MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Tuesday (4/2)

Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate currently has nine games at DraftKings and FanDuel, beginning at 7:10 pm ET. At Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks, there are ample MLB props to choose from.

• Weekly Trade Value Chart
• Weekly Waiver Wire Advice
• Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
• MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Tuesday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Shane Bieber (CLE) at SEA
Shane Bieber was lights out in his season opener. Sure, gamers shouldn't overreact to him dominating the A's. However, Bieber's pitch data was exciting.

According to FanGraphs, Bieber's four-seam fastball averaged 93.0 mph and maxed out at 94.4 mph in the opener. In 2023, it averaged 91.6 mph and maxed at 93.5 mph. In addition, he had Stuff+ grades of 111 for his slider and 129 for his knuckle curve.

When Bieber was working with similar fastball velocity in 2021, he had a 3.17 ERA, 3.73 xERA, 2.91 xFIP, 3.21 SIERA, 1.21 WHIP, 8.1 BB%, 33.1 K% and 33.5 CSW%. With his livelier fastball in the opener, he had 11 strikeouts in six scoreless innings and a 37.3 CSW%. Bieber's a high-ceiling pick tonight, and the betting info is also encouraging. The Guardians are slight underdogs at even, but the game's total is a pitcher-friendly 7.0 runs.

Brayan Bello (BOS) at OAK
Brayan Bello is primarily a matchup-driven suggestion. The A's are a punching bag. Oakland's lineup will likely feature eight players with at least a 24.7 K% against righties since 2021 or debuting in the majors.

In his only start this year, Bello had a 104 Stuff+ grade, with his sinker earning a 103 and slider generating a 141. The young righty had an ugly 4.66 in 75.1 innings on the road last season. However, Bello's 3.98 xFIP was more acceptable.

Bello isn't flawless, but the A's can make him look good tonight. The Red Sox are -140, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.

Javier Assad (CHC) vs. COL
Javier Assad has a cupcake to feast on tonight. Among the 10 players whom the Rockies will likely pick from for nine lineup spots, only two have been above-average hitters against righties since 2021. In addition, only one has had a strikeout rate under 20.9%, with six sporting strikeout rates of at least 25.1%. The same pool of players has been dreadful on the road, with a propensity to strike out.

The weather will be cold tonight, which is better for pitching than hitting. Therefore, the game's total is only 8.0 runs, and the Cubs are -190.

Suggested Lineup Stack

• Road (Minute Maid Park)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.0 Runs/HOU-155

The Astros exploded for 10 runs last night and can follow up with another outburst tonight. Jose Berrios held the Rays to two runs on six hits, one homer, one walk and six strikeouts in his first start this season. Yet, Berrios had an underwhelming 3.97 ERA and 4.14 xFIP on the road last season. The Astros have the firepower to rough him up.

• Road (Dodger Stadium)
• Game Total/Moneyline: Unlisted

The Giants stranded an army on the bases last night. They'll probably face left-handed pitching for the majority of tonight's game after facing a southpaw last night. LA bumped their rotation back day, allowing the Giants to avoid Tyler Glasnow. Instead, the Dodgers will have a bullpen game, and Ryan Yarbrough will likely be the bulk reliever. The veteran lefty had a 4.52 ERA, 4.39 xERA, 4.65 xFIP and 4.33 SIERA in 2023. He's a favorable matchup for San Francisco's offense.

Core Studs

• Kyle Tucker smashed his first two homers of 2024 last night. He has a .435 OBP, .350 ISO and 221 wRC+ in 23 plate appearances this season and a track record of clobbering righties.
• Since 2021, Yordan Alvarez has had a .383 OBP, .278 ISO and 161 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers.
• Jorge Soler is a lefty-killer. In 374 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, the slugger has drilled 32 dongs with a .349 OBP, .335 ISO and 144 wRC+.

Value Plays/Punts

• In 540 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Wilmer Flores has hit 20 homers with a .340 OBP, .187 ISO and 121 wRC+.
• Bobby Dalbec has swatted 16 homers with a .338 OBP, .225 ISO and 123 wRC+ in 325 plate appearances against lefties since 2021.
• Patrick Bailey has hit five homers with a .354 OBP, .181 ISO and 131 wRC+ in 114 plate appearances against lefties in his young career.

Tuesday's Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Yu Darvish: 34.5 Fantasy Points - Lower (Underdog Fantasy)

Yu Darvish: 36.5 Fantasy Points - Less (PrizePicks)

Yu Darvish's 1.04 ERA in two starts this season overstates how well he's pitched. First, he's logged only 8.2 innings. Second, he has a 3.75 xERA, 4.04 xFIP and 4.12 SIERA. Third, he's had below-average control (10.8 BB%) and his 27.0 K% doesn't align with his 8.6 SwStr% and 26.5 CSW%. The other shoe is due to drop, and St. Louis's lineup has a few players with track records of roughing up Darvish. So, Darvish's under for fantasy points at PrizePicks is atop the Prize Picks cheat sheet.

Yordan Alvarez: 8.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)

Yordan Alvarez: 7.5 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)

Alvarez is the first of two holdovers from the core studs section. As was noted above, Alvarez has hammered righties. Conversely, since last season, Berrios has allowed a .330 wOBA to left-handed batters.

Kyle Tucker: 8.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)

Kyle Tucker: 7.5 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)

Tucker is the second carryover from above. He's raking this year, and since 2021, he's had a .368 OBP, .226 ISO and 140 wRC+ against righties. Finally, Tucker's fantasy points overs correlate with Alvarez's fantasy points overs.

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