Tonight is jampacked with MLB contests, and Underdog Fantasy’s MLB pick ’em lobby is stacked as a result. This piece focuses on the most appealing five picks, with a mix of hitter and pitcher props and higher and lower selections.
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Friday’s Top Underdog Fantasy MLB Pick ‘Em Picks
Elias Diaz: 0.5 Singles – Lower
Diaz has struggled mightily on the road against lefties. According to FanGraphs, Diaz has a .177 batting average and just seven singles in 66 plate appearances and 30 games facing a lefty on the road this year.
Adley Rutschman: 8.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
Rutschman is a monster at home. In 472 plate appearances at home since reaching The Show last year, Rutschman has 17 homers, a .403 OBP, .195 ISO and 154 wRC+. And in 135 plate appearances against lefties at home, he’s had three homers, a .407 OBP, .150 ISO and 144 wRC+.
Conversely, Kyle Freeland is lousy against righties. The southpaw has ceded a .357 OBP, .539 slugging and .379 wOBA to 429 righties this year. And he hasn’t just been a victim of pitching his home games at Coors Field. Instead, Freeland has ceded a .344 OBP, .578 slugging and .385 wOBA to 196 righties on the road this year.
Seiya Suzuki: 0.5 Singles – Lower
In 309 plate appearances this season against righties, Suzuki has a .259 batting average and 45 singles. Those are fine numbers, but don’t move the needle in either direction for his prop for 0.5 singles. A matchup against Mitch Keller makes the lower choice appealing, though. Keller has held 152 righties in PNC Park to a .224 batting average and just 24 singles.
Chris Bassitt: 28.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
Bassitt is a handful for opponents when he gets the ball in Toronto. In 76.1 innings at home this year, Bassitt has a 2.83 ERA, 4.08 xFIP, 0.93 WHIP, 7.6 BB% and 25.6 K%.
He has a soft matchup tonight. The Guardians are tied for 19th in wRC+ (94) against righties this season. Cleveland is 21st in wRC+ (91) on the road in 2023. And they are 29th in wRC+ (78) in the previous 30 days. Finally, per Betting Pros, the Blues Jays are -160, and the game’s total is 8.5 runs.
Kutter Crawford: 23.5 Fantasy Points – Lower
Crawford is the anti-Bassitt. He’s dreadful at home. The righty has a 5.95 ERA and 5.07 xFIP in 39.1 innings at Fenway Park this season. He also has a 5.64 ERA and 4.89 xFIP in 81.1 innings at home in his career.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are a nightmare matchup, and the betting info is terrifying for Crawford’s outlook. LA is fourth in wRC+ (114) versus righties in 2023. The Dodgers are third in wRC+ (111) on the road. And they’re seventh in wRC+ (117) in the previous 30 days. Finally, Boston is +110, and the game’s total is a blistering 10.0 runs.
Whether you’re new to fantasy baseball or a seasoned pro, our Fantasy Baseball 101: Strategy Tips & Advice page is for you. You can get started with our Sabermetrics Glossary or head to a more advanced strategy – like Maximizing Your Potential in Multi-Lineup Contests – to learn more.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.