MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Friday (5/3)

Tonight’s MLB DFS slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has nine games starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. PrizePicks and Underdog have intriguing player props for the medium-sized slate, too.

• 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

Friday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Sonny Gray (STL) vs. CWS
Sonny Gray is locked in this year. According to FanGraphs, in four starts spanning 23.1 innings, the veteran righty has a 1.16 ERA, 2.13 xERA, 2.16 SIERA, 0.94 WHIP, 4.5 BB%, 36.0 K% and 32.7 CSW%. He's spun three consecutive quality starts entering tonight's turn.

Gray's matchup and betting info tonight are tasty. The White Sox are 28th in wRC+ (79) and have a 23.2 K% against righties this year. In addition, Chicago is 29th in wRC+ (73) and has a 23.8 K% on the road. The Red Birds are -275, and the game's total is 7.5 runs.

Tanner Bibee (CLE) vs. LAA
Tanner Bibee has pitched at least 5.0 innings and allowed two runs or fewer in three straight starts. In that stretch, he had a 1.53 ERA, 3.05 SIERA, 0.91 WHIP, 5.9 BB% and 29.4 K% in 17.2 innings.

The young righty can stay hot against the Mike Trout-less Angels. The Angels are 16th in wRC+ (98) against righties this season but should take a hit without Trout. They're also 17th in wRC+ (93) on the road. Thus, the Guardians are -172, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.

Tanner Houck (BOS) at MIN

Tanner Houck is pitching at a Cy Young Award level this season. In six starts spanning 39.1 innings, he has a 1.60 ERA, 3.04 xERA, 2.62 SIERA, 0.92 WHIP, 3.2 BB%, 26.5 K%, 32.1 CSW%, 108 Stuff+, 104 Location+ and 109 Pitching+.

Houck has a more challenging matchup than the two pitchers already highlighted. Yet, the Twins have a 24.9 K% against righties and a 27.8 K% at home this season. As a result, Houck has a GPP-friendly ceiling, and the betting info isn't too shabby. The Red Sox are -110, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Home (Progressive Field)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.0 Runs/CLE -172

The Guardians have a sweet matchup tonight. Jose Soriano has the second-highest ERA (4.76) and xERA (5.45) this season among tonight's probable pitchers. He also has a 14.0 BB% and 1.37 WHIP. The bullpen behind him is also lousy, sporting the fourth-highest ERA (5.42) and sixth-highest xFIP (4.44) this season.

• Home (Dodger Stadium)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/LAD -115

The Dodgers have an offensive juggernaut. LA is first in wRC+ (131) against righties this season and second in wRC+ (130) at home. Moreover, a 105 wRC+ against righties since 2021 is the lowest among the projected starters, followed by a 110 wRC+ and 123 wRC+. The Dodgers have elite talent and lineup depth.

Core Studs

• Freddie Freeman is in the heart of LA's lineup and has had a .421 OBP, .210 ISO and 160 wRC+ against righties since 2021.
• Since 2021, Jose Ramirez has had a .362 OBP, .235 ISO and 140 wRC+ against righties. The switch-hitting third baseman has also had a 134 wRC+ at home since 2021.
• Steven Kwan is a prototypical leadoff hitter with stellar numbers this season. In 139 plate appearances, Kwan has a .396 OBP, 160 wRC+, and three stolen bases.

Value Plays/Punts

• Alec Burleson is rolling. In his past 41 plate appearances, he's hit two homers with a .415 OBP, .162 ISO and 169 wRC+.
• In Wilyer Abreu's previous 11 starts, he's hit six doubles, one triple and two homers with a .471 OBP, .311 ISO and 231 wRC+ in 51 plate appearances.
• Michael Massey has a modest five-game-hitting streak, popping two homers with a .278 OBP, .333 ISO and 146 wRC+ in 18 plate appearances.

Friday's Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Marcus Stroman: 6.0 Strikeouts - Lower (Underdog Fantasy)/Less (PrizePicks)

Marcus Stroman hasn't been efficient, and he's struggled with his control. Thus, he's pitched fewer than 6.0 innings in four consecutive starts. Stroman has struck out fewer than 6.0 batters in three of six starts and struck out precisely six once.

The veteran righty's 90.4 mph average fastball velocity this year is the lowest of his career, down from a previous career-low 91.6 mph in 2023. With a diminished fastball, Stroman has an underwhelming 10.0 SwStr%, lower than the league average in 2024 of 10.9%. FantasyPros projects Stroman to have only 4.58 strikeouts tonight.

Steven Kwan: 0.5 Runs - Higher (Underdog Fantasy)

Steven Kwan: 7.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)

Kwan is a carryover from the core studs. He's on the PrizePicks Cheat Sheet for over 7.0 fantasy points and on the Underdog Cheat Sheet for over 0.5 runs. Since 2021, Kwan has had a .368 OBP and 124 wRC+ against righties. He's also scored at least one run in 19 of 30 games this year.

Tyler Nevin: 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI - Higher/More

In 145 career plate appearances against lefties since 2021, Tyler Nevin has had a .278 batting average, .366 OBP, .222 ISO and 146 wRC+. He's also raking this year, tallying a .325 batting average, .375 OBP, .175 ISO and 156 wRC+ in 88 plate appearances. Moreover, Nevin has had over 1.5 hits plus runs and RBI in four straight games and seven of nine.

Nevin has a cushy matchup tonight, too. Since last season, 294 right-handed batters have had a .304 batting average, .392 OBP, .526 slugging and .395 wOBA against Ryan Weathers. As a result, FantasyPros projects Nevin to have 2.33 hits plus runs and RBI.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

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