings on June 12th in Las Vegas. The 23-year-old southpaw had a 5.60 ERA, 4.79 xERA and 5.43 xFIP in 11 starts spanning 54.2 innings in Triple-A this.
The Cubs can rough him up tonight, with seven projected starters logging at least a 101 wRC+ against lefties since 2024. Six have amassed at least a 112 wRC+, and four have tallied at least a 124 wRC+. Colorado’s relievers are also dead last in bullpen ERA (5.17) this season.
Braxton Ashcraft is arguably the best pitcher on this slate, and it could cause him to be on a relatively high percentage of rosters despite taking the bump at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park.
I hope that’s the case, because I’d prefer to leverage the A’s in GPPs and bank on the park factors getting the better of the young righty. Eight of the nine projected starters for the A’s have posted at least a 101 wRC+ against righties since 2024, and Zack Gelof‘s 94 wRC+ is the worst mark. It’s a deep and talented lineup.
Core Studs
- Seiya Suzuki has hit 16 homers with a .366 on-base percentage (OBP), .205 ISO, .355 wOBA and 130 wRC+ in 380 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
- Nick Kurtz has mashed 18 taters with 52 runs, 57 RBI, seven stolen bases, a .442 OBP, .265 ISO, .428 wOBA and 172 wRC+ in 330 plate appearances this season.
- Bryan Reynolds belted two bombs last night, pushing his season total to 10, with 49 runs, 45 RBI, five stolen bases, a .400 OBP, .189 ISO, .383 wOBA and 143 wRC+ in 320 plate appearances.
Value Plays/Punts
- Carson Kelly has drilled nine dingers with a .376 OBP, .179 ISO, .370 wOBA and 141 wRC+ in 242 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
- Matt Shaw has hit seven homers with a .327 OBP, .213 ISO, .347 wOBA and 124 wRC+ in 165 plate appearances against lefties since reaching the Majors last season.
- Dansby Swanson has drilled 14 dingers with a .328 OBP, .191 ISO, .339 wOBA and 118 wRC+ in 342 plate appearances against southpaws since 2024.
Wednesday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Brandon Sproat has tallied only 60 innings in 13 appearances (11 starts) this season. He’s fallen short of 15.5 outs in seven out of 11 starts, including four of his last five.
Jackson Chourio has rattled off 49 hits, including nine homers, with 27 runs, 26 RBI, a .316 batting average, .367 OBP, .245 ISO, .399 wOBA and 157 wRC+ in 36 games and 169 plate appearances this year. The toolsy outfielder has surpassed 1.5 combined hits + runs + RBIs in six of his last eight games.
Carlos Rodon can have a quality DFS turn within the context of tonight’s options while allowing more than 1.5 earned runs, hence his inclusion above, while also being featured here. Rodon allowed three earned runs in his last start and surpassed 1.5 earned runs in three out of six starts 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.
