Friday’s MLB DFS main slate features 12 games on DraftKings and 11 games on FanDuel, both beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Underdog player props are also from the night’s games.
Friday’s Top MLB DFS Picks & Player Props
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings (9/4)
Nolan McLean is having an outstanding 2026 campaign, validating his excellent work in eight starts in 2025. According to FanGraphs, in 27 starts this season, McLean has amassed the following marks:
- 10 wins
- 17 quality starts
- 3.06 ERA
- 3.57 xERA
- 3.67 xFIP
- 3.72 SIERA
- 1.12 WHIP
- 9.5% walk rate
- 26.7% strikeout rate
- 9.8% SwStr%
- 28.6% CSW%
- 107 stuff+
- 95 location+
- 105 pitching+
McLean has an OK matchup and favorable betting info tonight. The Giants are tied for eighth in wRC+ (104) with a 20.4% strikeout rate versus righties and tied for 15th in wRC+ (98) with a 21.6% strikeout rate on the road in 2026.
San Francisco is also 22nd in wRC+ (91) with a 23.1% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days and tied for seventh in wRC+ (111) with a 22.5% strikeout rate in the last 14 days. The Mets are -180 favorites tonight, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
Logan Gilbert has pitched well this season at home, albeit with suboptimal luck. In 15 home starts, totaling 90.1 innings, Gilbert has a 3.99 ERA, 3.55 xFIP, 1.01 WHIP, 6.5% walk rate and 27.9% strikeout rate.
The righty has a plus matchup and betting info tonight. The Athletics are tied for 23rd in wRC+ (95) with a 21.4% strikeout rate versus righties and 29th in wRC+ (85) with a 23.8% strikeout rate on the road this year.
The A’s are also tied for 18th in wRC+ (97) with a 21.6% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days and tied for 10th in wRC+ (107) with a 23.3% strikeout rate in the last 14 days. Thus, the Mariners are -220 favorites, and the game’s total is seven runs.
Shane Baz has been rock-solid at home this year. In 13 home starts spanning 73 innings this season, Baz has spun a 3.82 ERA, 3.99 xFIP, 1.42 WHIP, 8% walk rate and 21.2% strikeout rate.
Baz’s matchup is mixed, and his betting info isn’t ideal. The Red Sox are tied for 19th in wRC+ (98) with a 21.3% strikeout rate versus righties but tied for eighth in wRC+ (101) with a 22.3% strikeout rate on the road this season.
Boston is also second in wRC+ (120) with an 18.2% strikeout rate in the previous 30 days and tied for 10th in wRC+ (107) with an 18.3% strikeout rate in the last 14 days.
Unfortunately, the Orioles are the underdogs, and the game’s total is set at 8.5 runs. Still, Baz’s salary and his quality of work make him an appealing SP2 on DraftKings.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Royals have a potent offense in their renovated home ballpark. Five of their projected starters have posted at least a 109 wRC+ at home, with four logging at least a 118 wRC+ and three tallying at least a 125 wRC+. Additionally, two more hitters are just under a 100 wRC+, at 98 and 96, respectively.
They also have a tantalizing matchup. Jameson Taillon will return from the injured list (IL) tonight, and he has a 5.68 ERA, 5.79 xERA, 4.78 xFIP and 4.54 SIERA in 17 starts this season. The veteran righty has also permitted a .342 wOBA to 174 right-handed batters and a .384 wOBA to 188 left-handed batters this season.
Erick Fedde has made 13 starts and 16 relief appearances in 2026, logging a 4.16 ERA, 4.68 xERA, 4.72 xFIP and 4.68 SIERA in 123.1 innings. Predictably, he’s been worse in his starts than out of the bullpen — 4.31 ERA, 4.56 xERA, 4.75 xFIP and 4.76 SIERA in his starts.
Moreover, Fedde hasn’t enjoyed much success against hitters on either side of the plate, allowing a .316 wOBA to 289 left-handed batters and a .355 wOBA to 243 right-handed batters. The Twins can tee off tonight.
Core Studs
- Jac Caglianone had hit 10 homers with a .360 on-base percentage (OBP), .272 ISO, .397 wOBA and 155 wRC+ in 175 plate appearances at home against righties before last night. He recorded two more hits, one run and two RBI in four plate appearances against two righties at home last night.
- Brooks Lee has hammered 12 home runs with a .342 OBP, .291 ISO, .401 wOBA and 160 wRC+ in 184 plate appearances against righties on the road this season.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has been in a groove since returning from the IL, drilling three dingers with seven runs, eight RBI, one stolen base, a .393 OBP, .404 wOBA, .383 expected wOBA (xwOBA) and 160 wRC+ in 61 plate appearances from August 17th to September 2nd. He rattled off a hit and an RBI in four plate appearances last night.
Value Plays/Punts
- Kaelen Culpepper has hit three homers with 12 runs, nine RBI, a .352 OBP, .163 ISO, .356 wOBA, .312 xwOBA and 129 wRC+ in his first 88 plate appearances in the Majors.
- Walker Jenkins has hit one homer with a .316 OBP, .250 ISO, .331 wOBA and 112 wRC+ in his first 19 plate appearances against righties in the Majors.
- Teoscar Hernandez has ripped 22 round-trippers with a .335 OBP, .237 ISO, .360 wOBA and 131 wRC+ in 412 plate appearances against southpaws since 2024.
Friday’s Top 3 Underdog Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Yordan Alvarez has been a monster at home. He had one walk and scored one run across four plate appearances at home yesterday.
In his first 71 games and 304 plate appearances at home, Alvarez recorded 93 hits, including 20 homers, 53 runs, 53 RBI, a .371 batting average, .351 expected batting average (xBA), .477 OBP, .331 ISO, .485 wOBA and 220 wRC+.
Brooks Lee has been a road warrior this season. In 63 games and 263 plate appearances on the road, Lee has amassed 70 hits, including 15 homers, with 38 runs, 44 RBI, a .285 batting average, .228 xBA, .328 OBP, .256 ISO, .372 wOBA and 141 wRC+.
Shane Baz has fallen short of 4.5 strikeouts in back-to-back games. Nevertheless, he’s cleared 4.5 strikeouts in 14 out of 27 starts.
In addition, Baz has a 22.1% strikeout rate versus lefties and an 18.8% strikeout rate against righties. The Red Sox project to start four left-handed batters and two switch-hitters.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
