Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has seven games, starting at 7:20 p.m. ET. The medium-sized slate also has pick ’em options at PrizePicks and Underdog.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Reid Detmers (LAA) vs. BAL
Reid Detmers is fully breaking out this year. According to FanGraphs, in four starts spanning 22.2 innings, the lefty has a 1.19 ERA, 2.56 xERA, 2.68 SIERA, 0.97 WHIP, 8.1 BB%, 34.9 K% and 30.8 CSW%. Detmers has pitched at least 5.0 innings and allowed one earned run or less in each start. He's also struck out at least seven batters three times.
His consistency is critical for overlooking his challenging matchup tonight. The matchup creates some risk to using him in DFS, but the betting info is acceptable. The Angels are -110, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.
Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) at KC
Yusei Kikuchi is locked in this season. In four starts totaling 21.2 innings, he has a 2.08 ERA, 2.66 xERA, 2.88 SIERA, 1.15 WHIP, 9.1 BB%, 33.0 K%, 51.0 GB%, 29.5 CSW%, 109 Stuff+, 101 Location+ and 103 Pitching+. The veteran lefty's combination of sterling statistics and above-average pitch modeling is ideal.
Kikuchi has a difficult matchup. However, the betting info is adequate. The Blue Jays are -115, and the game's total is 9.0 runs. None of the pitchers are risk-free picks, so it's ideal to lean into the caliber of the pitcher taking the bump tonight.
Bryce Elder (ATL) vs. MIA
Bryce Elder is starting tonight after Reynaldo Lopez was bumped back. In 31 starts amassing 174.2 innings in 2023, Elder had a 3.81 ERA, 4.61 xERA, 4.81 SIERA, 1.28 WHIP, 49.9 GB%, 8.6 BB%, 17.5 K% and 26.4 CSW%. The righty's ERA estimators were much worse than his ERA, and his strikeout rate was underwhelming. However, Elder's ability to induce worm burners was rock-solid.
Additionally, he's pitched well in Triple-A this season. In three Triple-A starts spanning 16.1 innings in 2024, Elder had a 3.31 ERA, 3.67 xFIP, 1.16 WHIP, 50.0 GB%, 7.7 BB%, 27.7 K% and 13.5 SwStr%. Elder can continue to out-kick his ERA estimators in a plus matchup tonight. The Marlins are 24th in wRC+ (84) and have a 22.4 K% against righties this season. Furthermore, they're dead last in wRC+ (68) on the road in 2024. Thus, Elder is a value SP2 in GPPs at DK.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
Offenses don't always explode in their first game of a series at Coors Field. Nevertheless, Coors Field is MLB's most hitter-friendly venue, and the matchup is good for San Diego's lineup. In four starts this season, Austin Gomber has a 4.95 ERA, 5.48 xERA and 4.18 SIERA. He's also homer-prone, yielding 1.68 HR/9 in 2023 and 1.80 HR/9 this year. In addition, since last year, Gomber has allowed a .421 wOBA to lefties and a .353 wOBA to righties.
- Home (Truist Park)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/ATL -205
The Braves are a high-powered pivot away from Coors Field. The high salaries for the players on the Padres and Braves make them difficult to stack together. So, it's an either-or scenario. The Braves have the firepower to score the most runs and produce the most DFS points tonight. Five of Atlanta's projected starters have had at least a 125 wRC+ against lefties since 2021.
The matchup is arguably good, too. Ryan Weathers has a 2.70 ERA in four starts in 2024, but his 4.97 xERA and 3.98 SIERA aren't as impressive. Moreover, Weathers has allowed lefties a .325 wOBA since last year, and righties have torched him for a .392 wOBA.
Core Studs
- In 299 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Fernando Tatis has hit 17 homers with a .381 OBP, .265 ISO and 153 wRC+. He's also stolen three bases this year.
- Xander Bogaerts has hit 16 homers with a .385 OBP, .170 ISO and 138 wRC+ in 553 plate appearances against lefties since 2021.
- In 226 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Orlando Arcia has hit 10 homers with a .354 OBP, .207 ISO and 125 wRC+.
Value Plays/Punts
- Miguel Sano is resurrecting his career. In 59 plate appearances this season, he has a .390 OBP, 138 wRC+ and .367 xwOBA.
- Alex Kirilloff is raking this year. In 68 plate appearances in 2024, he has a .338 OBP, .230 ISO and 142 wRC+.
- In 541 plate appearances against righties since 2021, Trevor Larnach has had a .331 OBP, .183 ISO and 109 wRC+.
Monday's Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Ronald Acuna: 10.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)
Ronald Acuna: 9.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (PrizePicks)
Ronald Acuna is atop Atlanta's lineup in a favorable matchup. In 379 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Acuna has hit 17 homers with a .388 OBP, .208 ISO and 136 wRC+. He's also a speed merchant, stealing nine bases already this season.
Fernando Tatis: 11.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)
Fernando Tatis: 10.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (PrizePicks)
Tatis is a holdover from the core studs. In addition to his exploits against lefties, Tatis has hit six homers with a .343 OBP, .217 ISO and 133 wRC+ in 105 plate appearances this year. Furthermore, his .406 xwOBA is higher than his .363 wOBA, suggesting he's been a bit unlucky.
Manny Machado: 9.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)
Manny Machado: 8.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (PrizePicks)
Manny Machado's over correlates with Tatis's. He's a lefty killer. In 514 plate appearances against southpaws since 2021, Machado has swatted 26 homers with a .366 OBP, .222 ISO and 137 wRC+. Machado should eat in the heart of San Diego's order in MLB's hitting paradise.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
