Josh Shepardson | Mon, Aug 17th 2026, 3:31am EDT

MLB DFS Picks & Underdog Player Props: Monday (8/17)

Monday’s MLB DFS main slate differs between FanDuel and DraftKings. It includes eight games, starting at 6:40 p.m. ET on FanDuel, but DraftKings’ main slate features seven games, starting at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Monday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props

Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (8/17)

Cristopher Sanchez (SP – PHI) vs. Miami Marlins

Sadly, Cristopher Sanchez isn’t available on DraftKings, as his contest isn’t on their main slate. He’s unquestionably the top pitching choice on FanDuel, though. The lefty is an outstanding pitcher, and he’s borderline unstoppable at home.

According to FanGraphs, in 89.1 innings at home this season, Sanchez has twirled a 1.41 ERA, 2.49 xFIP, 1.03 WHIP, 6.4% walk rate and 28.7% strikeout rate,

Sanchez has a plus-matchup and good betting info tonight. The Marlins are 19th in wRC+ (94) with a 23.3% strikeout rate versus lefties and 12th in wRC+ (99) with a 22.4% strikeout rate on the road in 2026.

Miami is also tied for 20th in wRC+ (90) with a 23.3% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days and 18th in wRC+ (89) with a 22.3% strikeout rate in the last 14 days. Thus, the Phillies are -250 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.

Michael Wacha (SP – KCR) vs. Athletics

Michael Wacha isn’t nearly as dominant as Sanchez at home, and he’s been lucky, too. That said, Wacha has logged a 2.91 ERA, 4.46 xFIP, 1.05 WHIP, 6.6% walk rate and 19% % strikeout rate in 65 innings at home this year. Those marks are relatively solid for this particular pitching slate.

Wacha has a tasty matchup and OK betting info. The Athletics are tied for 18th in wRC+ (99) with a 21.6% strikeout rate versus righties and dead last in wRC+ (81) with a 24.3% strikeout rate on the road this year.

The A’s are also 18th in wRC+ (93) with a 22.1% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days and 24th in wRC+ (79) with a 22.6% strikeout rate in the last 14 days. So, the Royals are -190 favorites, albeit with a game total of nine runs.

Shota Imanaga (SP – CHC) vs. Chicago White Sox

Shota Imanaga is in rock-solid form. In his previous five starts spanning 29.1 innings, he’s recorded the following numbers:

3 wins
3 quality starts
2.15 ERA
3.97 xERA
3.91 xFIP
3.79 SIERA
1.02 WHIP
1.7% walk rate
21.6% strikeout rate
11.3% SwStr%
24.2% CSW%
89 stuff+
112 location+
102 pitching+

Imanaga’s matchup is trickier than those of Sanchez and Wacha. The White Sox are seventh in wRC+ (104) with a 24.5% strikeout rate versus lefties and tied for 10th in wRC+ (100) with a 25.1% strikeout rate on the road this season.

Chicago is also tied for 20th in wRC+ (90) with a 21.2% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days and fourth in wRC+ (121) with a 25.2% strikeout rate in the last 14 days. The White Sox do offer Imanaga with strikeout upside. In addition, the Cubs are -165 favorites, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

Road (UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium)
Game Total/Moneyline: 11.0 Runs/LAD -245

The Dodgers will get a lift from playing at Coors Field tonight. They’ll also get one from facing Tomoyuki Sugano and Colorado’s bullpen.

The 36-year-old righty has a 4.43 ERA, 6.87 xERA, 4.81 xFIP and 4.93 SIERA in 21 starts in 2026, and the Rockies rank 27th in bullpen ERA (4.85). Additionally, Sugano has allowed a .313 wOBA to 217 right-handed batters and a .381 wOBA to 257 left-handed batters this season.

Home (Kauffman Stadium)
Game Total/Moneyline: 9.0 Runs/KC -190

Gamers should take the Royals’ projected lineup with a spoonful of salt, as Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino could both return from the injured list (IL) tonight. Obviously, their additions would make Kansas City’s offense even more potent, but they’re a compelling stack even if Garcia and Pasquantino don’t return.

Mason Barnett has a 6.16 ERA, 4.80 xERA, 5.00 xFIP and 4.56 SIERA this season. He’s a punching bag for all batters, yielding a .359 wOBA to righties and a .377 wOBA to lefties. The A’s also have the worst bullpen ERA (5.70) in the league.

Core Studs

Shohei Ohtani has slugged 97 homers with a .412 on-base percentage (OBP), .347 ISO, .434 wOBA and 182 wRC+ in 1,310 plate appearances against right-handed pitching since 2024.
Max Muncy has belted 43 bombs with a .379 OBP, .243 ISO, .377 wOBA and 142 wRC+ in 852 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
Esmerlyn Valdez has ripped seven round-trippers with a .408 OBP, .459 ISO, .465 wOBA and 197 wRC+ in 76 plate appearances against lefties in his rookie campaign.

Value Plays/Punts

Andruw Monasterio has hit seven homers with a .367 OBP, .271 ISO, .393 wOBA and 153 wRC+ in 147 plate appearances against southpaws since last season.
Isaac Collins has amassed nine homers, a .369 OBP, .131 ISO, .340 wOBA and 118 wRC+ in 581 plate appearances against righties since 2024.
Hunter Feduccia is a DraftKings-specific punt, where gamers must use a catcher. His 92 wRC+ in 246 plate appearances against righties since 2024 is adequate for a catcher, especially one who will take hacks at Coors Field tonight.

Monday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Cristopher Sanchez (SP – PHI): 6.5 Strikeouts — Higher

Cristopher Sanchez has cleared 6.5 strikeouts in two of his last three starts. Furthermore, he’s a monster at home. Sanchez has exceeded 6.5 strikeouts in 10 of his 14 home starts this season.

Shota Imanaga (SP – CHC): 5.5 Strikeouts — Higher

Shota Imanaga has made 14 starts at home. He has 76 strikeouts and a 22.7% strikeout rate in 82.2 innings in those starts. Imanaga has cleared 5.5 strikeouts in half of his home starts. He’s gone over 5.5 strikeouts in two of his last three turns, though, including his last two at home.

Shohei Ohtani (DH – LAD): 2.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs — Higher

Shohei Ohtani has rattled off 128 hits, including 27 homers, with 77 runs, 75 RBI, a .289 batting average, .388 OBP, .251 ISO, .389 wOBA and 148 wRC+ in 525 plate appearances this year.

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

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