Friday’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel starts at 7:05 p.m. ET, featuring 14 games at DraftKings and 13 at FanDuel. The Underdog pick’em selections are from the 14 games.
Friday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (7/17)
Chris Sale has a potentially challenging matchup tonight. According to FanGraphs, the Rangers are third in wRC+ (113) with a 25.1% strikeout rate versus lefties and tied for sixth in wRC+ (106) with a 22.9% strikeout rate on the road in 2026. Texas is also sixth in wRC+ (117) with a 21.8% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. The Braves are -210 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
The lefty is also having another sensational season. Among 62 qualified pitchers in 2026, Sale is third in ERA (2.20), tied for 15th in xERA (3.45), tied for sixth in xFIP (3.07), seventh in SIERA (3.12), tied for 17th in WHIP (1.11) and eighth in strikeout rate (29%). The veteran southpaw also has a 13.4% SwStr%, 31% CSW%, 117 stuff+, 108 location+ and 120 pitching+. Sale can tie up the Rangers and is the top hurler on tonight’s slate.
Troy Melton is making a seamless transition from dominating in the minors to carving up the Majors. In eight starts spanning 49.1 innings this year, the rookie righty has logged the following numbers:
- 5 wins
- 5 quality starts
- 1.82 ERA
- 2.97 xERA
- 3.91 xFIP
- 3.93 SIERA
- 0.81 WHIP
- 5.8% walk rate
- 21.7% strikeout rate
- 10.9% SwStr%
- 25% CSW%
- 99 stuff+
- 98 location+
- 100 pitching+
Melton’s matchup is excellent, but his betting info is mixed. The Angels are tied for 21st in wRC+ (96) with a 24.8% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for dead last in wRC+ (82) with a 25.5% strikeout rate at home this year. They are also tied for 18th in wRC+ (99) with a 25.5% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. Still, the Tigers are only -110 favorites, and the game’s total is eight runs.
Gavin Williams has a tricky matchup, making him a better option in GPPs than in cash games. The Pirates are first in wRC+ (118) with a 23% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for 11th in wRC+ (100) with a 25.2% strikeout rate on the road this season. Pittsburgh is also first in wRC+ (130) with a 24.1% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. Fortunately, as potent as they are, they’re also punchout prone, enhancing Williams’ ceiling, which is the name of the game in GPPs.
The righty’s betting info is also rock-solid. The Guardians are slight favorites (-125), and the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs. Since chasing Williams’ ceiling is the idea, the most noteworthy number in his profile is his 29.1% strikeout rate over 113.1 innings in 19 starts this season. He also has a 30.4% strikeout rate in his previous five starts. Finally, Williams has a 28.6% strikeout rate in 141 innings at home since last season.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Brady Singer is having a dreadful campaign, with a 4.72 ERA, 5.54 xERA, 4.54 xFIP and 4.47 SIERA in 18 starts. The 29-year-old righty has coughed up a .347 wOBA to 151 righties and a .381 wOBA to 251 lefties as well. The Reds also have a terrible bullpen, ranking 25th in ERA (4.67) this season.
Among tonight’s 28 probable starters, Merrill Kelly is 28th in ERA (5.38), 28th in xERA (7.47), 27th in xFIP (5.15) and 28th in SIERA (5.29) in 16 starts. He’s the worst starting pitcher on the slate. The 175 right-handed batters who’ve faced him have tallied a .357 wOBA and the 236 left-handed batters have tallied a .381 wOBA against him this year. The Cardinals should rough him up.
Core Studs
- Mickey Moniak has hit 24 homers with a .350 on-base percentage (OBP), .341 ISO, .418 wOBA and 143 wRC+ in 334 plate appearances against righties at home since 2025.
- Hunter Goodman has drilled 24 dingers with a .313 OBP, .241 ISO, .348 wOBA and 96 wRC+ in 409 plate appearances against righties at home since 2024.
- Cole Carrigg has hit one homer with a .472 OBP, .379 ISO, .500 wOBA and 209 wRC+ in his first 36 plate appearances against righties at home in his rookie season.
Value Plays/Punts
- Kyle Karros is having a breakout season, in part, because he’s cranked it up with the platoon disadvantage. In 209 plate appearances against right-handed pitching this season, Karros has hit eight homers with a .359 OBP, .205 ISO, .356 wOBA and 112 wRC+.
- Jake Cronenworth entered the All-Star break on a heater. In his last 43 plate appearances, he hit two homers with four runs, eight RBI, two stolen bases, a .349 OBP, .167 ISO, .368 wOBA and 137 wRC+.
- Jim Jarvis has hit one homer with two runs, three RBI, a .323 OBP, .167 ISO, .342 wOBA and 115 wRC+ through his first 32 plate appearances in the Majors after amassing a 132 wRC+ in 348 plate appearances in Triple-A this year.
Friday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Reid Detmers has fallen short of clearing this number in back-to-back starts, in four of his past five starts and in 11 of his 19 total starts in 2026. The Tigers are merely a mid-pack matchup for strikeouts for lefties, ranking 16th in strikeout rate (22.7%) against southpaws.
Yordan Alvarez has recorded 63 singles, 17 doubles, 31 homers, a .318 batting average, .336 expected batting average (xBA), .633 slugging rate, .715 expected slugging (xSLG) and .315 ISO in 420 plate appearances this season. Conversely, Dean Kremer has ceded seven singles, two doubles, seven homers, a .267 batting average and .650 slugging rate to 62 left-handed batters this season.
Matt Olson has rattled off 99 hits, including 25 homers, 64 runs, 58 RBI, a .267 batting average, .252 xBA, .339 OBP, .267 ISO, .371 wOBA, .358 expected wOBA (xwOBA) and 135 wRC+ in 95 games and 416 plate appearances this season. Meanwhile, Cal Quantrill has allowed 23 hits, a .271 batting average, .357 OBP, .435 slugging rate and .345 wOBA to 98 left-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.
