MLB DFS Picks, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props: Thursday (5/30)

Tonight’s small MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has four games starting at 7:10 p.m. ET. The suggested pick ’em choices from PrizePicks and Underdog will be from the same slate of contests.

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Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Thursday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Jack Flaherty (DET) at BOS
Jack Flaherty is having a resurgent season after a handful of down years. The righty is also in superb form. According to FanGraphs, in his previous five starts spanning 31.2 innings, he's had a 2.84 ERA, 1.43 xFIP, 1.86 SIERA, 1.01 WHIP, 4.2 BB%, 37.8 K%, 34.2 CSW%, 99 Stuff+, 105 Location+ and 105 Pitching+.

Flaherty's matchup is decent. This season, the Red Sox are 17th in wRC+ (99) with a 24.3 K% versus righties and 28th in wRC+ (83) with a 25.7 K% at home. Boston was 11th in wRC+ (107) with a 23.4 K% in the previous 14 days. However, Tyler O'Neill was placed on the Injured List (IL) yesterday, removing a potent bat from their lineup. Boston's high strikeout rate elevates Flaherty's floor and ceiling, awarding him some wiggle room to allow runs at hitter-friendly Fenway Park while still providing value in DFS.

Carlos Rodon (NYY) at LAA
Carlos Rodon has put a dreadful first season on the Yankees in his rearview mirror. The lefty is also rolling into tonight's start. In his past five starts totaling 28.1 innings, he's had a 3.49 ERA, 3.80 SIERA, 1.16 WHIP, 4.1 BB%, 22.3 K%, 29.3 CSW%, 123 Stuff+, 101 Location+ and 106 Pitching+. Even accounting for the gap between Rodon's ERA and SIERA, he's been rock-solid lately.

The veteran lefty's matchup isn't a pushover. The Angels are fifth in wRC+ (118) versus lefties and tied for 12th in wRC+ (105) at home this year. However, they have a 21.0 K% against lefties and a 24.8 K% at home. The betting info is also favorable. The Yankees are -185, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Road (Angel Stadium)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 11 Runs/LAD -225

The Bronx Bombers have lived up to their nickname this year. In 2024, they're 13th in wRC+ (103) versus lefties and first in wRC+ (117) on the road. New York was also first in wRC+ (136) in the previous 14 days. Their lineup is also stuffed with players with a history of hammering lefties.

Seven of the projected starters have had at least a 112 wRC+ against lefties since 2021, and six have had at least a 122 wRC+. Patrick Sandoval is a stellar matchup for New York's lefties and righties. This season, Sandoval has allowed a .344 wOBA to left-handed batters and a .342 wOBA to right-handed batters. The fireworks won't necessarily end when Sandoval is relieved, either. The Angels have a bottom-five bullpen this season.

Core Studs

• In 480 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Aaron Judge has hit 40 homers with a .400 OBP, .338 ISO and 177 wRC+.
• Anthony Volpe has made substantial strides at the dish this season. In 254 plate appearances this year, he has a .359 OBP, .156 ISO and 132 wRC+. He's also stolen 11 bases.
• In 224 plate appearances this season, Marcell Ozuna has a .388 OBP, .297 ISO and 178 wRC+ with blistering batted-ball data.

Value Plays/Punts

• Gleyber Torres has struggled at the plate this year. Nevertheless, he has a track record of crushing lefties. In 487 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Torres has had a .339 OBP, .210 ISO and 129 wRC+.
• DJ LeMahieu is cheap exposure to the Yankees, albeit buried at the bottom of their order. In 469 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, he's had a .359 OBP and 112 wRC+.
• Mark Canha is an FD-specific punt/value. In 211 plate appearances this season, he has a .360 OBP, .157 ISO and 121 wRC+. He'll also get a lift from the hitter-friendly park factors at Fenway Park.

Thursday's Top 3 Underdog and PrizePicks Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Nick Pivetta: 28.5 Fantasy Points - Lower (Underdog)

Nick Pivetta: 27.5 Fantasy Points - Less (PrizePicks)

Nick Pivetta hasn't done well in his hitter-friendly home ballpark. In 78.1 innings at home since last season, he's had a 4.83 ERA, 3.76 xFIP, 10.2 BB%, 29.3 K%, 1.28 WHIP and allowed 1.49 HR/9. In those 21 appearances at home, he had only two quality starts. The righty is also coming off his worst start this year, coughing up five runs on seven hits, three walks and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

The Tigers aren't a pushover, either. Detroit is tied for 15th in wRC+ (100) versus righties and tied for 18th in wRC+ (94) on the road this season. However, they were seventh in wRC+ (118) in the previous 14 days.

Marcell Ozuna: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher/More

Ozuna is the first holdover from the core studs. He's a beast against righties at home. In 601 plate appearances against righties at home since 2021, Ozuna has hit 32 doubles, one triple and 41 homers with a .266 batting average, .553 slugging and .288 ISO. Trevor Williams has pitched well this season. Still, Ozuna has had Williams's number. According to Baseball Savante, Ozuna has had a .333 batting average, .388 xBA, .367 slugging and .619 xSLG in 32 career plate appearances against Williams.

Aaron Judge: 10.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)

Aaron Judge: 8.5 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)

Judge has killed lefties. He's also ripping the cover off the ball this year, with a .275 batting average, .291 xBA, .613 slugging, .713 xSLG, .310 ISO, 18 doubles and 17 homers in 254 plate appearances this year. In 113 plate appearances this month, Judge has hit 12 doubles and 11 homers with a .364 batting average, .875 slugging and .511 ISO. Finally, Sandoval has allowed 11 doubles, five homers, a .284 batting average and .421 slugging to 213 righties this season.

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