MLB DFS Picks, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props: Monday (6/17)

Tonight’s MLB DFS main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel has nine games starting at 6:40 p.m. ET. The suggested props from PrizePicks and Underdog are also from the nine-game 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

Paul Skenes (PIT) vs. CIN
Paul Skenes has hit the ground running in the majors. According to FanGraphs, in his past five starts spanning 29.1 innings, he's had a 1.84 ERA, 1.81 xFIP, 2.05 SIERA, 0.82 WHIP, 3.6 BB%, 35.5 K%, 29.3 CSW%, 113 Stuff+, 110 Location+ and 114 Pitching+. Skenes has also had four quality starts in six in the majors, and his 2.54 xERA is the lowest among tonight's probable starters.

Skenes has a delightful matchup tonight. This season, the Reds are 26th in wRC+ (88) with a 26.4 K% versus righties and tied for 12th in wRC+ (100) with a 25.2 K% on the road. Thus, the Pirates are -200, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.

Max Fried (ATL) vs. DET
Max Fried is on a roll. In his previous five starts totaling 33.1 innings, he's had a 2.70 ERA, 2.77 xFIP, 2.96 SIERA, 1.08 WHIP, 5.3 BB%, 25.0 K%, 30.0 CSW%, 97 Stuff+, 99 Location+ and 100 Pitching+. Fried has also spun one shutout and another complete game this year.

Fried's matchup is cushy. The Tigers are tied for 26th in wRC+ (84) with a 21.0 K% versus lefties and tied for 17th in wRC+ (94) with a 24.6 K% on the road this year. In the previous 14 days, Detroit was 19th in wRC+ (93) with a 22.9 K%. Therefore, the Braves are -220, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.

Carson Spiers (CIN) at PIT

Carson Spiers is the most attractive bargain SP2 at DK tonight. He's made five relief appearances for the Reds in 2024, tallying a 2.33 ERA, 3.48 xERA, 3.83 SIERA, 1.19 WHIP, 5.0 BB%, 18.8 K%, 28.6 CSW%, 89 Stuff+, 107 Location+ and 102 Pitching+ in 19.1 innings.

The righty isn't flawless. Yet, Spiers's numbers are rock-solid, and his matchup is outstanding. This year, the Pirates are tied for 28th in wRC+ (81) with a 25.0 K% versus righties and 26th in wRC+ (88) with a 24.3 K% at home. Furthermore, Pittsburgh was tied for 20th in wRC+ (92) with a 26.7 K% in the previous 14 days.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Home (Citizens Bank Park)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/PHI -170

The Phillies are a top-10 offense by most meaningful splits. In 2024, they're seventh in wRC+ (106) versus righties and tied for ninth in wRC+ (110) at home. They were tied for 20th in wRC+ (92) in the previous 14 days. Still, Philadelphia is getting Trea Turner back tonight, and Brandon Marsh returned from the Injured List (IL) on June 15 after spending nearly two weeks there.

In Randy Vasquez's past four starts, he's had a 3.97 ERA, 4.03 xFIP, 4.27 SIERA, 1.32 WHIP, 3.2 BB%, 15.8 K% and 22.5 CSW%. The righty has also yielded a .513 wOBA to lefties and a .312 wOBA to righties this season. As a result, the Phillies are a tantalizing stack tonight.

• Home (Globe Life Field)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/TEX -120

The Rangers might be overlooked tonight because of their lousy numbers against lefties, at home and in the previous 14 days. Nevertheless, that enhances their GPP appeal in a get-right matchup against David Peterson. In Peterson's last three starts, he's had a 4.32 ERA, 4.87 xFIP, 4.88 SIERA, 1.50 WHIP and 21.9 CSW%. Additionally, he's had a 6.94 ERA and allowed 1.66 HR/9 in 59.2 innings on the road since 2023. Peterson has allowed a .359 wOBA to righties this year and a .319 wOBA to lefties. Hence, Texas's righties are the most appealing pieces of their lineup, but the lefties are acceptable correlation picks.

Core Studs

• In 414 plate appearances against righties at home since 2022, Bryce Harper has hit 23 homers with a .423 OBP, .274 ISO and 171 wRC+.
• Kyle Schwarber can exploit Vasquez's struggles with left-handed batters. Since 2022, Schwarber has had a .340 OBP, .296 ISO and 131 wRC+ against righties.

Value Plays/Punts

• Joey Ortiz continues to be a value as his body of work in a breakout season grows. In 215 plate appearances this year, he's had a .383 OBP, .193 ISO and 145 wRC+.
• Wyatt Langford has settled into a groove in the past two weeks. In 43 plate appearances since June 3, he's had a .349 OBP, .150 ISO and 124 wRC+.
• Through a combination of Jarred Kelenic's hot hitting and injuries to Atlanta's other starters, he's climbed to their leadoff spot. In Kelenic's last 72 plate appearances, he's had a .333 OBP, .269 ISO and 149 wRC+.
• In 249 plate appearances against lefties since 2022, Ezequiel Duran has hit eight homers with a .313 OBP, .179 ISO and 105 wRC+.

Monday's Top 3 Underdog and PrizePicks Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Bryce Harper: 9.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)

Bryce Harper: 8.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)

In addition to Harper's dominance against righties at home, he's tallying a big season at the dish. In 290 plate appearances this year, he's swatted 15 homers and stolen four bases with a .390 OBP, .239 ISO and 152 wRC+. Furthermore, Vasquez is a trainwreck against lefties. The 62 lefties who've faced Vasquez this season have had a .484 OBP, .707 slugging and .513 wOBA.

Kyle Schwarber: 9.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)

Kyle Schwarber: 8.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)

Schwarber is another piece of left-handed exposure to Vasquez, and the slugger's over correlates with Harper's. Schwarber has a high strikeout rate, but Vasquez's 11.3 K% against lefties probably won't allow him to take advantage of Schwarber's propensity to swing and miss. Finally, Scwharber is having a rock-solid season at the plate, slugging 14 homers and stealing four bases with a .367 OBP, .183 ISO and 128 wRC+ in 319 plate appearances.

Marcus Semien: 7.0 Fantasy Points - Higher/More

Marcus Semien will get the first crack at Peterson from Texas's leadoff spot. In 509 plate appearances against southpaws since 2022, Semien has hit 13 homers with a .358 OBP, .177 ISO and 128 wRC+. In 360 plate appearances this year, Semien has hit 11 homers and stolen three bases with a .326 OBP, .171 ISO and 113 wRC+.

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