Today’s MLB DFS main slate starts at 1:10 p.m. ET on DraftKings and FanDuel, but the former has the Dodgers at Nationals (4:05 p.m. ET) on the slate, and the latter doesn’t. Underdog also has pick ’em options on today’s afternoon slate of games.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) at WSH
Yoshinobu Yamamoto isn't on FD's main slate but is the top pitcher on DK's. According to FanGraphs, in five starts spanning 22.0 innings this year, Yamamoto has a 4.50 ERA, 4.07 xERA, 2.59 SIERA, 1.14 WHIP, 5.4 BB%, 32.3 K%, 34.0 CSW%, 104 Stuff+, 104 Location+ and 107 Pitching+.
Since coughing up five runs in just one inning in his MLB debut, he's allowed only seven runs (six earned) in 21.0 innings. Yamamoto has also struck out at least six batters in three consecutive starts. The Dodgers are -190, and the game's total is 8.5 runs, cementing the righty's placement atop DK's pitching options.
Cole Ragans (KC) vs. TOR
Cole Ragans has pitched better than his 4.32 ERA. In five starts totaling 25.0 innings this year, the lefty has a 3.42 xERA, 2.89 SIERA, 1.48 WHIP, 6.3 BB%, 29.5 K%, 30.3 CSW%, 112 Stuff+, 101 Location+ and 104 Pitching+. A .414 BABIP inflated his WHIP.
Ragans has a challenging matchup. This year, the Blue Jays are sixth in wRC+ (122) against lefties and have only a 16.3 K%. However, Toronto also has only a 94 wRC+ on the road. The betting info is also favorable. The Royals are -120, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN) vs. CWS
Simeon Woods Richardson was recalled from the minors to start today and push Bailey Ober back a day. The 23-year-old righty allowed only one earned run on two hits, one walk and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings against the Tigers on April 13. This year, he has a 6.08 ERA in three Triple-A starts, but that's inflated by one dud. In the other two turns, he allowed zero runs in 5.0 innings and two in 5.0 innings.
Richardson isn't an exciting prospect. Nevertheless, he has a mouthwatering matchup, and the betting info is ideal. The White Sox are dead last in wRC+ (67) and have a 24.3 K% against righties in 2024. Finally, the Twins are -215, and the game's total is just 7.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
In the first three games of this series in Coors Field, the Padres have scored three, four and five runs. So, they'll score six runs today, right? Joking aside, Coors Field is MLB's most hitter-friendly venue, and Dakota Hudson is a desirable matchup for San Diego's hitters.
Hudson has a 5.06 ERA, 4.89 xERA, 5.34 SIERA and 1.59 WHIP in four starts this season. Since last season, 217 lefties have had a .364 OBA against Hudson, and 233 righties have had a .334 wOBA. San Diego has one more chance to explode in Colorado this week, and their implied total is encouraging.
- Home (Target Field)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 7.5 Runs/MIN -215
Michael Soroka is a punching bag. He has slate-highs for ERA (7.50) and xERA (6.86) in five starts this season. Soroka has also walked more batters than he's struck out. Finally, lefties have had a .386 wOBA against Soroka since last year, and righties have had a .405 wOBA.
Core Studs
- Since 2021, Fernando Tatis has had a .331 OBP, .247 ISO and 129 wRC+ against righties.
- Jake Cronenworth is an above-average hitter against righties and has a DFS-friendly lineup spot. Since 2021, he's had a .335 OBP, .173 ISO and 112 wRC+ against righties.
Value Plays/Punts
- In 386 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Mitch Haniger has hit 20 homers with a .342 OBP, .228 ISO and 132 wRC+.
- Trevor Larnach has provided the Twins with a lift. In 24 plate appearances this year, he's hit two homers with a .417 OBP, .400 ISO and 225 wRC+.
- Mitch Garver is a lefty killer. In 272 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, he's hit 13 homers with a .379 OBP, .221 ISO and 142 wRC+.
- In 429 plate appearances against righties since reaching the majors last year, Edouard Julien has hit 20 homers with a .381 OBP, .224 ISO and 143 wRC+.
Thursday's Top 3 Underdog Fantasy Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Michael Soroka: 4.5 Strikeouts - Lower
Soroka is cooked. He's struck out zero, two, four, four and two batters in five starts this year. His plate discipline numbers and pitch modeling are trash, too. Soroka has a 23.1 CSW%, 88 Stuff+, 93 Location+ and 94 Pitching+ this season. Thus, we projected him to have 4.03 strikeouts today.
Triston McKenzie: 5.5 Strikeouts - Lower (Scorcher 1.1x)
Triston McKenzie's "lower" for 5.5 strikeouts is a gift of a "scorcher" prop at Underdog. In his most recent start, he struck out six batters against the lowly Athletics. He struck out two, two and one in his first three starts of the season.
In four starts totaling 18.0 innings this year, McKenzie has a 5.00 ERA, 5.68 xERA, 6.81 SIERA, 1.61 WHIP, 18.1 BB%, 13.3 K%, 24.9 CSW%, 95 Stuff+, 86 Location+ and 85 Pitching+. Pitching through his elbow injury isn't working, and we project him to strike out just 4.54 batters today.
Jake Cronenworth: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher
Cronenworth is a holdover from the studs. According to Baseball-Reference, in 143 career plate appearances at Coors Field, he's hit eight doubles, six triples and six homers with a .363 batting average, .669 slugging and .306 ISO. Conversely, since last season, Hudson has allowed lefties a .293 batting average and .455 slugging.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
