MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Friday (4/5)

Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has seven games, beginning at 6:40 p.m. ET. Additionally, PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy have many player props available, and three stand out as the most appealing.

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Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Spencer Strider (ATL) vs. ARI
Spencer Strider was dominant last year despite some poor luck. According to FanGraphs, in 32 starts spanning 186.2 innings, he had a 3.86 ERA, 3.09 xERA, 2.92 xFIP, 2.86 SIERA, 1.09 WHIP, 7.6 BB%, 36.8 K%, 33.8 CSW%, 125 Stuff+, 104 Location+ and 112 Pitching+.

Strider got off to a fast start this season. He held the Phillies to two runs on three hits, two walks and eight strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Atlanta's ace also had a 34.4 CSW% and pitch modeling marks of 114 Stuff+, 108 Location+ and 113 Pitching+. Strider's ceiling is out of this world, and the betting info is excellent. The Braves are -270, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Kutter Crawford (BOS) at LAA
Kutter Crawford isn't flawless, but he nearly was in his first start. The 28-year-old righty held Seattle to one unearned run on three hits, one walk and seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings. He also had eye-catching pitch modeling data, with 108 Stuff+, 98 Location+ and 106 Pitching+.

Crawford has been rock-solid on the road in his young career. In 115.2 innings in road tilts, he's had a 3.66 ERA, 3.92 xFIP, 1.09 WHIP, 6.7 BB% and 26.8 K%. The matchup isn't terrible, either. Mike Trout is the only stud on the Angels, and they have a handful of below-average hitters to offset Trout's excellence. Crawford's the top SP2 in cash games at DK and a viable GPP option at both DFS providers.

Hunter Brown (HOU) at TEX
Hunter Brown allowed just one unearned run to the Yankees in his first start this season. However, he pitched only 4.0 innings, yielding four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. It wasn't a perfect start, but Brown's pitch modeling was encouraging.

Brown has also thrived on the road in his young career. In 93.0 innings on the road, he's had a 3.58 ERA, 3.23 xFIP, 1.19 WHIP, 6.3 BB% and 27.2 K%. Brown has the upside to significantly outperform his value salary, making him an appealing choice in GPPs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Road (Nationals Park)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/PHI -185

Patrick Corbin having a rotation spot in 2024 is comical. He hasn't had an ERA below 5.20 since 2020. In his season opener, the veteran lefty allowed four runs on seven hits, two homers and one walk in 4.1 innings, with just two strikeouts. Since last year, Corbin has allowed a .319 wOBA to lefties and a .365 wOBA to righties. Tonight is an eruption spot for the Phillies. They're stackable throughout the entire lineup.

• Home (Truist Park)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/ATL -270

The Braves aren't a cheap stack. Nevertheless, their elite scoring ceiling makes them worth paying top dollar to stack. Six of their projected starters have had at least a 128 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers since 2021.

Tommy Henry isn't an elite lefty, either. He had a 4.15 ERA, 4.30 xERA, 5.40 xFIP and 5.29 SIERA in 17 appearances (16 starts) spanning 89.0 innings last season. Atlanta can light up the scoreboard tonight.

Core Studs

• Ozzie Albies is in a dreamy lineup spot, sandwiched between leadoff hitter Ronald Acuna and No. 3 hitter Austin Riley. Albies has also swatted 18 homers with a .348 OBP, .241 ISO and 142 wRC+ in 402 plate appearances against lefties since 2021.
• In 489 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Alec Bohm has cranked 19 homers with a .364 OBP, .212 ISO and 140 wRC+.
• Pete Alonso has smashed in same-handed matchups on the road. In 732 plate appearances against righties on the road since 2021, Alonso has hit 54 dongs with a .351 OBP, .309 ISO and 148 wRC+.

Value Plays/Punts

• Since debuting in 2022, Francisco Alvarez has made 144 plate appearances against righties on the road and has hit 13 homers with a .292 OBP, .328 ISO and 126 wRC+.
• Despite Orlando Arcia's awful lineup spot, he's appealing because of his sterling numbers against lefties. In 211 plate appearances against southpaws since 2021, Arcia has hit 10 homers with a .355 OBP, .216 ISO and 128 wRC+.
• MJ Melendez is cooking with gasoline this season. In 23 plate appearances in 2024, he's had a .391 OBP, .333 ISO and 193 wRC+.

Friday's Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Pete Alonso: 7.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)

Pete Alonso: 6.5 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)

I highlighted Alonso's exploits against righties on the road above. Additionally, in 26 plate appearances this season, he has hit two homers with a .346 OBP, .250 ISO, 139 wRC+ and .341 xwOBA. Hunter Greene is a fantastic matchup for Alonso, too. Since last season, Greene has allowed a .354 OBP, .532 slugging and .376 wOBA to 262 right-handed batters.

Ozzie Albies: 8.5 Fantasy Points - Higher/More

Albies is another holdover from the core studs. Beyond his sterling numbers against lefties and ideal lineup spot, he's raking this season. Albies has swatted two homers with a .435 OBP, .350 ISO and 192 wRC+ in 23 plate appearances this season. And, again, Corbin is a tire fire and non-MLB caliber starting pitcher.

Bobby Witt: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher/More

Erick Fedde was dominant in the KBO last year. However, he still owns a 5.39 ERA and 4.54 xFIP in his MLB career. The veteran righty has allowed a .279 batting average and .480 slugging to 1,042 righties in his big-league career, including coughing up a homer, .273 batting average and .545 slugging to 11 righties in his first start of this season.

Bobby Witt can take advantage of this matchup. In 531 plate appearances against righties at home in his career, he's hit 28 doubles, nine triples and 18 homers with a .294 batting average, .501 slugging and .207 ISO.

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