The main MLB DFS slates differ between DraftKings and FanDuel. For the purposes of this piece, the focus will be on DraftKings’ three-game main slate that starts at 12:15 p.m. ET.
The salaries for FanDuel will be from their two-game afternoon slate, starting at 12:15 p.m. ET. The Underdog selections are also from the afternoon’s games.
Thursday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (7/23)
The main MLB DFS slates differ between DraftKings and FanDuel. For the purposes of this piece, the focus will be on DraftKings’ three-game main slate that starts at 12:15 p.m. ET.
The salaries for FanDuel will be from their two-game afternoon slate, starting at 12:15 p.m. ET. The Underdog selections are also from the afternoon’s games.
Thursday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (7/23)
Chris Sale has burned me as the clear-cut top pitcher on a small slate before. Nevertheless, he’s comfortably the top hurler on today’s three-game slate.
According to FanGraphs, Sale has recorded the following numbers in 18 starts spanning 105 innings this season:
- 10 wins
- 11 quality starts
- 2.06 ERA
- 3.31 xERA
- 3.13 xFIP
- 3.14 SIERA
- 1.06 WHIP
- 5.9% walk rate
- 28.9% strikeout rate
- 13.5% SwStr%
- 30.7% CSW%
- 117 stuff+
- 108 location+
- 120 pitching+
Sale has a tasty matchup today, albeit against an offense in good form. The Padres are 25th in wRC+ (89) with a 21.7% strikeout rate versus lefties and tied for 17th in wRC+ (97) with a 23% strikeout rate on the road in 2026.
However, San Diego is tied for fourth in wRC+ (120) with a 19.9% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days, so they might not be a complete pushover. Still, the Braves are -225 favorites, and the game’s total is eight runs.
Gavin Williams has spun it at home this season. In 10 home starts over 60 innings, Williams has rattled off a 3.45 ERA, 2.93 xFIP, 1.15 WHIP, 6.9% walk rate and 29.7% strikeout rate.
The righty has a challenging matchup but favorable betting info. The Twins are tied for fourth in wRC+ (109) with a 21.4% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for fifth in wRC+ (105) with a 23.4% strikeout rate on the road this year.
Having said that, Minnesota is tied for 15th in wRC+ (99) with a 20.9% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days. The Guardians are -130 favorites, and the game’s total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs.
Shane Bieber started the year on the injured list (IL), making his debut for the Blue Jays on June 23rd. He’s struggled, but he’s also coming off his best start of the year.
Bieber threw six scoreless innings at home against the White Sox on July 18th, allowing three hits and two walks with six strikeouts. He had a 2.16 xERA, 3.39 xFIP, 3.47 SIERA and 0.83 WHIP in that turn. Moreover, Bieber had a 13.8% SwStr%, 30% CSW%, 91 stuff+, 107 location+ and 101 pitching+.
Bieber has a difficult matchup for maintaining momentum. The Rays are third in wRC+ (111) with a 19.2% strikeout rate versus righties but 16th in wRC+ (98) with a 19.6% strikeout rate on the road this season. Tampa Bay is also tied for fourth in wRC+ (120) with an 18.1% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days.
Nevertheless, the Blue Jays are listed at -110, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs, putting Bieber in the mix as an SP2 in GPPs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
In 14 appearances (11 starts) in 2026, Griffin Canning has a 6.67 ERA, 4.94 xERA, 4.53 xFIP and 4.59 SIERA. The 30-year-old righty has held 106 right-handed batters to a .290 wOBA this season, making any right-handed batters in Atlanta’s lineup unappealing.
Fortunately, Canning has permitted an eye-popping .405 wOBA to 159 left-handed batters, and six of the team’s projected starters are left-handed batters or switch-hitters.
Taj Bradley is pitching well this season but has struggled on the road, with a 4.50 ERA and 4.03 xFIP in 56 innings, which makes Cleveland’s lineup stackable on such a small slate.
The bargain salaries for their hitters are also helpful for squeezing Sale and Atlanta’s top hitters into DFS lineups.
Core Studs
- Matt Olson has crushed 59 homers with a .357 on-base percentage (OBP), .228 ISO, .362 wOBA and 132 wRC+ in 1,254 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
- Drake Baldwin has hit 18 homers with 56 runs, 54 RBI, two stolen bases, a .368 OBP, .368 wOBA and 132 wRC+ in 348 plate appearances this season.
- Chase DeLauter is having a fantastic rookie season, with 11 homers, 34 runs, 50 RBI, four stolen bases, a .351 OBP, .167 ISO, .351 wOBA and 126 wRC+ in 359 plate appearances this season.
Value Plays/Punts
- Steven Kwan had three hits in five plate appearances last night, extending his heater. In 31 plate appearances from July 10th through July 21st, Kwan tallied five runs, four RBI, two stolen bases a .516 OBP, .111 ISO, .470 wOBA, .405 expected wOBA (xwOBA) and 208 wRC+.
- Kazuma Okamoto has launched five long balls with a .333 OBP, .207 ISO, .344 wOBA and 121 wRC+ in 93 plate appearances against southpaws in his first season.
- Jim Jarvis has hit one homer with a .345 OBP, .173 ISO, .358 wOBA and 126 wRC+ in 56 plate appearances in his first year in The Show.
Thursday’s Top Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Ian Seymour has demonstrated a high ceiling for strikeouts, as evidenced by punching out 12 Yankees at home on July 7th and striking out eight Royals in Kansas City on July 2nd.
However, the lefty has failed to clear this number in four of his seven starts, including his two most recent starts. Furthermore, the Blue Jays are ninth in strikeout rate (20.9%) versus lefties, ninth in strikeout rate (20.5%) at home and third in strikeout rate (19.2%) in the previous 30 days.
Seymour should fall short of exceeding 4.5 strikeouts today.
Steven Kwan is rolling. He’s exceeded this number in back-to-back games and in seven of his past eight outings.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
