MLB DFS Picks, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props: Monday (6/3)

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

Tarik Skubal (DET) at TEX
According to FanGraphs, Tarik Skubal's 2.42 xERA in 11 starts spanning 67.0 innings this season is the lowest among tonight's probable starters. The lefty is also dialed in. In his previous five starts totaling 30.1 innings, Skubal has had a 2.37 ERA, 2.23 xFIP, 2.38 SIERA, 0.92 WHIP, 4.2 BB%, 33.1 K%, 34.2 CSW%, 108 Stuff+, 105 Location+ and 109 Pitching+. He also had a quality start in seven of his previous eight opportunities.

Skubal has a fantastic matchup tonight. This season, the Rangers are 25th in wRC+ (85) with a 23.3 K% versus lefties and tied for 18th in wRC+ (99) with a 20.0 K% at home. They were also 27th in wRC+ (85) with a 21.3 K%. Sadly, Skubal isn't backed by a top-shelf offense. Thus, the Tigers are only -115, albeit with a pitcher-friendly game total of 7.5 runs.

Justin Verlander (HOU) vs. STL
Justin Verlander has more positives in his pitching profile lately than negatives. In his past five starts spanning 29.2 innings, the veteran righty has had a 3.94 ERA, 4.52 xFIP, 4.17 SIERA, 1.11 WHIP, 6.5 BB%, 25.0 K%, 27.5 CSW%, 121 Stuff+, 105 Location+ and 107 Pitching+. It's easier to believe Verlander's ERA wasn't lucky because his pitch modeling was elite. The 41-year-old righty has had a quality start and struck out at least eight batters in three of his previous four games.

Verlander's matchup is mixed. The Cardinals are tied for eighth in wRC+ (104) with a 24.5 K% versus righties this year, but they're also 21st in wRC+ (90) with a 24.7 K% on the road. In the previous 14 days, St. Louis was tied for 14th in wRC+ (99) with a 24.3 K%. Houston is -175, and the game's total is 8.0 runs.

Matt Waldron (SD) at LAA

Matt Waldron's 4.15 ERA in his past five starts lasting 26.0 innings was adequate. However, his 3.16 xFIP, 3.18 SIERA, 8.1 BB%, 29.7 K% and 30.2 CSW% in those turns were more encouraging marks. Waldron has allowed two runs or fewer and struck out at least six batters in four straight starts.

He should stay hot in a cushy matchup. The Angels are tied for 25th in wRC+ (91) with a 24.0 K% versus righties and 15th in wRC+ (101) with a 24.7 K% at home this season. They were also tied for 25th in wRC+ (87) with a 22.6 K% in the previous 14 days. Finally, the Padres are -130, and the game's total is 8.5 runs.

Suggested Lineup Stacks

• Road (Coors Field)
• Game Total/Moneyline: 10.5 Runs/CIN -135

The Reds have a drool-inducing matchup in MLB's most hitter-friendly ballpark. In 80.1 career innings at Coors Field, Ryan Feltner has had a 6.72 ERA, 4.92 xFIP, 1.61 WHIP and allowed 1.12 HR/9. This year, he's coughed up a .370 wOBA to 136 lefties and a .331 wOBA to 128 righties.

Colorado's bullpen is also trash. Their 5.19 ERA is MLB's highest and the only one over 5.00. As a result, the Reds should light up the scoreboard.

• Road (Chase Field)
• Game Total/Moneyline: Unlisted

The Giants have a sweet matchup tonight. In Ryne Nelson's previous five appearances (four starts) lasting 24.2 innings, he's had a 6.93 ERA, 4.26 xFIP, 4.39 SIERA and 1.91 WHIP. The 26-year-old righty has allowed a .341 wOBA to 97 lefties and a .451 wOBA to 91 righties this season.

Arizona's bullpen is also a favorable matchup for the Giants. The Diamondbacks have the sixth-highest bullpen ERA (4.36). San Francisco is an appealing and affordable stack that complements Cincinnati's high-salaried stack.

Core Studs

• In 247 plate appearances this season, Elly De La Cruz has hit nine homers and stolen 32 bases with a .329 OBP, .181 ISO and 110 wRC+.
• Since 2021, Jeimer Candelario has had a .321 OBP, .184 ISO and 106 wRC+ against right-handed pitching.
• In 112 carer plate appearances against lefties at home, Elehuris Montero has hit six homers with a .330 OBP, .248 ISO, .369 wOBA and 107 wRC+.

Value Plays/Punts

• Colt Keith had an excellent month of May. In 80 plate appearances last month, Keith had a .388 OBP, .151 ISO and 151 wRC+.
• Patrick Bailey is breaking out at the dish. In 131 plate appearances this year, he's had a .354 OBP, .167 ISO and 135 wRC+.
• Since 2021, Mike Yastrzemski has had a .326 OBP, .225 ISO and 117 wRC+ against righties.

Monday's Top 3 Underdog and PrizePicks Player Props

Check out our best picks on the MLB Underdog Cheat Sheet

Elly De La Cruz: 10.0 Fantasy Points - Higher (Underdog)

Elly De La Cruz: 9.0 Fantasy Points - More (PrizePicks)

De La Cruz has eruption potential at Coors Field tonight. Feltner has allowed a .370 wOBA to lefties this season with only a 19.1 K%. Feltner's low strikeout rate makes it unlikely that he will exploit De La Cruz's high strikeout rate. Feltner also does a dreadful job of controlling the running game, allowing 13 stolen bases in 11 starts in 2024.

Jeimer Candelario: 1.5 Total Bases - Higher/More

Feltner's low strikeout rate against lefties won't do him favors against Candelario, either. The 136 lefties who've faced him this year have hit nine doubles and five homers with a .312 batting average and .504 slugging. Candelario had a slow start. However, he's raked since back-to-back multi-hit efforts at the end of April. In Candelario's last 118 plate appearances, he's hit eight doubles, one triple and four homers with a .273 batting average, .473 slugging and .200 ISO.

Mike Yastrzemski: 0.5 Runs - Higher/More

Yastrzemski is in an excellent spot to score a run tonight if the Giants tee off on Nelson. The left-handed-hitting outfielder is in the two-hole in the lineup because of injuries. Nelson has allowed at least three runs in four of his previous five appearances (four starts), allowing at least four three times and coughing up eight against the Tigers.

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