MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Monday (5/20)

Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has eight games starting at 6:40 p.m. ET. PrizePicks and Underdog have a robust pick ’em lobby for tonight’s medium-sized slate.

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Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Today’s MLB DFS & Player Props Picks

Monday’s Starting Pitcher Rankings

Framber Valdez (HOU) vs. LAA
According to FanGraphs, in Framber Valdez's previous four starts, which lasted 24.1 innings, he had a 3.33 ERA, 2.82 SIERA, 1.11 WHIP, 5.2 BB%, 21.9 K%, 63.2 GB% and 27.6 CSW%. He also has a track record of stellar performances at home. In 20 home starts spanning 126.2 innings since last season, Valdez has had a 3.27 ERA, 3.08 xFIP, 1.09 WHIP, 5.7 BB% and 25.3 K%.

The matchup and betting info are favorable for Valdez. This season, the Angels have been above-average against lefties but 18th in wRC+ (94) on the road. Additionally, the Astros are -205, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Reese Olson (DET) at KC
Reese Olson is in a groove. In his past five starts totaling 31.0 innings, he's had a 1.16 ERA, 3.61 SIERA, 0.74 WHIP, 7.8 BB%, 23.3 K% and 28.4 CSW%. The young righty has also been unphased on the road. In 64.2 innings on the road since reaching the majors last year, Olson has had a 3.34 ERA, 4.15 xFIP, 1.13 WHIP, 6.4 BB% and 17.4 K%.

Olson's matchup is mixed. This year, the Royals are 22nd in wRC+ (96) against righties. However, they're 11th in wRC+ (109) at home. The Royals aren't in good form, though. In the previous 14 days, they were tied for 22nd in wRC+ (91). The Tigers are slight underdogs (EVEN), and the game's total is 9.0 runs, which isn't ideal. Still, Olson's salary is too low at DK, making him an excellent SP2.

Taj Bradley (TB) vs. BOS

Taj Bradley has pitched well this season. In two Triple-A starts lasting 11.0 innings, he had a 0.82 ERA, 3.39 xFIP, 0.45 WHIP, 7.9 BB%, 39.5 K% and 17.0 SwStr%. In addition, in two starts for the Rays, Bradley has had a 2.45 ERA, 3.10 SIERA, 1.00 WHIP, 6.8 BB%, 29.5 K%, 25.6 CSW%, 104 Stuff+, 96 Location+ and 101 Pitching+.

The Red Sox are an average matchup. This season, Boston is tied for 17th in wRC+ (98) against righties and eighth in wRC+ (110) on the road. In the last 14 days, the Red Sox were 24th in wRC+ (90) with a 24.1 K%. The Rays are -110, and the game's total is a pitcher-friendly 7.5 runs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Home (Dodger Stadium)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/LAD -225

The Dodgers have a tasty matchup tonight, allowing them to tap into their high ceiling. In Slade Cecconi's previous five starts spanning 27.1 innings, he's had a 5.27 ERA, 4.67 SIERA, 0.99 WHIP, 6.4 BB%, 18.3 K% and allowed 1.65 HR/9. Furthermore, Arizona's bullpen has the sixth-highest ERA (4.68) this year.

• Home (Oriole Park at Camden Yards)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.0 Runs/BAL EVEN

Sonny Gray isn't a pushover matchup. Yet, he's had back-to-back lousy starts, coughing up 11 earned runs on 15 hits, four homers and three walks in 11.0 innings. The Orioles aren't a get-right matchup for the veteran righty. Eight of Baltimore's projected starters have had at least a 100 wRC+ against righties since 2021, seven have had at least a 105 wRC+ and four have had at least a 118 wRC+. Baltimore has also thrived at home, tying for seventh in wRC+ (114) this season.

Core Studs

• In 214 plate appearances this season, Shohei Ohtani has hit 13 homers with 11 stolen bases and a .423 OBP, .305 ISO and 205 wRC+.
• Since 2021, Freddie Freeman has had a .421 OBP, .210 ISO and 160 wRC+ against righties.
• In 379 career plate appearances against lefties since reaching the majors in 2022, Jeremy Pena has hit 12 homers with a .353 OBP, .184 ISO and 140 wRC+.

Value Plays/Punts

• Joey Ortiz was a handful for lefties in the upper minors. According to MiLB.com, he had a .923 OPS in 88 at-bats against lefties in Triple-A in 2023 and a .821 OPS in 65 at-bats in Double-A in 2022. Moreover, in 124 plate appearances for the Brewers this year, Ortiz has a .387 OBP, .245 ISO and 161 wRC+.
• In 126 plate appearances this season, Alec Burleson has a .320 OBP, .175 ISO and 125 wRC+.
• In 192 career plate appearances against lefties since reaching The Show in 2022, Jose Miranda has hit 11 homers with a .305 OBP, .203 ISO and 120 wRC+.

Monday's Top 3 Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Sonny Gray: 32.5 Fantasy Points - Lower (Underdog Fantasy)

Sonny Gray: 33.5 Fantasy Points - Less (PrizePicks)

The Orioles were a featured stack because their offense is talented, and Gray has hit a mini-funk. Baltimore has given pitchers trouble at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and their projected lineup has a stellar track record against righties. The Orioles were also tied for 12th in wRC+ (102) in the previous 14 days. Finally, again, Gray has allowed at least five earned runs in back-to-back games, coughing up 11 in only 11.0 innings.

Shohei Ohtani: 9.5 Fantasy Points - More (Underdog Fantasy)

Shohei Ohtani: 8.5 Fantasy Points - Higher (PrizePicks)

Ohtani is the first carryover from the core studs. In addition to his excellent numbers this year, he's terrorized righties for multiple campaigns. Since 2021, Ohtani has had a .402 OBP, .325 ISO and 173 wRC+ against righties. Cecconi is a decent matchup for Ohtani, too. Since last year, the righty has allowed a .318 wOBA to left-handed batters.

Freddie Freeman: 8.5 Fantasy Points - More (Underdog Fantasy)

Freddie Freeman: 8.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (PrizePicks)

Freeman hasn't dominated to Ohtani's extent. Nevertheless, he has a track record of crushing righties. The left-handed-hitting first baseman is also sporting a .407 OBP, .153 ISO and 146 wRC+ this year. Of course, using the highlighted props for Ohtani and Freeman at PrizePicks and Underdog will take advantage of correlation since they hit next to each other in LA's lineup.

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