Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has 11 games starting at 7:10 p.m. ET. The pick ’em options at PrizePicks and Underdog on the massive Friday slate are vast.
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet 
Friday’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks
Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings
Corbin Burnes (BAL) at CWS
Corbin Burnes is in good form entering tonight's start. According to FanGraphs, in his previous five starts spanning 30.1 innings, he's had a 2.37 ERA, 3.27 SIERA, 1.15 WHIP, 8.3 BB%, 25.8 K%, 31.8 CSW%, 120 Stuff+, 102 Location+ and 109 Pitching+. Additionally, Burnes has had five consecutive quality starts and seven in 10 turns this season.
The stud righty has a cushy matchup and ideal betting info. This season, the White Sox are tied for 29th in wRC+ (77) versus righties and tied for 29th in wRC+ (79) at home. In the previous 14 days, they were tied for 24th in wRC+ (84). Baltimore is -270, and the game's total is 8.5 runs, which isn't terrifying since the Orioles are massive favorites.
Carlos Rodon (NYY) at SD
Carlos Rodon has bounced back from a nightmare first season on the Yankees. He's cruising entering tonight's start. In his past five starts totaling 28.1 innings, he's had a 3.81 ERA, 3.07 SIERA, 1.06 WHIP, 2.5 BB%, 27.7 K%, 31.0 CSW%, 121 Stuff+, 100 Location+ and 104 Pitching+. Rodon has spun three straight quality starts and five in his past six starts.
Rodon's matchup against the Padres is decent. This year, San Diego is tied for 23rd in wRC+ (84) against lefties but 11th in wRC+ (108) at home. Still, the Yankees are -124, and the game's total is just 7.5 runs.
Justin Verlander (HOU) at OAK
Justin Verlander hasn't been a model of consistency, producing three quality starts in six starts but pitching fewer than five innings twice and allowing seven earned runs once. On the plus side, his pitch modeling is elite. Verlander has had 123 Stuff+, 101 Location+ and 103 Pitching+ in his last five starts.
Verlander has an interesting matchup against a struggling offense. In the previous 14 days, the Athletics were 28th in wRC+ (82) with a 29.9 K%. This season, they've also had a 26.7 K% against righties and a 24.0 K% at home. Finally, the Astros are -164, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.
Suggested Lineup Stacks
The Dodgers have a sky-high ceiling tonight at Great American "Small" Park. This year, LA is tied for third in wRC+ (119) against righties and tied for second in wRC+ (116) on the road. In addition, six of their projected starters have had at least a 106 wRC+ against righties since 2021, with four posting at least a 124 wRC+.
The matchup is drool-inducing, too. In 155.0 career innings at home, Graham Ashcraft has had a 5.46 ERA, 4.48 xFIP, 1.41 WHIP and allowed 1.39 HR/9. He's sporting a career-high 7.47 ERA at home this year.
- Home (Citi Field)
- Game Total/Moneyline: 8.0 Runs/NYM -140
Kyle Harrison has taken full advantage of his pitcher-friendly home ballpark. The sledding hasn't been smooth on the road, though. In 43.1 innings on the road, Harrison has had a 4.15 ERA, 5.28 xFIP, 1.29 WHIP, 8.3 BB% and 17.7 K%. The young lefty has also coughed up a blistering 2.08 HR/9 on the road, enhancing the appeal of stacking the Mets. New York's projected lineup is good against lefties, with eight recording at least a 102 wRC+ against southpaws since 2021 or debuting in the majors, and five have had at least a 120 wRC+.
Core Studs
- In 226 plate appearances this year, Shohei Ohtani has had a .422 OBP, .293 ISO, 202 wRC+, .482 xwOBA and 13 stolen bases.
- In 521 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, J.D. Martinez has hit 23 homers with a .364 OBP, .246 ISO and 140 wRC+.
- Edmundo Sosa is affordable exposure to Coors Field, especially at DK. In 326 plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Sosa has hit 10 homers with a .312 OBP, .213 ISO and 112 wRC+. Additionally, in 73 plate appearances in 2024, he has had a .417 OBP, .226 ISO and 175 wRC+.
Value Plays/Punts
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- Mark Vientos has done all he can do in Triple-A. He struggled in his first taste of the majors but has hit two homers with a .419 OBP, .357 ISO, 222 wRC+, 9.7 BB% and 16.1 K% in 31 plate appearances for the Mets this year.
- In Gavin Lux's last 74 plate appearances, he's had a 102 wRC+. Since 2021, he's had a 106 wRC+ against righties. Lux isn't a sexy pick, but he gets a matchup and park-factor boost tonight.
- LaMonte Wade is an ideal table setter. In 158 plate appearances this season, he has had a 20.9 BB%, .481 OBP and 173 wRC+.
Friday's Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props
Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet
Shohei Ohtani: 10.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)
Shohei Ohtani: 9.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
As I mentioned above, Ohtani is raking this year. He also has a track record of excellence against righties. Since 2021, Ohtani has had a .402 OBP, .324 ISO and 173 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. GABP and a matchup against Ashcraft also boost Ohtani's offensive outlook.
Jake Bauers: 0.5 Total Bases - Higher/More
In 112 plate appearances this season, Jake Bauers has had a .232 batting average, .252 xBA, .475 slugging, .498 xSLG, 25.6-degree launch angle, 92.2 mph exit velocity, 35.0 LD% and 48.3 FB%. Bauers is hitting the ball hard and in the air. His batted-ball profile is tailor-made for Fenway Park, where the left-handed batter park factors for singles, doubles, triples and homers are 1.111, 1.409, 2.340 and 0.887.
Bauers's matchup isn't too shabby, either. Kutter Crawford has faced 253 lefties at home in his career, allowing a .249 batting average and 55.7 FB%. Since Bauers hits the ball hard in the air, he should be able to take advantage of Crawford's flyball tendencies.
Pete Alonso: 7.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)
Pete Alonso: 6.5 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)
In 299 plate appearances against lefties at home since 2021, Pete Alonso has hit seven doubles and 22 homers with a ..368 OBP, .298 ISO and 147 wRC+. His power will play against Harrison. The young lefty has allowed six doubles, eight homers, a .226 batting average and .468 slugging to right-handed batters on the road.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
