Josh Shepardson | Mon, Jul 27th 2026, 6:02am EDT

MLB DFS Picks & Underdog Player Props: Monday (7/27)

Monday’s MLB DFS main slate features 11 games on FanDuel, starting at 6:40 p.m. ET. The main slate on DraftKings features seven games beginning at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Underdog player props are also from the night’s games.

Monday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props

Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (7/27)

Zack Wheeler (SP – PHI) at Miami Marlins

Zack Wheeler is a road warrior. Per FanGraphs, in nine road starts spanning 57.1 innings this season, Wheeler has a 1.73 ERA, 2.81 xFIP, 0.82 WHIP, 4.7% walk rate and 29.9% strikeout rate. Five of those turns were also quality starts.

Wheeler’s matchup is mixed, but his betting info is outstanding. The Marlins are tied for 15th in wRC+ (102) with a 20.9% strikeout rate versus righties and 23rd in wRC+ (98) with a 20.8% strikeout rate at home in 2026.

However, Miami is seventh in wRC+ (114) with a 20.2% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days, so it’s not a risk-free matchup. Still, the Phillies are -170 favorites, and the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs.

Max Fried (SP – NYY) at Chicago White Sox

Max Fried was limited to only 57 pitches in his return from the injured list (IL) on July 22nd, but he efficiently spun five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit with one walk and seven strikeouts.

The lefty should be cut loose for more pitches in this turn, making him a viable starting pitching option on DraftKings, albeit unappealing at FanDuel, where Wheeler is available.

Fried is having a stellar 2026 campaign, logging the following numbers in 11 starts, totaling 66.2 innings:

4 wins
6 quality starts
2.97 ERA
2.50 xERA
3.72 xFIP
3.97 SIERA
0.96 WHIP
7.8% walk rate
22.3% strikeout rate
10.4% SwStr%
27.8% CSW%
106 stuff+
101 location+
110 pitching+

Fried’s matchup isn’t a big needle mover in either direction, and his betting info is similar. The White Sox are 12th in wRC+ (98) with a 24.7% strikeout rate versus lefties and 10th in wRC+ (106) with a 22.3% strikeout rate at home this year.

Chicago is also tied for 19th in wRC+ (97) with a 22.3% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. Thus, the Yankees are -135 favorites, but the game’s total is 8.5 runs.

Tatsuya Imai (SP – HOU) at Los Angeles Angels

The Tatsuya Imai experience has been a genuine rollercoaster ride. The 28-year-old is coming off a gem, holding the Marlins to one run on four hits and three walks with eight strikeouts across six innings. He’s thrown three quality starts in his last five games, striking out at least eight batters in each.

Having said that, Imai logged 3.2 innings and 1.1 innings in the outliers, and he recorded only two outs in the start before those five. Imai could dazzle, or he could crash and burn.

Fortunately, Imai has a desirable matchup and decent betting info. The Angels are tied for 23rd in wRC+ (95) with a 24.8% strikeout rate versus righties and 30th in wRC+ (81) with a 25.8% strikeout rate at home this season.

They are also 27th in wRC+ (83) with a 25.1% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. In addition, Houston is the favorite (-120), and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.

Walbert Urena (SP – LAA) vs. Houston Astros

Walbert Urena‘s matchup and betting info aren’t anything for DFS gamers to get excited about. Nevertheless, he’s a worthy SP2 dart throw in GPPs on DraftKings.

The rookie righty began the season in the bullpen for two relief appearances before moving to the rotation. He has recorded the following stats in his 16 starts, amassing 85.2 innings:

6 wins
7 quality starts
2.84 ERA
3.18 xERA
4.31 xFIP
4.50 SIERA
1.24 WHIP
12.1% walk rate
22.3% strikeout rate
11.9% SwStr%
27.8% CSW%
99 stuff+
103 location+
104 pitching+

Urena has potential to deliver a stellar start and provide value at his palatable salary on DraftKings.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

Road (Busch Stadium )
Game Total/Moneyline: 10.0 Runs/CHC -120

Matthew Liberatore has been rocked to the tune of a 5.18 ERA in 20 starts this season, and his 5.28 xERA doesn’t suggest he’s been unlucky, even if his 4.30 xFIP and 4.32 SIERA aren’t as damning of his work.

Additionally, hitters of either handedness have roughed Liberatore up. The 331 right-handed batters who’ve faced him have recorded a .350 wOBA, and the 106 left-handed batters have posted an eye-popping .390 wOBA.

Home (Oracle Park)
Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/SF +115

Brandon Sproat has made 17 starts and two relief appearances this season, recording a dreadful 5.09 ERA, 4.93 xERA, 4.33 xFIP and 4.29 SIERA.

The righty is a favorable matchup for all of San Francisco’s hitters. The 176 righties he’s faced this season have rattled off a .351 wOBA, and the 197 lefties have amassed a .345 wOBA.

Core Studs

Pete Crow-Armstrong is having a breakout campaign against lefties, clobbering five homers with a .408 on-base percentage (OBP), .172 ISO, .386 wOBA and 147 wRC+ in 147 plate appearances against them.
Seiya Suzuki has ripped 19 round-trippers with a .374 OBP, .216 ISO, .367 wOBA and 137 wRC+ in 422 plate appearances against southpaws since 2024.
Bryce Eldridge has belted 10 bombs with 32 runs, 23 RBI, one stolen base, a .359 OBP, .200 ISO, .357 wOBA and 128 wRC+ in 256 plate appearances.

Value Plays/Punts

Carson Kelly has hit 10 homers with a .384 OBP, .186 ISO, .377 wOBA and 144 wRC+ in 271 plate appearances against lefties since 2024.
Pedro Ramirez is a decent pick on DraftKings, but he’s a screaming value on FanDuel. He’s hit one home run with 13 runs, 13 RBI, three stolen bases, a .348 OBP, .146 ISO, .347 wOBA and 121 wRC+ in 90 plate appearances in his first taste of the Majors.
JJ Bleday is appropriately priced on FanDuel and a bargain on DraftKings. Bleday has mashed 11 taters with 17 runs, 30 RBIs, two stolen bases, a .392 OBP, .336 ISO, .416 wOBA and 156 wRC+ in 143 plate appearances at home this year.

Monday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Brandon Sproat (SP – MIL): 4.5 Strikeouts — Lower

Brandon Sproat has struck out fewer than 4.5 batters in three straight starts and six out of the last nine games. Conversely, the Giants are third in strikeout rate (20.4%) versus righties, tied for 10th in strikeout rate (20.8%) at home and 13th in strikeout rate (21.8%) in the previous 30 days.

Rafael Devers (1B – SFG): 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs — Higher

Rafael Devers has recorded 99 hits, including 22 homers, with 55 runs, 60 RBIs, a .248 batting average, .318 OBP, .238 ISO, .342 wOBA and 118 wRC+ in 105 games and 446 plate appearances this season. Devers has gone over this line in three of his previous four games.

Nick Kurtz (1B – ATH): 1.5 Total Bases — Higher

Nick Kurtz has put it together against lefties in his second year in the Majors. He has logged 23 singles, three doubles, six homers, a .252 batting average, .417 slugging rate and .165 ISO in 146 plate appearances against southpaws this season.

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

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