Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has 10 games, starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. PrizePicks and Underdog also have jam-packed MLB pick ’em boards.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Joe Ryan (MIN) vs. DET
According to FanGraphs, in three starts spanning 17.1 innings this season, Joe Ryan has a 2.60 ERA, 2.15 xERA, 2.25 SIERA, 0.92 WHIP, 2.9 BB%, 34.3 K%, 32.1 CSW%, 89 Stuff+, 111 Location+ and 106 Pitching+. He's had back-to-back quality starts, including an electrifying performance against tonight's opponent in his last start.
The matchup and betting info are superb, too. This year, the Tigers are 26th in wRC+ (83) and have a 25.2 K% against righties. Furthermore, five of their projected starters have had a 90 wRC+ or lower against righties since 2021, and one had a 101 wRC+. Detroit's lineup is non-threatening. The Twins are -146, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.
Jack Flaherty (DET) at MIN
It might be a pitching duel in Minnesota tonight. Jack Flaherty had a dreadful 2023 season. The veteran righty's 4.91 ERA in three starts this year would suggest it's more of the same in 2024. However, Flaherty's underlying data is encouraging.
In three starts spanning 18.1 innings this season, Flaherty has a 3.86 xERA, 3.07 SIERA, 1.20 WHIP, 3.8 BB%, 25.3 K%, 35.9 CSW%, 93 Stuff+, 104 Location+ and 103 Pitching+. Flaherty can pitch closer to his underlying data in a sweet matchup tonight. The Twins are 29th in wRC+ (76) against right-handed pitchers this season and have the second-highest strikeout rate (27.6 K%). The Tigers are slight underdogs (+124), but the game's total of 8.0 runs isn't scary.
Blake Snell (SF) vs. ARI
Blake Snell didn't pitch in spring training and was hammered in two starts for the Giants. Nevertheless, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner was stretched to 78 pitches in his most recent start. Snell's pitch modeling is also impressive.
In two starts this season, he has 109 Stuff+, 104 Location+ and 106 Pitching+. The shaky start to his 2024 campaign should dissuade many gamers from using him on DFS rosters, enhancing the appeal for using him in GPPs. The betting info is also rock-solid. The Giants are -130, and the game's total is 8.0 runs. It's a worthwhile gamble to chase Snell's upside tonight.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Mariners will get the offensive boost tonight from playing in MLB's most hitter-friendly venue. They also have a mouthwatering matchup. In three starts totaling 17.1 innings this season, Dakota Hudson has a 4.15 ERA, 4.22 xERA, 4.69 SIERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8.2 BB% and 15.1 K%. He was worse than this year's numbers over a larger sample in the previous two seasons. Hudson's low strikeout rate is a recipe for disaster in his launching pad home ballpark. In addition, all of Seattle's projected starters have had at least a 103 wRC+ against righties since 2021.
- Home (Truist Park)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/ATL -195
Atlanta has a robust implied total at home against Andrew Heaney tonight. In three starts lasting only 12.0 innings this season, Heaney has a 6.75 ERA, 3.73 xERA and 5.21 SIERA. Since last year, left-handed batters have torched Heaney for a .383 wOBA, and righties have had a .323 wOBA. Atlanta has the horses to hammer Heaney, with five of their hitters tallying at least a 129 wRC+ against lefties since 2021.
Core Studs
- In 524 career plate appearances against righties on the road, Julio Rodriguez has hit 24 homers with a .338 OBP, .211 ISO and 129 wRC+. He's also an elite base stealer, swiping 25 in 2022, 37 in 2023 and four so far this season.
- Austin Riley is a monster with the platoon advantage. In 492 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, he has had a .362 OBP, .260 ISO and 145 wRC+.
- I've projected Orlando Arcia to hit second for the Braves tonight. Yet, he's still an excellent choice if he remains lower in the lineup. In 223 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Arcia has had a .359 OBP, .210 ISO and 129 wRC+.
Value Plays/Punts
- Ryan O'Hearn has become a late bloomer with the Orioles after struggling for multiple seasons with the Royals. In 390 plate appearances against righties since last year, O'Hearn has hit 16 homers with a .336 OBP, .199 ISO and 131 wRC+.
- Luke Raley isn't a lock to start tonight. If he's penciled into the lineup, though, he's an exciting cheap piece of exposure to Coors Field. In 502 plate appearances against righties since 2021, Raley has hit 20 homers with a .319 OBP, .210 ISO, and 115 wRC+.
- David Fletcher isn't an exciting option. Still, he's overqualified for his near-minimum salary at DK and FD. In 316 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Fletcher has had a 97 wRC+.
Friday's Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Austin Riley: 8.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)
Austin Riley: 7.5 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
Riley is the first carryover from the core studs. In 210 plate appearances against lefties at home since 2021, Riley has hit nine homers with a .362 OBP, .247 ISO and 142 wRC+. He's nestled in a run-production spot in the lineup and should pile up fantasy points in a cushy matchup.
Julio Rodriguez: 9.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)
Julio Rodriguez: 8.5 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
Rodriguez is the other holdover from the core studs. He can score fantasy points at the dish but also has stolen base potential. Rodriguez's bat was in a slumber to start the season, but he's had hits in his past three games, including back-to-back multi-hit efforts. Rodriguez also stole two bases this week. Coors Field and Hudson can add fuel to the fire. We project Rodriguez to score 10.5 PrizePicks points tonight.
J.P. Crawford is the leadoff hitter on the favored team playing at Coors Field tonight. That's an excellent starting point for projecting to score a run. Since 2021, Crawford has had a .355 OBP against right-handed pitching. Finally, Crawford has scored a run in 10 of 18 starts this year, including in three straight games and five of his previous six.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
