Friday’s MLB DFS main slate features 13 games on DraftKings and FanDuel, starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Underdog player props are also from those 13 games.
Friday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (8/21)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is in good form. According to FanGraphs, in his previous four starts spanning 25.2 innings, the righty has recorded the following numbers:
- 2 wins
- 3 quality starts
- 1.75 ERA
- 2.47 xERA
- 3.88 xFIP
- 4.07 SIERA
- 0.97 WHIP
- 8.9% walk rate
- 22.8% strikeout rate
- 9% SwStr%
- 27.5% CSW%
- 104 stuff+
- 104 location+
- 108 pitching+
Yamamoto’s matchup isn’t perfect, but it’s more favorable than unfavorable. The Pirates are third in wRC+ (111) with a 23.5% strikeout rate versus right-handed pitching in 2026, but they’re tied for 17th in wRC+ (95) with a 26.2% strikeout rate on the road.
Pittsburgh is also 27th in wRC+ (79) with a 24.3% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days and tied for 16th in wRC+ (99) with a 22.5% strikeout rate in the last 14 days. The Dodgers are -235 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
While Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the top pitcher on tonight’s MLB DFS slate, MacKenzie Gore might offer more bang for your buck. The lefty has excelled at home this year.
In 11 home starts, totaling 63.1 innings, Gore has tallied a 3.27 ERA, 3.36 xFIP, 1.07 WHIP, 7.1% walk rate and 27.1% strikeout rate.
Gore’s matchup is mostly tasty, and his betting info is excellent. The Angels are tied for 24th in wRC+ (91) with a 25.6% strikeout rate versus lefties and tied for second in wRC+ (106) with a 24.8% strikeout rate on the road.
They’re also 30th in wRC+ (69) with a 25.5% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days and 27th in wRC+ (67) with a 24.3% strikeout rate in the last 14 days. The Rangers are -145 favorites, and the game’s total is 7.5 runs.
Hayden Wesneski is a salary- and matchup-driven SP2 suggestion on DraftKings. The Athletics are tied for 15th in wRC+ (100) with a 21.3% strikeout rate versus righties and dead last in wRC+ (81) with a 23.7% strikeout rate on the road.
The A’s are also tied for 22nd in wRC+ (87) with a 21% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days and 15th in wRC+ (100) with a 19.6% strikeout rate in the last 14 days. It’s a toothless lineup without Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom.
Wesneski’s 5.16 ERA in four starts for the Astros this season provides pause, but his 4.46 xERA, 4.36 xFIP and 4.42 SIERA suggest he’s been unlucky, even if those marks aren’t anything to write home about, either.
Wesneski’s 12.5% SwStr% and 27.7 CSW% are intriguing marks, though. Finally, the Astros are -195 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs, putting Wesneski in the SP2 mix in GPPs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
A trip to Coors Field is a plus for any offense, and facing Tanner Gordon makes it an even more exciting night for Cleveland’s offense. Gordon has a 5.55 ERA, 4.84 xERA, 4.36 xFIP and 3.92 SIERA in five starts and 12 relief appearances this year. Unsurprisingly, he’s been at his worst as a starter, sporting a 6.26 ERA, 4.66 xERA, 4.89 xFIP, 4.55 SIERA and 1.74 WHIP in his starts. Additionally, Gordon has permitted a .350 wOBA to 140 right-handed batters and a .401 wOBA to 172 left-handed batters this year. As a cherry on top for Cleveland’s offensive outlook, Colorado’s bullpen ranks 29th in ERA (5.51).
Freddy Peralta has pitched dreadfully this year, and he’s flat out embarrassed himself on the road. In 11 road starts spanning 55.1 innings this season, Peralta has been roughed up for a 6.83 ERA, 4.54 xFIP, 1.61 WHIP and 2.11 HR/9. He’s also surrendered a .369 wOBA to 97 right-handed batters and a .403 wOBA to 155 left-handed batters on the road. The Orioles have an opportunity to light up the scoreboard.
Core Studs
- Yordan Alvarez has launched 16 long balls with a .498 on-base percentage (OBP), .359 ISO, .517 wOBA and 242 wRC+ in 217 plate appearances against righties at home this season.
- Jose Ramirez has belted 54 bombs with a .328 OBP, .203 ISO, .331 wOBA and 116 wRC+ in 1,267 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
- Nathaniel Lowe has mashed 43 taters with a .346 OBP, .182 ISO, .344 wOBA and 121 wRC+ in 1,145 plate appearances against right-handed pitching since 2024.
Value Plays/Punts
- Steven Kwan has hit 22 home runs with a .357 OBP, .117 ISO, .335 wOBA and 118 wRC+ in 1,185 plate appearances against right-handed pitching since 2024.
- Angel Genao has hit one homer with seven runs, three RBI, one stolen base, a .400 OBP, .111 ISO, .375 wOBA and 144 wRC+ in his first 50 plate appearances in the Majors this season.
- Mickey Gasper has demolished Triple-A pitching in his career, and he might be shedding the Quad-A player label. He’s homered in three straight games since the Red Sox recalled him from Triple-A, tallying three homers, three runs, seven RBI, a .500 OBP, .900 ISO, .703 wOBA, .644 expected wOBA (xwOBA) and 36 wRC+ in 12 plate appearances in those games.
Friday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Jose Ramirez hasn’t had a banner year. Still, he has cleared 2.5 combined hits + runs + RBIs in four of his last five games. In addition, Tanner Gordon has yielded 31 hits, a .326 batting average, .350 OBP, .726 slugging rate and .446 wOBA to 100 left-handed batters at home this season.
Steven Kwan can also take advantage of Tanner Gordon’s ineptitude with the platoon disadvantage at home. The veteran outfielder is also in good form, and he’s surpassed 2.5 combined hits + runs + RBIs in three of his last five games.
Yordan Alvarez has rattled off 83 singles, 26 doubles, 36 home runs, a .319 batting average, a .613 slugging rate and a .295 ISO in 553 plate appearances this season.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | SoundCloud | TuneIn
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
